Robert Saleh has misplaced 12 video games thus far in his rookie season as an NFL head coach.
He additionally has misplaced some 25 kilos.
Such is the lifetime of an NFL head coach — significantly the lifetime of a head coach employed to alter the wayward path of a Jets franchise that hasn’t tasted the fruits of a single playoff sport in 11 seasons.
Saleh has completed an admirable job on numerous issues in his first 12 months as a head coach. A kind of issues has been masking the inherent stress that comes with the job. He seems no worse for the wear and tear than he did the day he was employed. He stays impossibly optimistic — maybe extra optimistic than any head coach in NFL historical past with a 4-12 report.
“I used to be speaking to my spouse [Thursday] night time [and] I feel I’ve misplaced about 25 kilos, so I acquired to get that again,’’ Saleh mentioned Friday, two days earlier than the Jets’ season finale towards the Payments in Orchard Park. “It’s been a curler coaster that we had been anticipating.’’
Saleh, as he usually factors out, has been part of 4 earlier rebuilding franchises as an assistant coach (Houston, Seattle, Jacksonville and San Francisco) earlier than he was employed by the Jets to run his personal store.
“You don’t actually know till you’re really in it,’’ he mentioned of the pains of being a first-time head coach. “If you speak to the folks round, speak to you guys [reporters], speak to followers … the scars run fairly deep and also you’re making an attempt to soak up all of it and also you’re making an attempt to grasp it.’’
You must be round these elements for some time earlier than you really get a grasp of simply how deep the scars of the Jets’ followers run. No playoff sport for the reason that 2010 season. Not a single Tremendous Bowl look for the reason that 1969 season. Too many head coaches, common managers and failed franchise quarterbacks to depend, spinning by means of the turnstile.
When each new Jets coach walks within the door, he instantly bears the brunt of the coaches who failed earlier than him. Similar with the quarterback. Jets rookie Zach Wilson, for instance, has nothing to do with what Sam Darnold and the quarterbacks earlier than him had been unable to perform, simply as Saleh has nothing to do with the issues Adam Gase, Todd Bowles and the coaches earlier than them didn't do.
Saleh’s finest weapon to fight this affliction distinctive to the Jets is his angle, which has by no means wavered throughout a season that has featured too many losses, too many gamers misplaced to damage and COVID-19 and too a lot of his personal errors as a rookie head coach.
“There’s a whole lot of confidence on this constructing and the path we’re getting into,’’ Saleh mentioned.
Saleh, extremely perceptive in regards to the setting wherein he resides, then stealthily took a unique tack than Giants second-year coach Joe Choose took throughout his 11-minute filibuster following final week’s loss at Chicago. Choose buried the earlier regime for permitting a foul tradition to seep into the locker room.
“It’s to not say that there have been unhealthy folks in place earlier than,’’ Saleh mentioned. “I feel you rent the folks you rent and also you do the most effective you may and no matter occurs, occurs. Talking for [general manager] Joe [Douglas] and myself, [we’re] simply actually excited in regards to the basis that we’ve been in a position to lay down right here.
“It has not been easy, by any sense of the creativeness, which I feel we will all agree on. However I feel there’s been large steps close to studying, perceive one another, understanding the fan base, understanding this group, you guys [reporters], and actually making an attempt to construct one thing that’s going to have longevity.
“That’s why this sport [against the Bills on Sunday], together with the offseason, is de facto, actually thrilling and it’s going to be a enjoyable subsequent few months.’’
Particular groups coach Brant Boyer is working for his third Jets head coach since he was employed by the membership in 2016, and he likes what he sees in Saleh.
“I feel he’s has completed an excellent job,’’ mentioned Boyer, who was employed by Bowles, survived the two-year Gase run and was retained by Saleh. “He’s acquired a terrific message. If I used to be a participant, I’d need to play for him. He’s optimistic on a regular basis, he does a pleasant job reinforcing his message on a regular basis.
“He’s stored the ship afloat [with] his message and his positivity the place lots of people wouldn’t have the ability to try this.’’
Now, about these 25 kilos?
“I haven’t been in a position to get into the burden room as a lot as I need to [and] I don’t eat as a lot as I usually would,’’ Saleh mentioned of the pains of the season. “It’s a bit little bit of the whole lot.’’
Every part, in fact, is what you get when signal as much as coach the Jets.
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