Grades might have to drop lower than ‘F’
The Jets are the only winless team in the NFL through the first six weeks of the season. Here’s another ugly report card after getting trounced, 24-0, by the Dolphins Sunday.
OFFENSE: F
Joe Flacco & Co. looked overmatched from jump street. The first four drives produced three three-and-outs and some good ol’ fashioned botched communication between the quarterback and center that pushed Gang Green out of field goal range.
Flacco’s third-down pass on the fifth drive of the day was picked off by Xavien Howard. The Jets’ first five drives produced 2.7 yards per play. Their first six drives averaged 2.5 yards per play. It was a wonder that Flacco was still upright after being under siege for much of the first half.
The Jets were 0-for10 on third downs and averaged 2.7 yards per play when they fell behind 24-0 with 3:49 left in the third quarter. They finally converted a third down on their 13th try in garbage time. In the end, they went 2 for 17 on third down and averaged 3.8 yards per play. Flacco completed just 48% of his passes.
DEFENSE: C
Gregg Williams’ unit had a failing grade in the first half before holding Ryan Fitzpatrick & Co. to just one field goal after intermission. The Jets had a pair of interceptions, including one in the red zone. They also didn’t allow a third-down conversion.
Under normal circumstances, they might be good enough to go home a winner… or at least be competitive.
Williams made a valid point in the run-up to this disaster that the defensive woes this season weren’t entirely on his unit. But there was absolutely nobody to blame on Miami’s first two scoring drives except the guys on Williams & Co.
Myles Gaskin carved up Gang Green for three runs of more than 10 yards on a 66-yard scoring drive to kick off the onslaught. Then, Preston Williams took undrafted rookie cornerback Lamar Jackson to school on a 4-yard touchdown grab to put the Jets in a two-touchdown hole early in the second quarter.
Williams’ bunch showed some signs of life by not allowing any points even though Miami started back-to-back drives in Jets territory. However, the dam broke when the Dolphins started a third consecutive drive in Jets territory. Fitzpatrick found a wide-open Adam Shaheen for a 44-yard hookup before finding Durham Smythe for a 3-yard score.
Brian Poole’s red-zone interception just before halftime prevented further ugliness before intermission. Marcus Maye’s highlight-reel pick didn’t affect the game, but it was one heck of an athletic play.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D+
Brant Boyer typically runs a solid unit, but there were too many ill-timed penalties on the day. The Jets started their second drive on their own 8-yard line thanks to a penalty from their punt team.
Vyncint Smith failed to down a punt at the 1-yard line and Harvey Langi was flagged was a facemask penalty on a punt on the final play of the first quarter that cost the Jets 34 yards of field position. Miami went on to score a touchdown on the drive.
Later in the second quarter, Vyncint Smith dropped a kickoff on a drive that started at the 9-yard line. The Jets predictably went three-and-out.
On the bright side, Braden Mann made a great open-field tackle.
COACHING: F+
Gase continued to be the same unimaginative play-caller that he’s been for the better part of two seasons. His decision-making was curious to say the least, too.
His decision to trot Sam Ficken out there for a career-long 55-yard field goal attempt while trailing 24-0 with one minute left in the third quarter was ludicrous. Somebody should have notified the HC of the NYJ that a field goal would still make it a three-score deficit. Gase didn’t appear to make any tangible halftime adjustments. His offense looked as lost in the second half (excluding mop-up time) as it did out of the chute.
It’s never a good sign when you have to roll out your punter 10 times in a game.
PLAYER OF GAME
Fitzpatrick’s three first-half touchdown passes sealed the Jets’ fate. It wasn’t vintage FitzMagic, but it was more than enough to beat a hapless opponent.