In a development that makes the Jets’ post-2011 support of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer seem even more curious (at best), Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that coach Rex Ryan nearly fired Schottenheimer after a 34-17 loss in Week Four to Ryan’s former team, the Ravens.
Instead, Ryan insisted on a shift back to a run-first philosophy, de-emphasizing the role of quarterback Mark Sanchez.
A year later, the team continues to focus on running the ball, a strategy that worked in Week Five against the Colts. In Week Six, it could be the best way to keep the Patriots’ no-huddle offense from running up and down the field.
Most importantly, Mehta’s report reconfirms that things are rarely what they seem when it comes to NFL franchises, and that most teams will say something that is the complete opposite of the truth for strategic reasons that they believe to be legitimate.
In many cases, they are.