Silverman: Rebuilding Jets Are So Much Better Off Without Blustering Rex Ryan
By Steve Silverman
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As we head into Week 2 of the NFL schedule, one of the most compelling stories resides in upstate New York where Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills are stomping and snorting.
The Bills are coming off a rare winning season, and they hired Rex to take them even further in 2015. As Jets fans know, that's a rather dubious proposition. Ryan has certainly been able to talk a good game throughout his coaching career, and he has some legitimate coaching assets. However, when it comes to winning the biggest games and delivering in the clutch, he has fallen short every time.
The Bills won their opener in impressive fashion over the Indianapolis Colts, a team that has legitimate aspirations of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl in February.
Ryan has some brilliant players on defense at his disposal in Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Nigel Bradham and Corey Graham, and they made life miserable for Andrew Luck in the opener. Ryan, the master of the bold move, also made Tyrod Taylor his No. 1 quarterback, and he was quite successful during his Week 1 start.
Not only did Taylor show off his athletic ability and running skill, he also looked like a real NFL quarterback, completing 14 of 19 passes against the Colts.
So, Ryan is now prepared to play a game with AFC East ramification as the Bills host the Patriots in Week 2.
Ryan has his team worked into a frenzy to play the defending Super Bowl champions. Jets fans are quite familiar with Ryan's ways prior to playing the Patriots. He enjoys nothing more than finding a way to stay close to Bill Belichick's team and possibly outsmarting his old rival.
He may well do it this week, as the Bills have a strong team and the look of contenders right now.
But it's only mid-September and though its a big game, it's not that big of a game. That's why Jets fans are so much better off without Ryan and with Todd Bowles.
Ryan gets so worked up over an early season game, he really doesn't see the big picture. The idea is not to spill his team's bucket to win in Week 2. The idea is to work with his team so that it gets better and better and can challenge New England for superiority in December and January.
The Bills could find themselves at a big disadvantage no matter how this game plays out. You prepare for this game like it's the Super Bowl and win, and then try to rally the troops again for the Dolphins in Week 3 or the Giants the following week, and you may have a hard time matching the expectations set forth the previous week.
If you lose to Belichick and Tom Brady after telling your players that you are at the same level or better, the coach may have a hard time maintaining his credibility.
Here's the real issue for the Bills, and Ryan knows it whether he is saying it or not. They have an untested quarterback. Taylor has some talent, and he showed in his first game that he is capable of putting it together and playing well.
However, he has no real experience. Last Sunday's game against the Colts was the first start of his NFL career. He is going to have a learning curve and that almost always comes with losses and key interceptions thrown at the worst possible moments.
There have been exceptions, and the biggest is Kurt Warner. When he got his chance with the St. Louis Rams, he dominated right from the start. But the young and healthy Warner was one of the most gifted and accurate passers of all-time. Taylor has had one good game and has proven nothing.
That's why the Jets are much better off with Bowles as head coach. Like Ryan, he is a former defensive coordinator who earned a reputation for being one of the best around. But unlike Ryan, he does not need to pontificate, command media attention or engage in a personal duel with a vastly superior rival.
It's not about Bowles's ego, but it is with Ryan.
Bowles wants the Jets to be better in Week 2 than they were in Week 1 and then continue that development going forward. He has a gameplan and a style.
Ryan certainly knows how to bluster and pound the drum. However, it's not merely about the now.
The great coaches prepare and play for the season, and don't go overboard for one game.
Follow Steve on Twitter at @ProFootballBoy
