After the Jets’ fourth loss in a row on Friday despite what was a new hope in quarterback Tim Boyle, head coach Robert Saleh knew he had to say something different and effective to his team upon its return to the team’s facility in Florham Park.
The Jets (4-7) have six games remaining in the regular season to find a groove while their playoff chances are still barely alive.
On Monday, guard Laken Tomlinson shared Saleh’s message to the team.
“He challenged us. He challenged us so we can all be better as players and coaches. And what we really need to get back to is just controlling the stuff that we can control,” Tomlinson said. “So, I thought it was a really good message because I definitely feel that there’s definitely some things that we can definitely do, especially in myself, that [we can] try to do more of to try to help the team.
“And then another thing coach said was just go be who you are. Do everything that you can within your world to do your job. And you know, it’s not just for players but for coaches as well. I thought it was a really good message because, obviously, looking at it individually, I feel I can do more for the team.”
It has been a rough go for the Jets in a season that brought so much promise with four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowler Aaron Rodgers.
That was until the quarterback suffered a tear in his Achilles four snaps into the season opener game against the Bills.
In the decision to bench Zach Wilson for Boyle, Saleh hoped something would catch, but Miami showed otherwise.
On Monday’s episode of ESPN Radio’s “The Michael Kay Show,” Saleh said the tough road over the last few weeks has been because of players “pressing,” trying to make the “hero play.”
Now, he is focused on getting on some kind of positive track to end the season, whenever that may be.
“Everyone’s working their tail off. Everyone’s trying to figure it out. With these last six games, it’s a simple challenge, and I think when you’re struggling the normal response from everyone, coaches and players alike, is to try to do it yourself,” Saleh said. “Coaches trying to find the perfect play. Players trying to create the biggest explosives [plays]. And all we’re doing is making things worse rather than stick to the things we built in OTAs and training camp.
“And try to find ways to get better every single day with the guys in the lineup and focus on the things that we got control over. It just hasn’t been good, especially since the Giants game when the wheels fell off with the O-line injuries that we suffered in that game. But we’ll get it back going. We’re going to get better in these next six games and find a way to put out a much more competitive product.”
Across the past couple of off days the team has had, Saleh said he hoped his players are ready to reset and refocus moving forward.
The message seems to have been received well by the Jets coaches, players, and staff.
“It’s just constructive criticism,” as linebacker Jermaine Johnson called it on Monday.
“At the end of the day, it’s just somebody wanting you to be the best version of yourself and coach wants us to be the best version of this team as we can be,” Johnson said. “So, that’s how I take it. I’m pretty sure that’s how you know most everybody takes it. So, just take it as a challenge and look to fix what he had up there for us to fix.”
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