(Image credit Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports)
Written by: Nicholas Mullick
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-mullick-354076184/
Make that 11 straight seasons where the Jets will not make the playoffs thus tying their franchise history of longest playoff drought since the 1970s-1980s. Yep, this has been a brutal few years and hopefully, the Jets can fix this mess. It was not a surprise as the Dolphins, Patriots, and Bills are better teams than the Jets are this season. So let's get into it and take a look at the 3 main reasons why the Jets were eliminated from the playoffs.
1. Injuries
I hate to use this as an excuse as to why the Jets did not make the playoffs as everyone gets injured in the NFL and a team can’t all stay healthy. But man the Jets right from the start of the season were derailed with injuries. I will list some of the injuries they had to deal with TE Tyler Kroft (Back Injury), LB Jarrad Davis (Ankle), DE/EDGE Carl Lawson (Torn Achilles), Mekhi Becton (Knee Injury), OL Connor McDermott (Knee Injury), S Ashtyn Davis (PUP List), DE/EDGE Vinny Curry (Blood Disorder), RB La’Mical Perine (Foot), WR Keelan Cole (Knee), and S Lamarcus Joyner (Triceps). Not even Week 1 and the Jets already lost 10 players. With it only being Week 1 more injuries were bound to happen, further damaging the team. Durability is one of the many reasons why the Jets did not make the playoffs this year.
2. All a part of the Rebuild
Again the Jets never had that much of a chance this season and the Jets really did not have that many expectations for this season. Also on a side note, I forgot to put this in my Saints vs Jets article but I am sick and tired that the broadcast team and the media keep saying that this “season is not about wins and losses, but the development of the QB and other rookies’’. Really now. First off didn’t they say this when Sam Darnold was the QB? Look how that turned out right, such great development with the QB and rookies huh. Almost all of them are gone now. If it is not about wins then why compete in the NFL then. It is a nonsense thing to say and it is about wins because the Jets have had many seasons of losing. Every win matters despite how bad the season is to give the fanbase a positive to look at to come to games and believe in the future. Yes, player development is important with rookies and QBs. But you know what shows that the development of these players is working and are on the right track to success. If they win football games. That shows that the development of rookies is on the right track. I am tired of hearing this every game but back to why the Jets did not make the playoffs the Jets had to start from scratch and the team did not have the talent that others did in the NFL. They were in a rebuild to analyze the strengths and weaknesses in order to win football games. The rebuild was one of the reasons why they did not make the playoffs and they need to get more players that can stay healthy so the team can win football games.
3. Coaching Concerns
I hate putting this up but I am having a ton of concerns with the coaching staff for this team. Offensive Coordinator Matt LaFleur struggled earlier in the season but did rebound in the second half of the season. I have concerns with Head Coach Robert Saleh and Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Especially as the defense has been terrible all season and giving up way too many points. With the terrible schemes that have been consistently utilized during this season. By the way, wasn't Saleh a defensive-minded coach during his time with the San Francisco 49ers? I hardly saw anything that showed me that Saleh was a defensive mastermind. I do have a ton of hope that Saleh can improve next season with offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur. I wonder if Jeff Ulbrich will be back though due to the defensive struggles that have been surrounding the Jets this season. I am not giving up on Saleh yet though and I will give him another year.