Rex Ryan Benches Michael Vick, Geno To Start; Embattled Jets Coach Trying Desperately To Save Job, But Will It Work?

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has exerted his authority on his team in what seems like a last-ditch attempt to save his job by bringing back second-year quarter back Geno Smith to start in place of veteran Michael Vick against AFC East rivals the Miami Dolphins this Sunday. But will It work?

The Jets announced Wednesday morning that the embattled Smith will take Vick's place in the starting lineup following Monday night's 38-3 trouncing at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.  

In a surprise, Jets announce that Geno Smith will start at QB. #nyj

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) November 26, 2014

Jets announce Geno Smith will start Monday Night v. the Dolphins

— Boomer & Carton Show (@BoomerandCarton) November 26, 2014

Jets bench Michael Vick in favor of Geno Smith https://t.co/81S0FTpGJF pic.twitter.com/hiUw5zlHYh

— Izzy Gould (@IzzyGould) November 26, 2014

ESPN's Rich Cimini pointed out that the move had Jets GM "John Idzik's fingerprints all over it", and that "looks like Smith's last chance to prove to the organization that he has a future", after the quarterback went 1-7 in the games he started in 2014.  

Sports Illustrated pointed out, however, that no matter who starts at QB for the Jets, it's simply a "mere rearrangement of Titanic deck chairs".

Going with Geno is a mere rearrangement of Titanic deck chairs for #Jets, says @ChrisBurke_SI https://t.co/SKaF1moMnv pic.twitter.com/bQmn4tVYJA

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 26, 2014

Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke says that putting Geno Smith back into the lineup"certainly has an air of looking ahead to 2015". As he points out, it sounds like a move that has come from above Rex, who will "likely will be coaching in some capacity elsewhere", so, Burke says, "it is relatively safe to assume that either embattled GM John Idzik or owner Woody Johnson forced Ryan's hand at the quarterback position".

It comes after the New York Post reported that Rex Ryan has coached all this year knowing that he was going to be fired, with Rex saying that he'd "heard from other coaches around the league" that Jets GM John Idzik had been "telling people his plan all along was to replace Ryan after the season and bring in his own head coach".

The Post goes on to say that Ryan was put in a difficult position to start a season where he was expected to win, even though Idzik kept the team "more than $20 million" under the salary cap, effectively hamstringing Ryan. 

As for where Ryan could end up, there will be a number of coaching opportunities in the NFL offseason. Would a trip to the west coast, perhaps to the Oakland Raiders or San Francisco 49ers be on the cards for Ryan? Would a John Harbaugh and Rex Ryan switch between the 49ers and Jets be a win-win for everyone?