Jets 20 - Dolphins 14 (Game Notes)

Overall, very mixed reviews from today. The Dolphins were very competitive, which was nice, but a loss at home to your division rival never leaves a particularly good taste.

Offense:

-Although Chad Pennington is very clearly a huge upgrade at quarterback, his play today really wasn't anything special. In fact, with the exception of three drives, his performance was poor. Especially early in the game, he seemed nervous and uncomfortable, guiding his first few passes. Even his reads and decision-making process (his strengths) left a bit to be desired. He was indecisive all day long until the comeback drives, when he knew he had to get the ball down the field. His play is understandable considering that he was making his first start with a new team, against his old team, with a very young offense to manage. Hopefully he will settle down next week.

-Our clear lack of any proven receivers was very obvious today. Ginn was invisible for most of the game, Camarillo caught just a few balls, and Hagan performed to exactly where my expectations are set for him right now (ouch). Some of these guys are going to need to step up, or else we better get used to eight in the box against us.

-The tight ends were great today. Fasano has great instincts in finding the soft spot in coverage and sitting where the quarterback can find him. He is going to be a terror in the red zone this year. What a trade that was, getting two of our most solid starters for a 4th round pick. Martin also had a really nice game. Especially if the wideouts continue to struggle, we are going to see a lot of these guys.

-Ronnie was our best running back today. He had that old burst back and looked like his old self carrying the ball. He began to show glimpses of it in the last preseason game, but now we can be sure. We need to find ways to get the ball in both his and Ricky's hands as much as possible.

-On that topic, I am having trouble understanding why Cobbs is our 3rd down back. Shouldn't we be keeping Ricky and Ronnie on the field as much as possible? Also, if we were going to use a third down back this year, can somebody please explain to me why his name is not Lorenzo Booker? The decision-making process on the part of the Trifecta here is not adding up.

-Our touchdown drive in the first half should be our offensive blueprint for the year. Our offense will be at its best when our running backs are significantly involved, Chad is efficient and decisive, and when our short and intermediate passing game gets in rhythm. With Pennington back there, his first look needs to be to a running back or tight end on a decent percentage of passing plays.

-Pass protection became an issue towards the end of the first half, and the situation deteriorated as we abandoned our running game. I'm not too worried as we move into the future...it is to be expected with a new, young line, and I am confident in the personnel we have in there.

-Jake Long was called for two penalties today, and while the tripping call was legit, I'm not sure the other one was holding. The refs were consistently pretty bad today, and it seemed like most calls went to the Jets.

-I didn't love the two calls that we had on 3rd and Goal from the 2 yard line. I think in that situation you pound the ball in there twice. I would split Ricky and Ronnie in the backfield and make it impossible for the defense to key off of either. Regardless, why throw a low percentage fade pass to a young receiver and than an outside pass from your weak-armed quarterback? The tight ends and/or running backs need to be used when this team is in goal line situations. We need to create match-ups.

-Mr. Henning: Play action does not work if you do not have the threat of running the football. Also, please do not use an empty backfield when you are having trouble pass blocking already. Thank you.

Defense:

-The first score by the Jets was a bad coverage breakdown. It was a tricky play to defend...for a high school secondary. With only two receivers in routes it was embarrassing to get beaten that badly, especially because you knew Favre saw something right when he audibled.

-I thought the roughing penalty against Matt Roth was a really terrible call. Favre booted right after making a play fake. There is no way Roth could have seen the ball, and as the outside guy on that play, he has to hit the quarterback. The only reason that is a penalty is because the quarterback's name so happened to be Favre. Overall, Roth played some solid responsibility football today. I was really happy with his sound play, plus he forced a huge turnover. What a job by him and this coaching staff to not only find a spot for him on this team, but a starting spot where he can really excel.

-The second score by the Jets was a truly unbelievably horrible play. It is 4th and 13 from the 23, and their kicker is out. We start the play by getting after Favre and covering everybody down the field. Everything was great. However, we did not finish the play in the backfield and missed an opportunity for a huge, turnover-producing sack. At the same time, Renaldo Hill, who was in great coverage, inexplicably decided to charge ten yards up the field. Favre sees this, knows he has to take a chance, and throws a hail mary to the goal line. Nobody in the entire secondary can react and make a play on the football in the 20 seconds that it took to get there, and instead of a turnover it's a Jet touchdown. Some call it Favre magic...I call it unacceptable breakdowns by the pass rush, Renaldo Hill, and the secondary in general. A really painful, backbreaking, momentum-killing play to watch.

-The Jets tried to block Porter with a tight end at one point, and he easily beat the block for a sack. That should happen every time, and hope Porter can have a 10+ sack year.

-The Jets found a lot of room to run today on the weaker side of their line, off tackle to their right and our defense's left. I didn't get a good look at exactly what was going on, but it was in the area where Langford and Starks were rotating throughout the day. I hope it wasn't because the rookie was getting trucked that we saw so much of Starks, but we have to fix that up. You can bet that every team we play this year will try to attack us there. Hopefully Langford can hold his own, because he is a real talent and needs to be on the field.

-I noticed Porter coming down and playing on the line in a couple of nickel situations, giving us a forty look up front. If he is coming after the passer and everybody knows it, I don't really care if he is standing up or down in a three point stance. I just hope that he is comfortable and that he feels he is in the best place to go after the quarterback.

-Crowder did a poor job in pass coverage a couple of different times today. I know he is the leader of this defense, but right now he isn't even the best inside linebacker that we have (this is also a comment on how well Ayodele played). I hope to see some improvement from him as we progress through the year.

-On the flip side, Akin Ayodele played great football today. He quietly had a very solid game. Although I am never somebody who likes to give up draft picks, I can't say enough how getting him and Fasano for a 4th rounder may be the move of the offseason. Also, Ferguson was great up front today, forcing a desperation holding call early in the game and plugging up the middle. He looks much quicker than Traylor or any of our recent nose tackles, and the trade to secure him is also paying dividends.

-A horrible pass interference call on Goodman and missed delay of game call helped lead to the final touchdown by the Jets. I really wasn't very happy with the officials today.

-Yeremiah Bell was terrific today. He was all over the field, and I am really excited to have him back and healthy. He is by far the best defensive back on this team.

Special Teams:

-Bess returning kicks early on was a bit of a surprise, but he looked great back there. The kid can flat out run. In fact, the Jets began kicking away from him. Still, I think Sparano and company deserve some criticism for not getting the ball in Ted Ginn's hands early and often.

-Fields had a solid game today with the exception of one major shank. If he doesn't eliminate those lapses, his days could be numbered.

-Carpenter kicked a touchback on the opening kickoff of the second half. That should be the result every time he kicks the ball...isn't that why we kept him? I don't understand why he and Sparano were trying to do their best Feely and Cameron impression on many of the kicks today.

-Teddy: Catch the ball!! You are not giving yourself a chance to return anything unless you catch the punt in the air. I'll give Graham credit for being a good directional punter, but we need you to get the ball in space. Go get it!


As I said, overall today was a decent day. We got the season underway in a tight game, and though you never like to lose, this team knows it can be competitive. We were one pass away from beating the new division favorites (Favre > Cassel). We need to go to Arizona and get a win, or else this could be a long year.