With their Week 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets have clinched their 14th consecutive season without making the playoffs. That’s the longest active streak among the four major North American sports, and a big reason for that could be the presumed meddling of owner Woody Johnson.
However, if Woody is in fact meddling with the Jets’ day-to-day activities, he can change their future for the better by making these moves to end the season.
Bench Micheal Clemons and Haason Reddick
With reports that Johnson has the power to bench players, it only makes sense that he starts on the defensive side of the ball.
It’s safe to say at this point: the Haason Reddick drama was not worth it. The pass-rusher who was supposed to be a wreaking ball in this defensive scheme has been a complete no-show. In six games with the Jets, Reddick has eight total tackles and a half-sack. In fact, against the Dolphins, he had just one pressure in 30 pass-rushing snaps. Considering how dramatic the saga involving Reddick was, combined with the lack of production, it’s time to cut the cord on the pass-rusher and accept the loss.
On the flip side, Micheal Clemons has been a complete disaster from the start of the season. It almost feels like the Jets’ coaches have been gaslighting the fanbase by singing his praises all season long. The reality, however, has been a stark contrast.
Clemons has been a complete non-factor in multiple games this season. Against the Dolphins, Clemons logged 32 snaps and accumulated zero stats. On top of that, his lack of discipline against RPOs has been a disaster, allowing touchdowns and costing the Jets games.
With the playoffs no longer attainable, it’s time to cut the cord on Clemons and Reddick.
While winning games is no longer a priority for New York, Clemons and Reddick are preventing the Jets from getting a look at some of their young edge rushers who could be a part of the future. Rookies Eric Watts and Braiden McGregor are on the active roster and could be gaining experience with the snaps being wasted on Clemons and Reddick in a lost season.
Shut down Breece Hall
After a slow start to the season, Breece Hall had begun to look like his old self. That is, until he was dealt a knee injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13. That injury cost him his Week 14 matchup against the Miami Dolphins and could also sideline him in Week 15. However, despite reports stating the Jets won’t shut Hall down, it’s probably in the best interest of both parties.
With the Jets out of the playoffs, it makes no sense to put Hall’s health at risk. At the end of the day, coaches and staff must look out for what’s best for the player. And with the Jets having serviceable options in Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, the Jets’ rushing attack won’t take a drastic hit.
In fact, one may argue that the reason New York selected both Allen and Davis in the 2024 NFL draft is to eventually replace Hall. If that is the case, shelving Hall for the rest of the season only makes more sense. It allows the team to continue to see what they have in Allen and Davis. On top of that, it allows Hall to rest and look forward to the upcoming season.
There’s no reason to further risk injury to Hall this year. In fact, it would be malpractice to force him into a game risking further injury. A setback at this point could affect his availability going into next year, and that’s something that the Jets shouldn’t risk.
Play the young guys
For a team that never makes the playoffs, I’ve always found it odd at the lack of reps Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich give their rookies and other young players. At the end of the day, those are players they will need to rely on going forward. So it only makes sense that the Jets should be giving them reps, right? Wrong.
Due to injuries and severe incompetence in play, the Jets have been forced to play rookies Olu Fashanu and the aforementioned Allen and Davis. Yet, on defense, there’s little reason as to why the Jets aren’t utilizing players like Eric Watts, Leonard Taylor III, Braiden McGregor, Qwan’tez Stiggers, and Jarrick Bernard-Converse.
We’ve already touched upon why it makes sense to bench Reddick and Clemons, opening the door for the rookie defensive linemen to make an impact. More interestingly is the Jets’ refusal to utilize their young players when defensive backs are faced with injuries.
Stiggers has primarily been a special teams option, seeing next to no snaps on defense. The same goes for JBC, who played well during the summer and earned a roster spot. It would make little sense if these players aren’t given more live reps with a season that’s out of hand.
With the Jets unlikely to retain D.J. Reed, it makes sense to start using a rotation involving their young players instead of Isaiah Oliver and Brandin Echols (who admittedly, has looked good in limited involvement). At least it allows the Jets see what these players can do in a live setting.
Stay out of the public eye
The last thing that needs to be done may arguably be the most important. Johnson needs to stay out of the public eye. That includes letting any leaks slip (like those involving the Jets’ offseason plans) or making unnecessary comments (don’t even think about it).
At this point, the Jets are a circus yet again to the outside media – and the rest of the football world. With a head coach and general manager search coming up, the last thing the organization needs is its owner continuing to have the team in the public eye for the wrong reasons.
Unfortunately, none of these changes will miraculously bring the Jets back into playoff contention. In fact, they don’t guarantee that the team even takes a step forward next year. However, there has to be a change in the way the team is handled. And if Johnson is the puppet master pulling the strings behind the curtain, then sensible changes can at least help get the Jets on the right track going forward.
