The Jets have made a decision with serious consequences, after five weeks of the 2024 season, Robert Saleh is leaving.
However, the defensive coach has not only done bad things during his tenure in New York. However, the comparison with its recent predecessors remains less than complimentary.
The choice made by Woody Johnson, the president of the Jets, becomes intriguing when we look at Robert Saleh's specialty, defense. The latter has never been so strong and well built.
Robert Saleh on unfavorable waiver
Robert Saleh failed in building his staff. First, he failed with his friend Mike Lafleur, offensive coordinator of the Jets from 2021 to 2022 who over these two campaigns finished with the 3e worst team on offense (-0.079 EPA/game). He then repeated the performance with Nathaniel Hackett in 2023 and 2024. The offense sank to become the worst in the league (-0.192 EPA/game). In addition, Robert Saleh has often been the subject of criticism regarding his choices on 4e attempts as well as the chronic indiscipline of his team. With Saleh, New York recorded 357 penalties (4e since 2021).
Who says attack also says, quarterback. And at this level the failure was bitter. With high persuasiveness in his first years, Robert Saleh was involved in some questionable picks when looking at them in 2024. Zach Wilson was the Jets' first draft selection in the Saleh era. 34 games, 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions later, he is no longer part of the squad.
The coach's overall assessment after three and a half years of work is bleak. The coach won 20 matches and lost 36. He never had a single positive season. As an element of comparison, his recent predecessors who, like him, have failed to bring this team to the playoffs since 2011:
- Rex Ryan (2011-2014): 26 wins – 38 losses (40.6% win)
- Todd Bowles (2015-2018): 24 wins – 40 losses (37.5%)
- Adam Gase (2019-2020): 9 wins – 23 losses (28.1%)
- Robert Saleh (2021-2024): 20 wins – 36 losses (35.7%)
Objection your honor, floor to the defense
But Robert Saleh is above all a defensive technician. And in this register, the muscular bald man delivered his promises. Since 2021 and his taking office, the Jets defense has experienced exponential progression. His “rookie” year saw him finish as leader of the worst defense in terms of points conceded (29.6 per game). But after a year and resources given to build a team that meets its expectations (7 changes out of 11 starters between 2021 and 2022), Robert Saleh's defense has become the one which concedes the fewest points per series, the most effective ( -0.082 EPA/game for opponents) while being the fourth to spend the most time on the field.
During Saleh's reign, Joe Douglas (GM) didn't go far wrong with his premium draft picks at defensive positions. Sauce Gardner (CB), Jermaine Johnson II (OLB) and Will McDonald IV (OLB), all picks of the 1e in turn, have become very good players and even references to their position. If the coach is not the majority decision-maker in these situations, he always has to assert his part of desire and the need to have players who respond to his system.
Nebulous choices
Decisions… This is a final, fairly subjective point that is also important to explore. It is impossible to say Robert Saleh's share of responsibility in the choice of Nathaniel Hackett (OC) and Aaron Rodgers (QB) in 2023. However, recently, the understanding did not seem good between the head coach and the two men. These differences could have accelerated its fall.
Last example that gives a little more weight to Saleh's defense: the way in which the Jets fired him. Robert Saleh is the first coach fired by Woody Johnson during the season. The Jets owner did not consult Aaron Rodgers or the rest of the front office. Woody Johnson made this decision alone. Robert Saleh was not allowed to speak to the squad or his staff. He was escorted out of the facilities by security. Deserved or not, the end of this story portrayed by the media is sad.
