New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was fired Monday, is being ripped for the decision to send an all-out blitz while his team was leading the Las Vegas Raiders by four points on Sunday with seconds remaining on the clock.
One of the harshest reviews came from former Jets head coach Rex Ryan, who called the play one of the worst he has ever seen while speaking 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."
Rex Ryan on the Jets and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams using a Cover 0 blitz:
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 7, 2020
"Dumbest call I've ever seen. Been around the game for 58 years, 30 years as a coach, that's THE dumbest call ever." pic.twitter.com/0FmMRnkYj2
The Jets were holding onto a 28-24 lead over the Raiders when Williams made the call to blitz, which left rookie cornerback Lamar Jackson one-on-one with Henry Ruggs III, who was the first wide receiver selected in this year's draft. Ruggs used his speed to blow by Jackson and catch Derek Carr's Hail Mary to help Las Vegas win 31-28.
The Jets, who remain winless, are the clear-cut favorite to land Clemson standout Trevor Lawrence in the upcoming NFL draft. It almost seems like New York was trying to lose on Sunday in order to preserve its odds of landing the star quarterback, though there's no way to confirm.
New York is now four losses away from a winless campaign, which would be the first in franchise history, and worst since the 1996 campaign when the team finished 1-15.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!