Practice Makes Perfect, But Not For the New York Jets

Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

If you only had the opportunity to listen to Rex Ryan’s press conferences during the week and not be privy to any of the actual games, one would think that the New York Jets are a successful team getting ready for a long playoff run. The optimistic head coach has always been a ‘glass-half-full’ guy and it seemed like a noble and genuine gesture to pump his players up with confidence.

Sorry, but that strategy has sadly run its course…unless Ryan actually believed what he was saying and that is an even worse situation.

There is no way that a team can practice harder than anyone else, work on correcting all of their mistakes and make all sorts of improvements only to continue to fail game after game.

The most recent fiasco is a perfect example, as Ryan publicly stated the Jets were a “zillion ways” better now than three weeks ago, and that the “proof would be in the pudding” when the rematch against the Buffalo Bills took place.

Well, the snow-blown rescheduled Monday night game in Detroit ended up being even worse than the season’s previous low point in Week 8. That 43-23 loss to the Bills paled in comparison to last night’s 38-3 pasting.

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All of the advantages heading into this game favored the Jets, from the Bills missing multiple practices and being snowed in their homes to the game being played in a neutral location away from their fans and the difficult elements in Western New York this time of year. Plus the Jets were coming off a win and their bye, while the Bills had dropped two games in a row.

None of that seemed to matter one bit to Bills quarterback Kyle Orton, who marched his team right down the field in their first possession right into the end zone for an early lead they would never relinquish.

So the team that Ryan gives high practice marks is now 2-9 and mistake-prone in every facet of the game. They played four quarters of listless football and that is a direct indication that the locker room is not buying into their own head coach’s evaluation. Yes, the players are publicly backing Ryan and always have, but they are not doing anything on the field to stop him from looking absolutely ridiculous.

Even in the crosshairs, Ryan stands tall defending the players that either could not or would not have his back in the same way. The embattled coach said as much in his post-game press conference.

"We never quit. We didn’t make any plays but we never quit. We got outplayed."

No matter how you slice it, the current regime and roster are not a good combination. Wholesale changes need to be made and Ryan has become a pitiful shadow of his former boastful self.

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