Through five weeks of the NFL season, the New York Jets defense was among the best in football and gave up just over 17 points per game.
But the team's 2-3 record was enough to get the architect of that defense, Robert Saleh, fired as head coach of the organization. Since then, to say the Jets defense has been a disaster would be an understatement.
A massive one.
Since Week 6, New York has allowed 26.2 points per game - 24th in the league and 17 spots lower than when Saleh was head coach.
When the Jets opted to fire Saleh with the team preparing for a contest against the Buffalo Bills, the team had everything in front of them. A win at home against Buffalo would give the organization a lead in the division.
Instead, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich didn't just lead the team through the loss, but the team won just one game in the last eight contests. While Ulbrich previously called plays on the defensive side of the ball, his journey to interim head coach hasn't been the best of times for himself or the team.
It's something that some prominent members of the team have made clear as well.
"I have noticed that. The last couple games, we haven't played to our standard on defense," Reed said. "We've given up touchdowns, we've given up explosive plays. I can't really account to what it is. Coach Ulbrich does have a lot on his plate, but he's a grown man and he can handle it. I just think it comes down to executing and playing our role."
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Jets owner Woody Johnson consistently said that he alone decided to move on from Saleh just five games into the season.
Reed's comments have seemingly made it clear that Johnson didn't even consult key members on the roster.
That decision alone may have sunk the Jets season more than anything else. At the very least it doesn't sound like players are pleased with the lack of stability that the team has provided at this point.
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