Rex Ryan may be flirting with disaster.
The contentious and portly head coach of the Jets has elected to play all of his starters into the second quarter, including quarterback Mark Sanchez. While most head coaches opt for the starters — especially the quarterback — to play in only two or three series in the opening preseason game, Ryan is, once again, taking an unconventional approach.
Ryan says he wants to give his first-teamers a chance to play after such a long offseason. How generous.
There’s nothing wrong with building chemistry, especially when that comes when players don’t have to tackle members of their own team. However, the two-games-too-long exhibition season allows for starters to ease into the game again. Opting to leave his starters in there for about twice as long as most, Ryan is inviting the injury bug to bite a key contributor.
The Jets are talking Super Bowl, and it would be a real shame if, toward the end of the first quarter, Sanchez, left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, wide receiver Braylon Edwards, cornerback Antonio Cromartie or any other starter goes down.
Playing the Giants or not, the preseason means absolutely nothing to the Jets’ playoff hopes. Why Ryan is increasing the chance he loses a player for more playing time in a glorified scrimmage makes little sense.
