Let's start with some raw numbers (at 5 vs 5) and try to make sense of it all.
Philadelphia:
57.94% Corsi 60.56% Fenwick PDO 874
Blame the goalie?
Boston:
30.88% Corsi 27.45% Fenwick PDO 1097
Blame the players?
Carolina:
41.33% Corsi 45% Fenwick PDO 1017
Blame everyone?
How do I come to those conclusions? Basically they Jets did what they needed to do to win the game in Philadlephia but were turned back by hot goalie. In Boston they tried to do something but could not do anything and the only reason it wasn't worse was the goaltending and in Carolina they didn't do much at all no matter where you look. Perhaps that last one is harsh and we put more emphasis on the players.
However, where some fair and balanced criticism should go is the coach. What adjustments are being made to overcome teams figuring out the Jets? Yes there are injuries and yes those injuries were bound to catch up with the Jets but things are not good right now and in some cases confusing.
Why bring De Leo up and not use him thus far? Why is Chris Thorburn killing penalties late in the game? Why is Mark Stuart?
Those, like many other things, are coaching decisions and Maurice needs to provide something for his team that helps them and not hurts them. The injuries thus far are almost unprecedented for the Jets and only the fall 2014 plague that hit the Jets defence is similar since this team relocated to Atlanta.
But questions have to be asked, whether here or social media or by the stalwart reporters traveling with the team- how does the team go on these wild swings and why?
I'm not sure we'd get answers, or rather satisfying ones, because I'm not sure the coach has the answer or if he did would provide it. Frankly it might come down to the youth movement learning curve. Is that a cop out? For some it would be but combine that reality with the level of injuries and most fans should start to see that beating Chicago was the anomaly and this recent swing in play with disappointing results is likely the norm.
There's still two games to salvage something on this road trip but it won't be easy. A day off in Minnesota before the Wild come back to play might be the best thing but right now the best thing might be the return of some injured players.