Foot-In-Mouth Jets Now Believers In '09 Learning Curve

By Rich Santonocito, Empire Sports Now

Jets fans were so quick to become believers after their 3-0 start that each loss since then has hurt more and more. Even at 4-4 Jets fans still believed a playoff birth was possible. It's over now. Jets fans won't be disappointed for the rest of the season now that the Jets lost to the Jaguars and their playoff chances are shot.

Expectations have been lowered. All the talk, all the hype, all the hoopla is over. Rex Ryan and his players won't be doing much barking anymore. Kerry Rhodes isn't going to tell the media the Jets are going to "embarrass" the Patriots this week. It's doubtful Ryan is going to ask the Jets fans to be "prideful" and cheer louder anymore this season knowing the product on the field isn't giving fans anything to be prideful or cheer about.

“Maybe we’re not one of the best defenses in the league,” Bart Scott told The Associated Press.

The defense hasn't been able to finish games. The Jets have had some leads in the fourth quarter during this 1-6 skid but have given up late scores to lose. The defense hasn't been tackling well either. The Jets just find ways to lose games. If it's not their offense, it's their defense. If it's not their defense, it's their special teams. It's always something and it goes full circle.

“Now we’re 4-5 and we’re not impressive. We’re not scaring anybody. We’re not intimidating anybody coming onto the field, so that 3-0 start is a wash. That’s over with.” Braylon Edwards told AP.

The Jets know how to talk. We know that. What they don't know how to do is play sound football over a long stretch of games. They played well for three consecutive games to start the season and got Jets fans excited, optimistic about the new coach, new defensive scheme, anti-Mangini attitude, stud rookie quarterback out of USC, and vocalness of the team. Well, Jets fans jumped the gun. A long Super Bowl drought will do that.

Hopefully Ryan has learned a lot through the first 10 weeks of his coaching career. Hopefully Ryan and the Jets learned there's a difference between talking a big game and playing a big game. Ryan is also going to rethink his decision to give his players six days off during a bye week and take a look at his clock and timeout management.

I know Jets fans have learned not to get overexcited about a 3-0 start and all the hype that came with it, no matter if a win against the Patriots is included in the three wins. Three straight wins to start a season doesn't equate to 11-5 and a playoff berth.

The Jets and their fans have learned a lot in 2009. Ryan is going to be a better coach because of this experience.

Check out Rich's blog, Empire Sports Now, at http://empiresportsnow.com