JET IN THE ZONE!
Gang Green end TD drought in loss
PHILADELPHIA — It turns out the Jets are not allergic to the end zone.
All it took was thirdstring quarterback Greg McElroy leading a Gang Green offense composed mostly of reserves to move it down the field against Eagles backups in the second quarter of the teams’ preseason meeting last night.
Still, the one touchdown was not enough for the Jets to win the game. They lost 2810 to Philadelphia dropping to 04 in the preseason. This is their first winless preseason since 1993.
“Well, we scored … so that was good,” coach Rex Ryan quipped. “I’d much rather be 40 in the preseason. I hate to lose in anything. But again, they start counting for real and there’s no excuses start ing next week when we play Buffalo. We’ll evaluate the team then. With that said, I’d much rather be 40.”
The touchdown came in the Jets’ 37 th series and 198 th play of the preseason after 201 minutes and five seconds of futility when McElroy hit rookie Terrance Ganaway with a 6yard touchdown at 7:17 p.m. The score came with Mark Sancez and Tim Tebow, the team’s highprofile signalcallers, watching from the bench.
“It was a sigh of relief,” Ganaway said.”We’re just trying to get the snowball rolling.”
The Jets can now turn their attention to the Sept. 9 opener with the Bills with the preseason finally over.
Sanchez, Tebow and most of the Jets starters did not play a snap. Right tackle Austin Howard was the only player expected to start against the Bills to play last night.
Ryan said he is not worried about his team’s confidence after a tough preseason.
“I think this team is a lot better than others [do],” Ryan said. “But again we get to prove it on the field. I know where my bed would be. I believe in this team. I believe in this coaching staff. I would have liked to have won clearly, but that wasn’t the case.”
The Jets failed to score on their first possession of the game, extending their streak of no touchdowns. McElroy, who had not played since the Jets’ first preseason game, had some good moments on the second drive. He converted a fourthand1 with his feet, running for a yard outside the right end. He completed two passes to move the Jets into the red zone and then found Ganaway on a playaction pass for touchdown.
The monumental drive lasted 14 plays, 77 yards and 8:04.
Now, you can put McElroytoGanaway right along side NamathtoSnell.
Other than the big score, there was not much to take away from the game. Tackle Jason Smith, who arrived Tuesday in a trade with the Rams, played the entire first half after Rex Ryan said he would likely play just 10 snaps. Smith ended up playing 38 and looked good against the Eagles backups.
The Jets managed just 8 yards in the second half and gave up six sacks. But most of the players on the field will be gone by 9 p.m. tonight when the team cuts its roster to 53.