NY Jets under Coach Rex Ryan: Boom or Bust?

Under promise and over deliver. That’s a saying that is used quite a bit in sales. Keep the bar low and you’ll easily be able to exceed expectations, thus looking like a hero. I don’t know about you, but I can’t tell you how many movies I have been disappointed in because I expected more than they delivered.




Coaches have learned to take that to a whole different level. No matter who his team is about to play, the coach would warn all who would listen that his team was up against it this week. I can still hear legendary Lou Holtz fretting about “Bill and Mary”. I’m sure that whatever school Lou was coaching at the time was favored by at least three touchdowns over that annual powerhouse, William and Mary College.



Now let’s check in on how NY Jets coach, Rex Ryan, has chosen to handle this part of his job as an NFL coach. Not exactly with the same “better watch out for Bill and Mary” attitude that Lou had. Rex makes no bones about his desire to be front and center with high expectations for his team. He has put the bulls eye smack dab in the middle of the back of everyone in the Jets’ organization. He has said he is there to win championships and wants the Jets to be the team that everyone hates.



It’s an interesting approach. On the one hand, it riles up every team that the Jets play. It produces tons of bulletin board material for the other team and certainly intensifies their focus on beating the team across from them that week, the Jets. On the other hand, it fires his team up. It gives the Jets swagger to know their coach believes in them so strongly.



I’m fascinated to see how this turns out. Do the Jets take that bravado on the field and conquer? Or do they end up like so many of the movies I have been disappointed in? Over promised and under delivered.