The Buffalo Bills sit at 0-2 and have already fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman. But Rex Ryan wants us all to know that defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is not to blame. In fact, no coach is doing his job better than his brother.
Rex Ryan says brother/DC Rob is doing 'as good a job as anybody coaching in this league.' Cool story bro
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) September 19, 2016
Okay, then.
If Rex is being serious, we can only deduce that he must have a really low opinion of the players on his defense. Otherwise, there’s really no way to back this up.
In the two primary stats, the Bills defense has been bad. Buffalo ranks No. 23 in yards per game (400.5) and is No. 22 in points allowed per game (25).
Really, the list only goes on from there.
The Bills are 24th in first downs allowed per game (23), 24th in passing yards (297.5) and 14th in rushing yards (103).
Buffalo is also one of seven teams yet to record an interception. The two quarterbacks whom the Bills have faced — Joe Flacco and Ryan Fitzpatrick — each tossed at least one pick in their other outings this year.
So, what standard are we talking about here, Rex?
Anyone looking objectively at Buffalo’s defense has seen a unit that’s been average to bad in nearly every conceivable way.
Is it possible that Ryan just doesn’t want to criticize his brother?
If so, that’s fair enough. But perhaps one shouldn’t hire someone to a subordinate position if he can’t objectively assess the job that his underling is doing.
That’s one problem. It’s not the only one.
We also have to remember how hard it must be for Rex to criticize the defense.
While Rob is the defensive coordinator, Rex is a defensive-minded head coach. He was an elite defensive coordinator before getting hired as head coach of the New York Jets. While in New York, he didn’t have much of a stamp on the offense. The same has been true in Buffalo. The defense is his baby.
When Ryan led-teams have been successful, the defense has been the strength.
Being critical of the defensive coordinator is also being critical of the defense. That’s something that Rex can’t do. If he can’t run a team with a good defense, he can’t be a head coach in this league.
Rex can certainly say and even feel whatever he wants. But the numbers don’t lie.
If Rob continues doing the job how he’s done it over the first two weeks, smart money would suggest that neither Ryan brother will make it to Week 17. If either man is satisfied with the job being done in Buffalo, neither should make it to anywhere near the end of the season.