Rex Ryan, the Jet's Defense: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics

     You always hear that while Rex wasn't too swift on the offensive side of the ball he was just the world;s greatest coach on the defense. Interestingly I read an argument on NFL.com that suggested that while he certainly doesn't care about offense, even his defensive reputation may be overrated.

     "Not finishing in the top 20 in passing yards-per-attempt for six straight years goes beyond bad luck. It's bad hiring and a limited view of the NFL that made more sense in the 1980's when Buddy Ryan came up with it. The most damning portrayal came in the book Collision Low Crossers which showed that Rex was not only ignorant about his offense, but he actively disdained it and had little interest in improving that side of the ball."

      "That doesn't mean Rex couldn't win in the right situation. You can say that about most coaches. It just means he's the AFC's answer to Lovie Smith with less success and more adulation because he's so likable."

       "Rex comes up with great game plans on defense, but it's not like he's produced great results. TheJets' defense has been average on balance for most of his tenure. The best Rex defense of the last four years finished 19th in points allowed! He's basically Rob Ryan with less hair."

     http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000451907/article/organic-email-chain-is-rex-ryan-really-the-answer

      This is the inspiration for my post title about statistics. Yes, the 2014 Jets were a bad team at 4-12 but were they a good defense? You could make that argument as they were 6th in the league in yards allowed-and 5th in rushing yards allowed. The Jets numbers were more or less the opposite of the Giants this year who were terrible both in defending the run and running the ball while the Jets-who were also 4th in offensive rushing yards-are good at both. The Giants comparatively do better at passing and defending the pass-the Giants weren't great defending the pass either just better than against the run. The only thing they did well statistically was pass the ball

      You can get all these statistics and NFL.com. 

       http://www.nfl.com/teams/profile?team=NYJ

       http://www.nfl.com/teams/profile?team=NYG

        Still if the Jets gave up the 6th fewest yards in football were they the 6th best defense out of 32? there is reason to be pretty skeptical of that. After all games aren't won by who gives up the fewest yards but who allows the fewest points. 

       The Jets gave up 25.1 points per game which ranks them at 24th in the NFL-marginally lower even than the Giants who are ranked 22nd allowing 25 even per game. Jets opponents might not have gotten so many points but they scored plenty points and won most games. 

       If Rex is going to coach this year, nevertheless, Atlanta would seem to be his best bet as at least he won't have any QB problems. Seeing as he seems not to be so good at developing a new QB it might help to go to a team that already has a great QB and a great receiver for the QB to throw to in Atlanta. 

       Chicago like Atlanta has terrible defense but they have their own QB problems with Jay Cutler who they can't get rid of though they might like to. Let Rex go somewhere where they have a QB and offense in place and then he can be the defensive guru he's held to be. 

       Happy New Years Diary of a Republican Nation! The next two years in the minority will be tough but often in opposition you get unique opportunities. I agree with Michael Tomasky that liberals need to start defending the point that government is not the problem but can be a big part of the solution. 

       Too many liberal activists defend just their own agenda-which mostly I agree with like fighting racism, sexism, fighting for immigration, the environment-but they don't defend the government as a whole.