In almost every player interview they mention how they can play with any team in the league, which is true. They have been in every game this year but it is time to stop talking like a contender and start playing like one.

The Jets started the season with a ton of attitude but much of that swagger was generated from their play on the field. Against Houston, the defense pounded Matt Schaub into submission and handled a New Orleans’ attack that should have been enough to win but against the Dolphins the defense was dominated and as a result the team lost its collective MoJo.

It is hard to fathom that the league’s best rushing attack and second best defense is only 4-4. Those strengths should be enough to cover the warts of a rookie quarterback yet the Jets continue to underachieve against lesser competition.

Their three divisional losses have come against teams that will likely finish behind them and demonstrates that this team does not yet have the collective will to make the necessary game-changing plays in critical match-ups.

The frustrating thing with this club is that it is hard to point to one or two deficiencies. They have been undermined by different factors each week, which immediately shifts the scrutiny on to the head coach.

It is Ryan’s job to make sure things like penalties, poor execution and mental mistakes do not short circuit the team’s overall play yet these issues have contributed to their losses. Their 4-4 record is, more than anything, a reflection of Ryan learning on the job.

Despite his brash persona, he seems humble enough to recognize his miscalculations and poor game management skills to improve. If he can oversee the offense and special teams with the same proficiency he has established with the defense, his team should start to show more consistency.

But until he learns to manage the entire team, we will continue to see the same uneven performances from the first half. His handling of Mark Sanchez is a perfect example of his fractured management style.

Ryan preached a ball-control offense that would limit exposing his rookie quarterback but once Sanchez showed positive signs early, he abandoned his plan and his rookie cost him two games (New Orleans and Buffalo) by committing nine turnovers.

If Ryan had maintained sufficient oversight in those games, Sanchez would never have been throwing picks all over the field but he was slow to respond in-game and lost two contests he should have won.

Hopefully Ryan will improve but Jets fans have to be realistic. For all the enthusiasm Ryan brings, he has shown just as much carelessness and poor management.

He is very likable but so was Herm Edwards. The question is whether Ryan can continue to motivate his players while also drawing up winning strategies and managing games better.

Hopefully the week off allowed him to gain some perspective. His team has shown flashes but he will need to do a better job of managing and strategizing the whole operation if the team is to become more consistent.

This week the Jets get another opportunity to right their ship. They face a Jaguars team that has issues of their own.

Jacksonville is not the physical unit they used to be. Their defense used to physically dominate its opponent but now is a unit in transition.

Their once-heralded defense no longer scares anyone. They rank in the bottom third of the league against both the run and pass and lack any legitimate pass rushers. They are last in the league with only eight sacks on the season.

They are a run-first offense and rely extensively on Maurice Jones-Drew who is sixth in the league in rushing. His 5.1 yards/carry makes him very dangerous and his 11 touchdowns lead the league.

Jones-Drew is capable of breaking off big runs at any time so the Jets’ first priority will be keeping him under wraps. If they can do that, they stand an excellent chance of winning on Sunday.

Defensively, Jacksonville’s front seven is not good enough to match up against the Jets’ offensive line, which should be able to control the line of scrimmage and dictate the action. This could be a big game for Mark Sanchez who should have time to throw the football.

The Jaguars are another opponent the Jets should beat but that does not mean they will win this game. They must eliminate the critical mistakes that have plagued them in the first half of the season.

If they want to get off on the right foot in the second half, they have to put together a complete effort in all three phases. If they can do that, this game should not be close.