It was hard to make a case for the New York Jets to keep Robert Saleh beyond this season.
He entered the year on the hot seat, and the early returns weren’t encouraging.
Nonetheless, it was also painfully evident that this team’s issues ran deeper than the head coaching position.
Fast-forward to today, and with GM Joe Douglas out the door, it seems like things were better – or at least somewhat better – under Saleh.
As pointed out by The 33rd Team on X, the team has been worse in almost everything since they let Saleh go, particularly on defense.
The Jets have only gotten worse since firing Robert Saleh 📉
Jets with Saleh:
PPG: 18.6
PPG Allowed: 17.0
Successful Offensive Play rate: 44.0%
Defensive EPA per Drive: 0.84
Opponent 3 and Out %: 46.4%Jets without Saleh:
PPG: 18.5
PPG Allowed: 26.2
Successful Offensive Play… https://t.co/6fYBBNYoU3 pic.twitter.com/xCOBGEQRBr— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 17, 2024
Their points per game are virtually the same (18.6).
Nevertheless, they allow almost ten more points (26.2) now than they did with Saleh (17.0), mostly because their best defensive coach is now running the team instead of the defense.
Their Successful Offensive Play Rate dropped from 44.0% to 43.2%.
Their Defensive EPA per Drive fell from 0.84 to -0.64, and their Opponent’s 3-and-Out percentage went from 46.4% to 32.2%.
These numbers also show that people should cut Aaron Rodgers some slack.
He’s drawn plenty of criticism as if he were responsible for Saleh’s firing, and while he hasn’t played up to the standards, he’s not to blame for his team’s defensive miscues.
Standing on a 3-8 record, the Jets might be one of the most disappointing teams in professional sports history, given the high expectations and all the talent on their roster.
Now, whoever takes the reins will have some tough decisions to make.
