'Saleh wasn't the issue for the Jets, it's Rodgers'

Former Buffalo Bills adjunct manager Phoebe Schecter is an NFL pundit and plays for Great Britain's emblem shot team.

Robert Saleh became the archetypal NFL caput manager to suffer their occupation this play arsenic helium was fired by the New York Jets aft past Sunday's nonaccomplishment successful London, and I was amazed that it happened truthful early.

It's not similar they person a unspeakable record. They're 2-3 and going into Monday Night Football against Buffalo, their divisional rivals. They could beryllium playing for archetypal successful their division, truthful it felt a spot abrupt truly but, ultimately, I don't deliberation Saleh was the issue.

When you bring successful a backmost similar four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers - 1 of the biggest names successful the athletics - you're bringing successful overmuch much than conscionable a player. He astir becomes his ain violative coordinator, right? That's not needfully an casual narration for a caput manager and backmost to have, and determination were signs of murkiness successful the h2o betwixt Saleh and Rodgers.

Rodgers had a truly bully crippled against the Patriots 3 weeks agone but determination was that infinitesimal erstwhile Saleh went to hug him and Rodgers pushed him away. Then aft losing to Denver, they some talked astir cadence issues and radical being held accountable. Those were signs it was going this mode but coming this soon, I deliberation it's unfortunate connected Saleh.

The Jets person made [defensive coordinator] Jeff Ulbrich the interim caput manager and helium said [quarterbacks coach] Todd Downing volition go the violative play-caller.

He's fundamentally demoted [offensive coordinator] Nathaniel Hackett, which I deliberation is what Saleh wanted to bash earlier helium was fired. But Saleh, a defensive-minded caput coach, had mislaid that powerfulness connected the violative broadside of the shot and I don't consciousness similar Rodgers would person been making that a bully situation for him.

I deliberation it's truly telling that arsenic soon arsenic Ulbrich gets into the role, helium demotes Hackett. Ulbrich's been there, he's seen what's going on, he's been successful each the squad meetings, truthful he's going to cognize what the contented is.

If we truly look astatine it, I deliberation the contented is that 40-year-old Rodgers isn't operating astatine his best. He's not arsenic mobile and helium threw 3 interceptions past Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings astatine Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

If we speech astir being accountable, you can't person what we telephone the BBL – atrocious assemblage language. On the past interception Rodgers threw, the Jets were going down the tract to triumph the crippled and helium had [wide receiver] Garrett Wilson open. He conscionable underthrew the shot connected that. But his contiguous absorption is shrugged shoulders, palms up, 'what are you doing?' You conscionable don't bash that.

Rodgers has brought successful his ain people, similar Hackett and [wide receiver] Allen Lazard. However, erstwhile Hackett was astatine the Green Bay Packers with Rodgers, helium was the violative coordinator but caput manager Matt LaFleur was inactive the play-caller.

For me, LaFleur was the genius down it, putting Rodgers successful the close positions. I deliberation Hackett's conscionable been doing what Rodgers wants to do, to play his benignant of football, but I don't deliberation that violative strategy champion fits the team.

Trading for [Raiders receiver] Davante Adams is thing I deliberation the Jets volition present look to do. They person the wage headdress abstraction to bash it and Rodgers volition privation it due to the fact that they person that narration from playing unneurotic for truthful agelong with the Packers.

The Jets inactive person each accidental to go a palmy team, but if they do, radical are going to deliberation 'oh, it's due to the fact that they fired Saleh'. That's not the case. Under Saleh, the Jets' defence has been successful the league's apical 5 and gave them a accidental of winning the past 2 games; it's the offence that has been beauteous overmuch bottommost of the pack.

The Jets person enactment themselves successful a comic presumption truthful it'll beryllium truly absorbing to spot what happens with a caller play-caller successful spot and however the defence operates now.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are present successful London, to play the Bears and the Patriots the adjacent 2 Sundays, and it's large to spot erstwhile Wales rugby subordinate Louis Rees-Zammit travelling with them.

He can't play this Sunday arsenic helium remains connected the Jags' signifier squad, aft spending the summertime with the Chiefs. They enactment him successful astatine moving backmost but that's a truly pugnacious presumption for him.

Not lone bash you person to cognize the plays, you person to work truthful much, and you whitethorn person to pass-block too, guessing wherever the [defensive] unit is coming from.

The Jags person turned him into a bigger-bodied slot receiver, wherever you person little to deliberation about. They're hoping he'll drawback the ball, marque a subordinate miss [the tackle] and run. That's much rugby-esque and thing I consciousness suits him better.

But peculiar teams is simply a large mode to get connected a roster and that has to beryllium thing the Jags are looking astatine - utilizing Louis arsenic a footwear returner, looking to get that 1 gap. That's what you privation to spot - him successful space, utilising his speed.

The biggest happening helium tin bash is showcase himself connected the signifier squad, support asking questions, and if an accidental comes, springiness it 110%.

Phoebe Schecter was speaking to BBC Sport's Ben Collins