'Dumbest call I've ever seen': Ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan says Gregg Williams' blitz call 'just stupid'
The Monday morning quarterbacking of New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' decision to send the house as his team led by four points late in the game has been pointed and critical.
One of the harshest reviews came from ex-Jets head coach Rex Ryan on ESPN's "Get Up!"
"Dumbest call I’ve ever seen," Ryan said. "Been around the thing for 58 years, 30 years as a coach. That’s the dumbest call ever. There's no other way of putting it."
The Jets clung to a 28-24 lead over the Las Vegas Raiders when Williams’ playcall included an all-out blitz. That left cornerback Lamar Jackson matched up one-on-one with rookie receiver Henry Ruggs, the first wideout selected in this year’s draft. Ruggs used his 4.27-second 40-yard dash speed to blow by Jackson and settle under quarterback Derek Carr’s rainbow heave in the end zone.
The Raiders took a 31-28 lead with five seconds left and sent the Jets to 0-12 on the season, which puts New York in prime position for the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft.
On Monday, the Jets fired Williams.
"There’s a time and a place for cover-zero," Ryan said. "That sure ain’t it. It’s just stupid. It's just absolutely stupid.
"They don't even know how to run the cover-zero blitz. ... Not only was it the stupidest call ever, they don't even know how to run dang cover-zero blitz. And you wonder why they give up 400 yards a game, you wonder why this team hasn't won a game."
New York has allowed 398.8 yards per game to opposing offenses, while teams average 29.4 points against them — the third-worst mark in the NFL.
"The Jets have been the laughingstock of the league," Ryan said. "For you to put those (players) in that situation, to take the moment away from them — a win, after all their hard work — that's just ridiculous."
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.