Antwan Staley: Jets HC Robert Saleh says he isn’t worried about job security but should be if losing continues

When a coach is in his third season and is in charge of a team that has failed to live up to expectations, there’s some worry about him possibly losing his job.

Apparently, Jets coach Robert Saleh is not one of those people. At least that’s what he told reporters after the Jets’ latest 34-13 blowout loss to the Dolphins in Amazon’s first NFL Black Friday game.

“No, I’m not,” Saleh said. “I’m not worried about it.”

Saleh probably should be worried, considering how lifeless the Jets offense has been since Aaron Rodgers went down with an Achilles injury in Week 1. The Jets entered Friday’s game with one of the worst offenses in the league.

Gang Green ranked 30th in points (15) and yards per game (270.3). The team also was dead last in red zone touchdown percentage (26.1%) and the Jets third-down conversion rate (22.9%) is on pace to be the worst in NFL history.

Despite benching Zach Wilson and starting Tim Boyle at quarterback, the results look a lot like they have all season. The Jets were 5 of 14 on third-down attempts and went 0-for-8 before getting their first conversion of the game.

The Jets also scored just one offensive touchdown against the Dolphins. That came during garbage time with 4:41 left in the game when Boyle found Garrett Wilson for a one-yard touchdown reception.

Saleh has been asked several times if he would consider changing play callers. Clearly, Nathaniel Hackett’s offense only works if Rodgers is behind center.

“No, there’s no consideration there,” Saleh said.

Injuries have decimated the Jets offensive line. But their predictable playcalling has led to their team scoring 10 offensive touchdowns through 11 games. This has also led to Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson’s numbers diminishing.

Since his 177-yard effort against the Broncos on Oct. 8, defenses have been stacking the box to try to stop Hall and have been successful in the process. In the five games since the breakout performance, Hall has a total of 210 rushing yards.

“I feel like right now, I’m just trying to make a play,” Hall said. “It’s been hard for me to make some open space and make some good moves and stuff.

“It’s a lot of guys pressing and stuff right now. Just trying to press and make a play. I’ve been making mistakes that I have never made in my career.

“It’s frustrating. Just trying to find a way to get better every week and you know, just trying to stay positive and being one of the best players on offense. We are just not getting the results we want.”

Garrett Wilson has had to overcome poor quarterback play since he entered the league. He does have 64 receptions for 695 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games this season. But opposing defenses are making Garrett Wilson a priority, which has led to him not getting the type of numbers many expected entering the year.

“We got to try to erase this one, erase this one and figure out how the f–k we’re going to make sure this doesn’t spiral downwards any more than it already is,” Garrett Wilson said. “We got six games left and it’s a good opportunity to go try and win six, but we got to figure some things out.

“We also get a little break with a Friday game, know if everybody can take a break, see their family and we can recoup.”

Since he became the Jets coach in 2021, Saleh has a 15-29 record. This year was supposed to be different after Rodgers was traded to the Jets, but it has been the same old story.

Saleh and Jets general manager Joe Douglas put all their eggs into Rodgers’ basket, thinking he would solve all of their issues. However, there wasn’t a Plan B after Rodgers’ injury.

The Jets could have gone out and gotten another backup quarterback who would have given them a better chance to win, but all they did was sign Trevor Siemian. They used blind faith when they decided Zach Wilson was good enough to be the Jets backup quarterback, even after they benched him twice in 2022. That has completely blown up in their faces. Now, Saleh decided to start Boyle, who made his fourth career start in a game that the Jets had to win.

But the problem is, everything has stayed the same.

Gang Green also didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline, not even for an offensive lineman. The Jets have used eight different offensive line combinations in 11 games.

The Jets thought they had a good enough defense to win and make the playoffs. Gang Green probably did until defenses began running the unit down the last two weeks. In back-to-back losses against the Bills and Dolphins, the Jets were on the field for a combined 70 minutes. That’s because of an inept offensive unit led by Hackett.

“I mean it is our job,” Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers said. “We understand and you understand that sometimes you have to do a little more and sometimes offense has to do a little more, special teams, whatever it may be. So it is part of it, so you can’t exactly complain for having to do your job.”

At 4-7 and the playoffs out of the cards, the Jets need to use the final six games to evaluate everyone within the organization. It is unclear if Saleh and Douglas were given assurance they would return no matter what happens the rest of the season. However, it is time for the team to look towards the future.

Sure, Rodgers has stated that he wants to return this season, but it makes no sense for him with four backups on the offensive line and a team that’s headed for a top-10 draft pick. Even if Saleh, Douglas and Hackett all return for 2023, they should not do things that benefit Rodgers moving forward.

During the last offseason, the Jets acquired Hackett and Rodgers’ former teammates, Boyle, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Billy Turner.

Where has that gotten them? Lazard was a healthy scratch against the Dolphins, Cobb has just three catches and Turner struggled during his only start.

Saleh may not be worried about his job status currently. But with the decision-making this season, he should, depending on how the last six games of 2023 go.