Former NY Jets coach’s comment illuminates culture questions

Oh, look, the New York Jets got dunked on again by a former employee.

It must be a Monday.

Jokes aside, the former passing game coordinator’s two-word message about how much he hates the Jets following his dismissal shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anyone. While New York’s passing offense was among the worst in football, the struggles had more to do with personnel than anything Turner (or offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand) could do.

Therein lies the Jets’ issue. For the last 15 years, they have been the victim of former players and coaches taking shots at them for their lack of competency as an NFL organization.

If there’s one reason for that, though, it all comes back to the farce of their push to create a good culture in the building.

‘Culture’ in all the wrong places

Culture in the NFL is a myth; it always has been.

The Jets are chasing a myth, as ridiculous as they are chasing the likes of a flying pig or a pegasus in Greek mythology. It never existed.

As much as fans want to believe the only thing the organization needs changing is its culture, that highlights their own belief in something that doesn’t actually affect the win-loss column.

Winning creates a good culture. Losing creates a bad one. If the Jets want to actually change their culture, they need people who can deliver early victories through scheme and adjustments.

Not through “culture.”

In many ways, that is the true failing of Aaron Glenn in his first season as Jets head coach. He believed the changing of the organization’s culture would turn the tide for everyone involved.

Instead, the organization’s week-to-week strategy was so bad that the three-win Jets looked worse than they ever had in franchise history.

Turner’s comments are not unlike any other failing team in the NFL. Anonymous sources reign supreme in organizations that struggle year-round. When an organization is winning, those same comments can’t be found.

If Jets fans want to truly see a culture-changer in their coaching staff, they need someone who can coach to the modern demands of the NFL game. A coach who preaches culture without schematics will have neither and be out of a job before long.

While Scott Turner’s comments are hardly surprising, they should be taken as yet another warning shot in Aaron Glenn’s direction.

His search for a pegasus (culture) isn’t working. It’s time to adapt.