CLEVELAND -- A look at what's happening around the New York Jets:
1. Among the best-to-worst: The Jets have a lot of problems, and one of the biggest is the on-field chemistry between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall. It's non-existent. By one statistical measure, they're the worst quarterback-receiver tandem.
Fitzpatrick has completed only 44.6 percent of his attempts to Marshall, the lowest mark of any duo in the NFL (minimum: 20 catches), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. A year ago, they connected at a 64.3-percent clip. They had something special in 2015, considering it was their first season together. They were -- dare we say it? -- magical.
"Not so magical right now," Marshall said.
What's happening? A lot of things/ Inaccurate passes. Not enough separation. Too many drops (five). No Eric Decker, which has allowed teams to overplay Marshall. It's just not pretty, and yet Fitzpatrick keeps firing away. Marshall has 65 targets, ninth in the league. The play that raised eyebrows in the organization was a third-and-1 pass last week in the fourth quarter. Marshall ran a quick slant, and had a step on his man, but the throw was behind him and went off his hands. One insider told me he was surprised Fitzpatrick threw in that situation.
A year ago, they would've made that play.
2. Let's make a deal (or not): The NFL trading deadline (Tuesday) usually turns out to be much ado about nothing -- a lot of talk, no action. It would be a surprise if the Jets do anything of significance. At 2-5, it wouldn't make sense to give up a draft pick for a player. This team needs to stockpile picks, not give them away.
Could the Jets be sellers? They have only two marketable commodities, Marshall and Sheldon Richardson, and they wouldn't get enough for either one to make it worthwhile. The real question is whether they keep them in the offseason. Richardson will be looking for a long-term contract and Marshall's age (33 next season) and salary ($7.5 million) could put his roster spot in jeopardy.
3. Looking to cash in: Richardson believes his versatility will "give me more money" in his next contract. His hope is that teams (i.e. the Jets) will look past his modest sack total (only 1.5) and pay him for his all-around ability.
This has become a minor issue because Richardson played his best game of the year last week when used in his natural position, the 3-technique (lined up on the outside shoulder of the guard). He got a chance to play there because Muhammad Wilkerson was sidelined, prompting them to go back to a 3-4 front. Richardson said it was the first time under the Bowles regime he played the position. That's not true (see the graphic), but it certainly raises questions about how he's being deployed.
Coach Todd Bowles believes it's a non-story, and that Richardson is good wherever they put him.
4. He said what? Darrelle Revis’ comments to Newsday about his health -- "My body's breaking down" -- were sad and disappointing. It's sad to hear an all-time great acknowledge Father Time is getting the best of him at the age of 31. At the same time, it's disappointing because it sends a bad message. It tells me he's looking for excuses. Revis fancies himself as a leader, but that's not how a leader deals with adversity. No one wants to hear about injuries, especially from a guy making $1 million per week. He's only 23 games into a huge deal that's paying him $39 million guaranteed through 2017.
5. Westy goes to college: Former Jets special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff, who retired after the 2012 season, still is making an impact on the game -- the college game. He works as a consultant for Clemson, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Penn State and Notre Dame, sharing his wealth of knowledge with coaches from those schools.
"I've been having a ball," Westhoff said.
Rule changes in the NFL have watered down special-teams play, but his creative schemes still work well in college. Westhoff finds it tremendously satisfying, and he has received a lot of positive feedback from coaches. They love him in State College, Pennsylvania, that's for sure. Penn State blocked a field goal and a punt in their huge upset of Ohio State, using schemes that Westhoff said he suggested. In Clemson's win over Louisville, the Tigers had a 77-yard kickoff return on a play called "Jet Left" -- yes, a play from his old Jets playbook.
Typically, Westhoff visits the campus for a day, meets with the coaches and observes practice. By rule, he's not allowed to talk to the players.
"In the NFL, they squeezed the kicking game out of existence," he said. "The things I used to do, you can't do anymore. But I can do them in college."
6. Second-round curse: Yes, it strikes again. Geno Smith is having knee surgery, meaning each second-round pick from 2012 to 2015 has dealt with major surgery -- Stephen Hill (knee), Smith (knee), Jace Amaro (shoulder) and Devin Smith (knee). Hill and Amaro are no longer with the team, and Smith likely will be playing elsewhere in 2017.
It's amazing; the Jets just can't get it right. The last second-round pick to make the Pro Bowl (on offense or defense) was Mark Gastineau, who was drafted in 1979. Christian Hackenberg might be doomed.
7. Victor's victory: Sometimes we're so consumed by the cold side of the NFL -- business, results, etc. -- that we forget about the human side of it. Consider the story of Victor Ochi.
The rookie linebacker grew up on Long Island, played his college ball locally at Stony Brook and made his NFL debut last Sunday -- one day after being promoted from the practice squad. Recalling the moment he ran out of the tunnel at MetLife Stadium, Ochi said, "I'm not going to lie to you, I shed some tears. It was an emotional moment for me. It was like, 'OK, we're about to make a breakthrough right here.'"
It was a difficult journey. Ochi had only one scholarship offer out of high school, went undrafted last spring and was cut by the Baltimore Ravens. Those moments flashed in his mind as he ran on the field for the first time. He played only seven plays, seven plays he'll remember for a lifetime.
8. The ghost: How's that Austin Seferian-Jenkins pickup working out?
9. Numbers game: The Jets already have used 56 different players. Their final total last season was 60. It's all about the injuries.
10. Leo the Lion: Leonard Williams is having such a good year that he's picking up sacks even when he's not playing. There was an official scoring change from last Sunday, resulting in a sack for Williams, who increased his team-high to six. Defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said, "This guy is still not even tapping where he can be."