The Jets’ continuous nose dive in 2019 won’t affect the future of head coach Adam Gase — at least for now.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that Jets owner Christopher Johnson will “remain patient” with the first-year coach despite deafening calls from the fan base and New York market to show Gase the door.
The 41-year-old has gone 1-7 in his first eight games with the Jets entering Sunday’s underwhelming rivalry match with the in-stadium rivals, the Giants.
He’s failed to live up to the hype of being an offensive mastermind that was going to help the development of second-year quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold has actually regressed under Gase, throwing nine interceptions in his last four games. Performing behind an offensive line that has put him under pressure hasn’t helped, either.
But Gase and new general manager Joe Douglas — who was brought in after the head coach was hired by former GM Mike Maccagnan — have been together for only five months and have not had a full offseason together.
That includes missing out on the start of free agency in March and the NFL Draft the following month.
It’s that notion that is believed to be the reason why Johnson isn’t ready to move on from Gase just yet.
The offseason will allow Gase and Douglas to upgrade the roster in their own vision rather than tweaking what was put together by Maccagnan. That will include reconstructing the offensive line, strengthening the secondary, and accruing more playmakers for Darnold to work with.
Johnson’s philosophy could change with the entire second half of the season remaining. The Jets have been one of the more embarrassing stories of the 2019 NFL season and a miserable final stretch by Gase could push the envelope.
