Jets-Dolphins Postgame

Dolphins- 30
Jets- 25

Jets- 4-4

Things have gone bad for the Jets as they drop to .500 with a 4-4 record.  After a 3-0 start many fans, including myself, raised their expectations from expecting an 8-8 or 9-7 season to expecting 11-12 wins.  This week proved yet again why Jets fans need to lower their expectations and attempt to enjoy the development of the quarterback of the future, Mark Sanchez.  The Jets last three losses have come by a combined 12 points against division opponents.  This game was equally, if not more, painful as the other Dolphins loss because of the way the Jets dominated the Dolphins in every phase of the game other than special teams.  As a Jets fan, the one unti we always know we can rely on are our special teams.  Mike Westhoff is a genius on ST and we never expect that unit to lose us any games.  However, yesterday the special teams was the sole reason that the Jets lost the game.  Tedd Ginn is extremely fast and is a very crafty return man.  However, you cannot lose contain on him twice in one game.  There are a few specifics about this that I will get into a little more later in the post.  As a Jets fan, you expect this kind of disappointment.  We have had opportunities to win the game in every loss we have had this year, especially the past three weeks but one unit of the team always lets us down.  This team is better than its 4-4 record but at this point that doesn't really matter because playoff hopes are slowly deteriorating.  The AFC has some very good teams and the Patriots are playing some of their best football right now. 

Game Ball:

• Mark Sanchez showed tremendous poise in the second half to keep the Jets in the game.  He had to come out with little rest in the third and fourth quarters and lead a Jets team down the field that kept surrendering kick return and fumble return touchdowns.  The throw down the sideline to Edwards for the touchdown was a great throw in a perfect spot which gave Edwards a chance to make a play.  I really liked the way he spread the ball around between Keller, Edwards, and Cotchery and he really got everyone involved.  I couldn't have asked for any more out of Sanchez in this game.

Thumbs Up:

• Dustin Keller has had an extremely disappointing season so far but he finally broke out with a huge game.  He finished with 8 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown.  However, he made two catches which were absolutely incredible.  First, the touchdown catch was incredible and looked better every time I saw it on replay.  Second, the catch on 4th and 10 in the final minutes showed that Keller has the hands and awareness.  He went up in a group of Dolphins and came down with the ball even as he was being interfered with.  Great game by Keller and I think we saw a little bit of what we are going to see for years to come.

• Thomas Jones was called upon to carry the ball 27 times in the game and finished with 103 yards.  Although this isn't a good YPC average, the Dolphins are a physical, good run stopping team and the fact that Jones carried the ball 27 times and ran hard every time makes me feel like he deserves praise for his efforts.  In my opinion, he should have been given the ball on the 2nd and 6 inside the 10 in the final minutes.  When a running game is working as well as it was on that final drive I think you need to pound it inside and hope that he can find a crease.

• The pass rush in this game was great and was major reason why the Jets were able to contain the wildcat.  The Dolphins were sacked 6 times and the Jets bottled up the wildcat with no problem.  The one thing I noticed this week about the wildcat is how the linebackers were able to key in on their gaps and were not blown off the ball like in the first Miami game.

Thumbs Down:

• Special teams.. special teams.. special teams.  What else is there to say?  Tedd Ginn returned back to back kickoffs for touchdowns right as the Jets were starting to gain momentum in the game.  I noticed a few things about this.  First, Jay Feely needs to do a better job hanging back as the "safety" in the special teams unit.  He can't be flying up and breaking contain because he wants to make a tackle.  He did this on the first two returns and actually made the tackle and I think this caused him to get a little overexcited on the two returns.  He needs to be back there to at least slow Ginn down to give somebody a chance to make a tackle.  Second, the tackling on the second kickoff return was horredous.  Ginn sidestepped two defenders at the 20 and had practically stopped moving before breaking the contain to the outside and outrunning everybody down the sideline.  When a guy is forced to stop and change direction on a kick return there is no excuse for not bringing him down.  Somebody has to get in there and at least trip him up.  Third, Danny Woodhead is not ready to be a special teams contributer.  He didn't look good on either return and this showed why we need Brad Smith and Ahmad Carroll activated to play kickoff return defensive roles.  Special teams is the reason that the Jets lost this game.

• Shonn Greene goes from hero to goat in just one game.  The second the ball he fumbled ended up in Jason Taylors hands it was a sure touchdown and really put a dagger through any hopes the Jets had of coming back.  Although the Jets ended up coming alive offensively it is inexcusable to give a team that kind of easy touchdown.  Greene needs to secure the ball and not give up costly fumbles if he hopes to keep getting more carries.

• Rex Ryan probably should not have gone for the two point conversion late in the game.  I hate to second guess like this because you can say that if Ryan kicks the XP than Sparano wouldn't have gone for 2 on their TD drive and the score would have still been a 5 point difference.

Game Thoughts:

I said before the game that this was the biggest game of the season so far and I think the Jets played well enough in 2 of the 3 phases of the game to win.  The offense came alive in the second half and the defense was able to get consistent pressure on Henne and stop the wildcat offense.  95% of the time when a team wins both the offensive and defensive battles they win the game.  However, special teams cannot be ignored and the Dolphins special teams played great while the Jets special teams was horrendous.  This game was disappointing and I believe at 4-4 every game becomes a must win.  The Jets have a bye next week and the team will have 6 days off before preparing for the Jaguars.  I will probably have more to say later in the week about any developments that come out of Ryan's press conferences.