Top 5 Issues Facing New York Jets After 1-4 Start

The Jets are currently 5th in the NFL in total penalties and 4th in penalty yards, absolutely unacceptable numbers. Making matters worse, many of those penalties have been foolish pre or post snap infractions, such as offsides and personal fouls. Rex Ryan has to do a better job getting his team disciplined and focused, because penalties are making already challenging games that much harder.

What Eric Decker's injury has proven is that the Jets don’t have enough depth at receiver. Jeremy Kerley is doing the best he can, but David Nelson, Greg Salas, and tight ends Jeff Cumberland and Jace Amaro don't pose enough of a threat to balance out the passing game. This can't be fixed now (barring a highly unlikely blockbuster trade), but the Jets have to get another starting caliber receiver this offseason.

The Jets' cornerback situation consists of an injury prone and still developing first round pick (Milliner), a converted safety (Allen), two career backups (Walls and Adams), and a first round bust the team doesn't trust to play outside the slot (Wilson). That will lead to disaster in the pass happy NFL, as it has throughout this four game losing streak. The Jets' corners are doing the best they can, but they’re in over their heads.

The Jets had high hopes for Smith in his second year, but they have come crashing back to earth in the form of a 58.1% completion percentage and 5 total touchdowns against 6 interceptions and 4 fumbles. Smith hasn't improved his accuracy or decision making, which are the two biggest reasons he is struggling and the team is losing. If they can't get Smith to play mistake free and at least decently effective football, the season will be lost.

When a building design doesn't make any sense, you blame the architect, not the construction crew. It's not Rex Ryan's fault (or his staff or the players) that GM John Idzik has failed to build a complete and competitive roster over the last two seasons. Idzik's thrifty approach to free agency and poor draft record have left the Jets thin and bereft of talent at key positions. Idzik deserves more blame for the 1-4 start than anyone.