Joe Namath Keeps Ripping Jets

Added on Oct 04, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

Yesterday, legendary Jets quarterback Joe Namath took time out from his busy schedule of getting hammered and hitting on sideline reporters to smash the Jets for their poor play in Sunday night’s 34-17 loss to the Ravens. Namath was critical of a handful of Jets players, most notably wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who himself slammed quarterback Mark Sanchez and the beleaguered offensive line after the defeat.

Namath vented his ire on The Michael Kay radio show on Monday afternoon.

“For Holmes, as a captain, to go outside, to the media, and start pointing fingers. … I mean, he’s right about the ball getting out late to him (on the interception), and he’s right about the offensive line, but that can create a problem in the locker room. … That divisiveness can bury a team. They’ve got to correct that right away.”

A fractured locker room is not a good thing, especially this early in the season. As for Holmes, he’s been a major disappointment through four games with 13 catches for 164 yards and one touchdown. On Sunday night, he was targeted 12 times but caught only three passes for 33 yards.

Holmes’ lack of production can be attributed to both Sanchez’s inaccuracy and the offensive line’s inability to slow down the opposing pass rush. However, Holmes should probably look in the mirror because he’s dropped several catchable balls.

Holmes aside, Namath also called out the Jets front office for failing to draft quality backups on the offensive line.

“Right now, it’s scary,” Namath said of the line. “There’s no depth, no quality depth. Putting Ducasse in the game, and moving Slauson over in the game, was a real reach, man. You get to look at these players every day in practice. I know coach Bill Callahan … is a heck of a coach, but come on, who are we trying to convince that these players are quality?”

He’s right. Vladimir Ducasse is a bust. But with All-Pro Nick Mangold sidelined with a high ankle sprain, they have little choice but to roll with undrafted rookie Colin Baxter at center. Most NFL teams don’t have the luxury of carrying quality depth due to roster limitations. All it takes is a couple of injuries to completely destroy chemistry.

That being said, the Jets lack of a sustained run game is a problem that must be addressed. Head coach Rex Ryan vowed the ‘Ground and Pound’ offense would return for Week 5. That’s all well and good, but unless Shonn Greene improves on his 3.1 yards per carry average, ‘Ground and Pound’ won’t work.

Right now, the Jets are a dysfunctional team at 2-2. The time to complain and point fingers is over. A trip to play the hated Patriots awaits.

Source: ESPN.com