The Jets introduced Rex Ryan 12 years ago, on January 21, 2009, as their head coach. It was the day after a presidential inauguration. He was faced with the question of whether he would leave his quarterback.
Twelve years later, the Jets introduce Robert Saleh as their head coach on Thursdays at 2pm. It’s the day after another inauguration, and Saleh will be asking the quarterback questions about his plan.
Ryan won the press conference that day. He said the Jets would soon meet with newly elected President Obama, and Ryan breathed life into an organization and fan base that had been knocked out by his predecessor, Eric Mangini.
Saleh has the chance to do the same on Thursday. Jets fans and the organization are yearning for change after two years of losses under Adam Gase, who famously lost his introductory press conference. Saleh will have the opportunity to energize the universe of the Jets on Thursday.
Like everything else in these times, it will be different. Saleh will not speak in a room full of reporters. Instead, he speaks on a Zoom call, looking at a computer screen. Still, this is an important day for Saleh and the Jets. These are the questions we want answers to:
Ask for Saleh
How do you rate Sam Darnold?
The quarterback question will dominate the off season. Saleh is believed to be a fan of Darnold, but the team must decide whether it would be smarter to move on. Expect Saleh to praise Darnold, but don’t make any promises.
Are you calling the defense?
How far are the Jets from a contender?
Fans have run out of patience. It’s been 10 years without the playoffs and five consecutive losing seasons. Saleh has to deliver his plan and vision for how he will get the franchise out of this funk and how quickly he can do it.
The Jets sought out a CEO coach who would oversee the entire team. They felt Gase was too invested in his offense and ignored the defense. Could Saleh be that CEO coach and still make the defensive decisions, or will he give up the playcalling for an assistant coach? It is a balancing act for a coordinator who has been promoted to head coach. The reason Saleh became a head coach candidate was his defensive prowess. But a head coach has to oversee everything.
Questions for CEO / Chairman Christopher Johnson
Will the organizational structure change?
The Jets have had their head coach and general manager since 2015 who both report to the owner, rather than having the head coach under the GM. It seems to drive fans crazy for some reason. Johnson said they would consider changing it. Now we will see if they will.
Why will it be different this time?
This is the seventh head coach the Johnsons have hired since buying the team 21 years ago. Some, such as Ryan and Herm Edwards, have had modest success. Others, like Gase and Todd Bowles, were failures. Why would fans believe they got it right this time? What makes Saleh different from their previous hires?
When will Woody Johnson return to the team?
Woody Johnson has said goodbye to the United Kingdom on Twitter in recent days. His term as US Ambassador to the UK ended Wednesday, when the new government was sworn in. But no one near the Jets has said how soon he will return to lead the team. Will we get that answer on Thursday?
Ask for GM Joe Douglas
What’s your plan at quarterback?
It’s the biggest question facing Douglas, but don’t expect a clear answer. He can’t talk about Deshaun Watson, who is under contract with the Texans. He’s not going to talk about design choices. Expect him to cheer on Darnold some praise and dance around all that is final.
How much say does Saleh have over the workforce?
When the search for coaching began, Douglas said he wanted a partner. That means Saleh must have some say in who is on the team. This will be a concerted effort, with Douglas retaining the final say on the 53-man selection.
How aggressive will you be in free service?
The Jets are expected to have more than $ 70 million in salary cap. The team has gaps in the selection everywhere. Douglas was conservative in free agency last year. Will he spend more for free this year? Saleh urgently needs a talent upgrade if he is to become more successful than Gase.