A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Herm Outdoes Himself

The game ended about 10 minutes ago. After I finish writing this screed, I hope never to think about it again.

Is it necessary even to state why Herm Edwards' coaching performance today was his worst ever - an impressive achievement for a man who is consistently clueless about how to win a game?

The most obvious is the absolute refusal to let Brooks Bollinger actually pass the football until late in the game. Even when the Jets had first and goal at Baltimore's 1 yard line following a fumble return, the only time they didn't hand off to Curtis Martin was on a failed bootleg by Bollinger. When that play failed and the Jets had 3rd and goal back at the 3, the Jets didn't bother to put any receivers in, predictably calling yet another Martin run right up the middle.

How the heck did Herm expect to win the game if his team didn't score any points? Doesn't he know that outscoring your opponent is usually a necessity to win?

Let's say that Bollinger is just an awful quarterback who can't be trusted to pass the ball? Well then why is he on the team, even as the number 3 quarterback? I realize number 3 quarterbacks are not usually stars, but the Jets had other options, but kept sticking with Bollinger.

Indeed, in a post more than a year ago, prior to the '04 season, I lamented the Jets decision to keep Bollinger ahead of CFL MVP Ricky Ray, when I wrote, following the Jets signing of Quincy Carter to backup Chad Pennington last season:

Unfortunately, the Carter signing will likely result in Brooks Bollinger staying on as the third string QB, and Ricky Ray - the star last season of the CFL - being released. I think Ray is much more talented than Bollinger, but the latter will probably remain since he was drafted by the Jets, while Ray was picked up as a free agent. I keep reading in the papers that both Ray and Bollinger have been awful in the preseason. Didn't seem that way to me on Saturday night, when Ray went 7 for 8 (mostly on short passes, admittedly) and was able to sustain several drives.

A few years ago, when Trent Green was injured during the preseason, the St. Louis Rams were lambasted from having only Kurt Warner, an Arena League refugee, as a backup. If the Rams had signed an experienced backup, they wouldn't have won the Super Bowl that season. While I don't think Ray will turn out to be another Kurt Warner and think the Carter signing is a worthwhile one, I do think Ray is going to be a productive quarterback in the NFL.

The Jets let Ricky Ray go for good during this past offseason after signing Jay Fiedler. Now back in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos, Ray is again putting up big numbers. Could he be effective in the NFL? Who knows.

Again, it's difficult to know whether the problem is with the Jets decision to keep Bollinger on the roster, or with Edwards' refusal to let him try to win the game. Either way, the current situation is untenable.

A couple of other notes:

The receivers are killing the Jets with drops.

The pass protection is awful. Fabini is just as bad from the right side as he's been at left tackle.

Ben Graham's punts were unimpressive today.

Derrick Blaylock again went essentially unused today, with only two carries. Why exactly was he given a $3.2 million signing bonus and an $11 million contract? The failure to utilize Blaylock is especially galling since Curtis Martin has been totally ineffective.
posted on 10/02/2005