Robert Saleh’s latest rant on Hard Knocks makes it clear the New York Jets head coach is fed up with the offensive line
Some New York Jets fans have speculated whether the team cares enough about the mounting problems it is facing with the offensive line.
Head coach Robert Saleh squashed that speculation with an epic profanity-filled rant seen by the entire nation on the second episode of Hard Knocks.
NSFW Warning: This video features uncensored profanity throughout.
Wow #Jets HC Robert Saleh went off on his OL after the joint practice vs #Panthers & questioned their effort 😳 ‘you can have a Hall of Fame quarterback, you can have two $10 million dollar plus receivers, you can have a reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, you can have all… pic.twitter.com/L4JxG8Afkx
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) August 16, 2023
The rant occurred in Spartanburg, SC, following the team’s first joint practice with the Carolina Panthers. Saleh expressed pleasure with the play of his defense and raved about the talent at the offensive skill positions, but he directly called out the offensive line for limiting the offense’s potential.
“You can have a Hall of Fame quarterback, you can have two $10 million dollar plus receivers, you can have a reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, you can have all kinds of skill in the running back room. None of it f****** matters until the big boys up front change who the f*** we are,” Saleh said.
“We as coaches, we as an organization can’t want it more than you. And I’m watching that tape, all night last night, trying to find something to show that we’re f****** changing, and it didn’t show. And it was our first opp[ortunity].”
The Jets’ offensive line had a better performance in the following Saturday’s 27-0 preseason win with the Panthers, and in the postgame speech shown on Hard Knocks, Saleh seemed extremely pleased with the effort of the offensive line and the entire team.
But as Saleh often says, it’s about stacking days. There is still a long way to go for this offensive line, and Hard Knocks proved that Saleh is far more concerned about it than he lets on in press conferences. Fans no longer need to worry that they are more stressed about the team’s offensive line than its own head coach.
The fire has to be lit. Maybe this can be the spark but JD has to keep creating depth and calling about potential trade partners. With Rodgers at the Helm, The Offence can not be one dimensional. Rodgers needs time for mid range to deep throws. He has the skills to do it but if he has no time then all he will be able to do is get rid of the ball quickly or check down. Need to maximize Rodgers talent with good blockers up front.
I don’t disagree with the message, but I do disagree with the delivery and forum.
This should have been said in a private OLine-only meeting, no cameras, and no one outside of the group and its coaches.
There is a very thin line between motivation and embarrassment that leads to disconnection. No employee wants to be chastised in front of the rest of their coworkers and it’s “Supervisor 101” to discipline in private.
It struck me as grandstanding by Saleh and that is totally out of character.
The way the NFL is set up teams are still “building chemistry” well into the first month of the season. I know the Jets have some key games early but with the league wide view of not playing any key players in pre-season, those first few weeks of the year are still a time of growth. This OL will improve as the season progresses. I would LOVE to have them humming by opening day but I don’t think that’ a realistic expectation. At lest Connor McDermott isn’t fighting for a starting spot like another team in the division.
I wish I could disagree with Coach Saleh, but I can’t. He is speaking 100% truth.