Rex Ryan is riding a sinking ship

I really don’t like the Jets, mostly because they are blinded by their own arrogance. Last year Rex Ryan continued to tout his team as a Super Bowl contender instead of paying attention in the clubhouse. They rewarded a mediocre quarterback coming off a disappointing season with a contract extension. They declare that they are a ground-and-pound team despite not having personnel to fit that profile. They trade for Tim Tebow, boast about their innovative and complex offensive schemes, and then never use him.

There are decisions that just make no sense. Mark Sanchez completes a 32-yard pass to Dustin Keller and then the coach pulls out Sanchez for Tebow, who hands off to Shon Greene the next two plays. Back in comes Sanchez, who gets sacked and fumbled. How does running on and off the field help a quarterback, or help an offense that has struggled to move the ball all season?

The Jets have scored 10 or fewer points in more than half their games and are holding onto a 3-6 record. In a report on ESPN New York, Rex Ryan was asked if he would bench Sanchez for Tebow, even to save his job. Rex responded, “I’m not going to make a decision one way or the other in order to save my job. I’m trying to win games.” “We’re going to get this done or die trying.”

That sounds very nice. But why the undying love and support for Mark Sanchez? The numbers are not impressive. We aren’t talking about Joe Montana here.

Sanchez’ rankings among NFL quarterbacks:
- #26 in passing yards per game
- #29 in yards per attempt
- #30 in quarterback rating
- #32 in total quarterback rating
- #33 (last) in completion percentage

Minnesota, San Francisco and Houston don’t have great passing numbers either but they don’t need it; they have big name running backs carrying their offense and a great defense. The Jets are a below-average ground team and a below-average defense.

With Tim Tebow and Greg McElroy waiting in the wings, why does Rex Ryan so defiantly put his job in the hands of Mark Sanchez? He is a struggling, below average quarterback directing a poor offense. The team is sputtering. Looking at what Tim Tebow did for a sputtering Broncos team last year, what do you have to lose? Give him a shot.