Why former executive doesn't see Jets turning things around under Jeff Ulbrich

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh earlier this month in an apparent attempt to give what was a 2-3 club some type of spark. 

The Jets subsequently lost three straight games with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich serving as their interim head coach and with quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Todd Downing serving as the team's offensive play-caller.

For a piece published Thursday, former NFL executive Vinny Cerrato spoke with ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini and suggested that Johnson should've realized moving on from Saleh during the season was never going to fix what ailed the Jets over portions of the campaign's first five weeks.

"Once you fire the coach, forget it," Cerrato explained. "It's not going to work. Everything has to go right or they're going to shut it down because they know change is coming. With the Jets, they all know. Everybody is going to be fired there."

Multiple stats show that New York's defense has played worse following the firing of Saleh. In this past Sunday's 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots, the Jets somewhat shockingly surrendered two fourth-quarter scoring drives against journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett. 

Meanwhile, Downing thus far has not been able to help future Hall of Fame signal-caller Aaron Rodgers turn the clock back. Even Rodgers is seemingly scrambling for answers as he tries to reclaim his best form coming off the torn Achilles he suffered in September 2023. 

It's widely believed Johnson could part ways with both Rodgers and general manager Joe Douglas if the Jets miss the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season. 

"Johnson might have underestimated the impact it would have on the locker room," Cimini said about the firing of Saleh. "While no player has publicly questioned the move, the change did upset some players, according to two sources close to the situation. One of the franchise's all-time greats, Hall of Fame center Kevin Mawae, told ESPN it was 'a head-scratching move for a lot of people on the outside.'"

Retired quarterback and current CBS Sports NFL analyst Matt Ryan raised eyebrows when he said this past weekend that "there are no more moves to be made in the New York Jets organization for this season" after the club went 0-2 following the acquisition of star wide receiver Davante Adams. 

One wonders if the Jets could become sellers ahead of next Tuesday's trade deadline if they lose to the 6-2 Houston Texans on Thursday night.