Does the Hot Seat Change from Rex Ryan to John Idzik?

Jul 24, 2014; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik look on during training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Due to the minimal extension received, Rex Ryan will be coaching for his job again during the 2014 season. So, coach Ryan is on the “hot seat”, as they say. But, do the recent injuries change that? Has the hot seat moved? I submit to you that it just might have.

You all know the situation by now. Dexter McDougle is out for the season. Dee Milliner is out for a few weeks, but if it is a high ankle sprain, it could affect his play for the entire season. There is a lot of pressure on players such as Dimitri Patterson, Ellis Lankster, and Darrin Walls.

Patterson has been successful when healthy, and the others have shown flashes. But that is it, all they have shown. It’s very difficult, at least at this point, to feel that a long-term answer at cornerback is on this roster right now. So what are the Jets to do?

As Craig Hoffman talked about in his piece yesterday, Rex Ryan, with his ability as a defensive coach, can change the scheme to mask the Jets’ deficiencies.  Whatever you think about Rex Ryan as a head coach, he is a great defensive coach, and will have no problem putting his guys in the best position to succeed, whoever those guys may be.

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What if that isn’t enough?  What if the Jets need help from the outside, to help on the outside?

In comes John Idzik.

There will be opportunity to sign a cornerback. We are not long at all from the first set of cut downs. There are always surprises on that list, names that you do not expect, that would be a perfect fit on your team. It will be very interesting to watch John Idzik and what, if any, moves he is going to make as the cuts come out.

For what it is worth, John Idzik has “no regrets” about his signings, or lack thereof, at the position of cornerback. That is fine, believe it or not, I have no problem with that. For one, he should feel good about his direction of the team. They have the availability to fix problems, and a young football team. And, if a general manager doesn’t have strong convictions about what he has done, he isn’t capable of making decisions.

But, the key is, can he fix it? If Idzik needs to make a move, can he do it? Can he part with a draft pick if necessary to bring in help at the cornerback position?

It might be key. Think about this…

At the end of 2014, the Jets have a worse record than 2013, say 6-10. As the front office reviews the stats, the biggest problem remains getting beaten at the cornerback position. Woody Johnson has said that he wants to see progress.

But…..

If Rex Ryan does the best that he can to let his players succeed, but isn’t given the correct tools, how can that be held against him? Isn’t that on John Idzik, and shouldn’t his body of work be up for review in that case?

Yes it should, to be fair.