The benefit of being on the coaching hot seat is that Rex Ryan can be as bold as he wants.
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The confidence that the New York Jets coach exuded early in his career has returned in the form of his proclamation that the Jets will not be an 8-8 team in 2014, the New York Daily News is reporting.
"I believe we're better than that. I believe we're a lot better than that," Ryan told the Daily News. "Eight and eight would be a hell of a disappointment for us. I'm just telling you that I believe this team is on the cusp of doing some special things. ... I'm confident we will be a playoff team."
Ryan was a coach who used to predict trips to the oval office back when his teams went to the AFC Championship game in back-to-back years from 2010-11, the Daily News reported. Those bold statements subsided in recent years, especially with the arrival of general manager John Idzik.
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Part of the reason for Ryan's relative comfort level is that Idzik has upgraded the offensive talent, bringing in Michael Vick to compete with Geno Smith at quarterback, as well as acquiring running back Chris Johnson and wide receiver Eric Decker.
And while so-called experts have yet to jump on the Jets' bandwagon for 2014, Ryan has a simple explanation for the difference of opinion.
"What they're missing is - and this isn't their fault - is they don't see what I see in the building every day," Ryan said to the Daily News. "I think it's a transition year, but we're going to bring it to another level. I know where I want this team to go and that's where I expect this team to go. So, you know, are we a better team? Dang right. ... That may be a fact that we're rebuilding this team, but by no means does that mean that I don't expect to improve on where we were."
Ryan's job security has been in doubt the past couple of seasons with the team missing out on postseason play. Speculation exists that Ryan could lose his job if the Jets don't make the playoffs this year.
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