NY Jets: Adam Gase named the team’s biggest liability in 2020
By Justin Fried
NY Jets’ head coach Adam Gase was named the team’s biggest liability going into 2020.
NY Jets‘ head coach Adam Gase had a rollercoaster of a first season with the organization.
Far from a popular coaching selection, Gase and the Jets struggled to a disastrous 1-7 start complete with injuries, misfortune, and downright abysmal play.
But all of a sudden, the team’s fortunes changes. Whether a direct result of Gase or in spite of him, the Jets won six of their final eight games and finished the year with a 7-9 record that no one saw coming.
Nonetheless, there are still plenty of concerns about Gase going into 2020. And his poor showing in 2019 has many believing that he’s holding the Jets back.
That was the sentiment shared by Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox who labeled Gase as the Jets’ biggest liability going into the upcoming season.
Knox cites multiple damning statistics that paint Gase and the Jets offense in a very negative light. And his claims are pretty hard to dispute.
The Jets finished with the No. 32 ranked offense in the NFL behind even the hapless Miami Dolphins. Their passing game was ranked 29th while no team averaged fewer yards per carry on the ground.
Sure there was an overall lack of talent, but not to the degree that would have justified a season like that.
The performance of the Jets’ offense in 2020 remains paramount as does the development of third-year quarterback Sam Darnold — both of which are directly tied to whether or not Gase can improve.
Adam Gase’s offense will need to improve if the NY Jets are to find success in 2020.
The Jets’ defense carried the team in many ways last season. But now without its best player in Jamal Adams and the player who many hoped would replace his impact in C.J. Mosley, the offense will have to carry more of the load.
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams did his part last season, now it’s time for Gase to do the same.
That includes better utilizing players such as Darnold and Le’Veon Bell, working to highlight their strengths as opposed to pigeonholing them in roles they don’t fit. And it also includes improved play-calling and game-planning.
We can’t have a repeat of last year’s Monday night disaster against the New England Patriots.
Gase will be under a lot of pressure to improve this season and prove to his (well-deserved) critics that he isn’t a liability to this Jets team.
Rest-assured, he certainly has his work cut out for him.