NFL analyst blasts 'overwhelmed' Aaron Glenn amid Jets’ good vibes

Whatever your expectations are for the Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith duo, they’re likely not as low as those belonging to CBS Sports NFL analyst Jared Dubin.

Dubin eviscerated arguably the New York Jets’ two most important figures in a Thursday column, ranking them as the league’s second-worst new coach/quarterback duo.

Only the Browns’ Deshaun Watson and Todd Monken placed lower than Smith and Glenn in the 12-team grouping. Dubin rightfully noted that Smith, who spent last year with the Raiders, led the NFL in interceptions and is entering his age-36 season.

“Smith should have a better offensive environment, but even showing moderate improvement wouldn't justify a much higher ranking than this,” Dubin wrote, but that wasn’t all.

“And Glenn, for his part, looked overwhelmed and overmatched in the head-coaching role in Year 1, to the point that he had to overhaul his entire staff after just one season,” Dubin continued.

That one has to hurt.

Geno Smith and Aaron Glenn deserve far more credit than they’re getting

Dubin said he only ranked the duos, not their respective teams, which is crucial.

Whether or not Smith is a better quarterback than Watson, the Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett (No. 10 on Dubin’s list), or even the Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers (No. 7), isn’t the conversation worth having.

However, ranking Smith and Glenn so low is unfair to both, even when factoring in their respective issues last year. First off, Smith’s “offensive environment” with the Jets should be significantly better than what he had in Las Vegas.

Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall’s résumés speak for themselves, and the Jets invested first-round picks on tight end Kenyon Sadiq and receiver Omar Cooper Jr.

Third-year receiver Adonai Mitchell has earned rave reviews throughout the offseason, while tight ends Mason Taylor and Jeremy Ruckert figure to play key roles in Frank Reich’s offense.

Speaking of Reich, he’s tasked with helping the Jets get one final productive season from Smith. At least on paper, Smith and Glenn are in a far greater position to succeed than the Cardinals or Steelers.

So why did they place so low? Is it simply because they show up to OTAs wearing New York Jets gear?

Smith and Glenn shouldn’t need long to make Dubin reconsider his stance, especially when compared to the other first-year duos. The Jets open Week 1 against the Titans, and Dubin ranked Tennessee’s Cam Ward and Robert Saleh at No. 5.

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