Gase may be ready to quit calling plays
Adam Gase’s latest lip service centers on giving up play-calling duties for the NFL’s undisputed worst offense. The Jets head coach left the door open that he might possibly renounce the only thing he’s supposedly good at to help reverse the fortunes of a lifeless 0-5 team.
“For the last four years, I’ve toyed with the idea every once in a while,” Gase said Monday after his latest offensive flop that generated 10 points. “I mean, I don’t think I’m ever opposed to trying something to change things up. I’d say everything is on the table at this point.”
It’s nice to know that a guy with a 3040 record as a head coach has had a few fleeting thoughts of giving up playcalling duties over the past few years. But seeing is believing.
It’s unclear what such a brilliant offensive mind would do if he weren’t calling the plays. Gase has no say on any part of the defense. He isn’t a leader of men. He doesn’t galvanize. He doesn’t inspire.
He calls plays. And very poorly.
The numbers reveal the truth.
Gase’s offense ranks dead last in scoring, passing, scoring margin, first downs, red-zone offense, points per play and yards per pass attempt. The Jets are 31st in total yards, offensive touchdowns, yards per play and punts per play. They’re 30th in time of possession and 28th in third-down offense. Their 22nd-ranked rushing offense is skewed thanks to plays by people other than running backs. Gase’s running backs are averaging 3.4 yards per carry.
It’s almost a statistical impossibility to be this bad.
Gase’s average margin of victory as an NFL head coach is 7.6 points. His average margin of defeat is 16.5 points. He’s lost one out of every three games in his career by at least two touchdowns. He’s lost one out of every five games by at least 20 points.
Gase said that he thinks that he gave up play-calling duties for “maybe a couple preseason games” at some point in the past, but he hasn’t actually done so when it counts.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. And you’d be hard pressed to find a more desperate coach than the one whose team has morphed into the league laughingstock.
So, Gase is now selling the idea of letting someone else call plays. The smartest choice would be letting running backs coach Jim Bob Cooter, who had some success as the Lions offensive coordinator, take over. Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains is another option.
Regardless, would Gase actually swallow his pride and give up the one thing that he actually believes he’s good at? Remember, Gase was hired to bring out the best in Sam Darnold.
So, is there any actual upside for him to let Cooter or Loggains take over for a couple games? If Darnold improves or shines, it’s an indictment on Gase, who couldn’t take back play-calling duties at that point.
If Darnold, whose availability for Sunday’s game in Miami is unclear as he works his way back from a shoulder injury, continues to struggle, then Gase is still a goner at the end of the season at the very latest.
“I think I’m considering everything,” Gase said. “I’m just looking at everything and just trying to figure out whatever can help us turn things in the right direction. I mean, I’ll be all for it.”
Coaching football to where it’s going is harder than it looks.