Jets coach Rex Ryan isn't guaranteeing a Super Bowl win this time.
But after a preseason in which his team had serious problems even scoring a touchdown, he's still pretty optimistic heading into the regular season.
"Overall, in my opinion, I think this has a chance to be the best team that I've had since I've been the coach here," Ryan told the New York Daily News.
Ryan did use some qualifiers — "in my opinion," "has a chance" — but he clearly has great hope in a group of players that has shown more ability in practice scrums than it has in on-field performances.
For Ryan, it's all about potential.
"I think we understand complementary football," he told the Daily News. "Sometimes your offense is going to be rolling. Sometimes you're going to have to ask your defense to — that old hockey term — stand on their heads."
The Jets may be balanced — but they're balanced insofar as they're equally bad on both sides of the ball. They not only failed to score a touchdown until their fourth preseason game but also went 0-4 in the exhibitions, and injuries and media fatigue from training camp full of Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow headlines has this group starting from behind. Its talent is also a far cry from the Jets teams Ryan has led in recent years.
They've got "a chance." But Ryan is the one who's going to have to spin that chance into results.
Photo of the Day
The Reds' Brandon Phillips may need to duck. It looks like umpire Andy Fletcher is about to hock up a chest protector.
Quote of the Day
"I actually told David Hasselhoff how he helped me get through the tough times in childhood."
— Dwyane Wade, in his new book, A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger Than Basketball, where he says he used to watch Knight Rider with his grandmother when life was rough as a child
Tweet of the Day
Anyone else dealing with Bruins withdrawal?
“@nesn: NHL Talks Break Off, Leaving Lockout Probable as Season Start Approaches" … I won't survive this
— Jillian Hennessy (@jillhennessy13) September 1, 2012
Video of the Day
Brandon Inge tweaked his arm last night against the Red Sox and is headed for surgery. The play that started it all? In the video below. Yes, he is popping his arm back into its socket.
