Borrowing from ST to bolster D lost the game

by NC_Scott on Nov 3, 2009 9:19 AM EST

I was surprised in Week 1 that Shonn Green was not active. What I realized later was that Ryan decided to bolster the defense, missing both S Ellis and C Pace, so he stacked the defense and consequently, had to deactivate some of his 3rd string players. Every week since that I noticed that different players were inactive, mainly to add personnel at weak spots on the field.

Now I dont know how common it is from week to week to dramatically change your active and inactive players - but the Jets do it a lot. And unfortunately, with Jenkins out for the season and some other minor injuries, Rex apparently did the same last week against the Fins.

While our defense certainly played well and looked the part, thanks in part to the creative personnel packages on the field, the special teams suffered as a direct result:

"Westhoff was without three of his favorite players Sunday, Ahmad Carroll, Marquice Cole and Marques Murrell, who were inactive. The Jets wanted more size and help for banged-up linebacker Bart Scott."

from the NY Daily News.

So it wasn't just a fluke that Miami was so dangerous on kickoffs - with Carroll, Cole and Murrell all inactive, and Brad Smith injured and J Miller signed to just handle KR duties (this spot used to belong to L Washington who was also the 2nd RB.. this week we needed 2 bodies to fill that role, RB S Greene and KR J Miller), we should have realized early on in the game we'd be in trouble - especially when K Jay Feely made two or three kickoff tackles. Once we saw our Kicker getting downfield and making the tackle, EVERYONE should have realized that something wasn't right with that picture. And now I think we all understand why.......

Now I don't necessarily blame Rex for this because looking at our Defense, they are among the most devastating in the NFL, despite a laundry list of injuries and suspensions since week 1. However, you cannot completely deplete special teams and expect to contain the kickoffs. After the first 2 kick returns for a touchdown, I was surprised and mad to see they were still kicking to Ginn. I would have preferred them kicking it out of the endzone (hell, even out of bounds and take the penalty) than give up huge field position and a possible 3rd TD to Ginn.

I think we need to cross train the team a little better on ST so that when we pull the 3rd and 4th stringers out (or inactive them) and the guys higher on the depth chart have to play ST, they know what they're doing.

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Nice write up, Scott

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by John B on Nov 3, 2009 12:25 PM EST reply actions

Very nice write up

It seems that with this coming after the trade of a ST ace like Trusnick we are just making Westhoff’s job that much harder by the week. You can’t take out 3 of the 4 main special teamers and expect to contain them. Funnily enough it was that 4th special teamer that was playing (Izzo) that whiffed on the tackle.

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by David_Wyatt on Nov 3, 2009 12:50 PM EST reply actions

It's pretty common to do that

Especially on an injury laden team like the Jets. Many times they don’t have a choice and are forced into choosing which squad to neglect. If Bart Scott went out early and nobody was filling the void he would leave the game would get just as out of hand. Even the teams with great special teams don’t really count on them to win the game.

by Bro Namath on Nov 3, 2009 4:20 PM EST reply actions

Totally Agree

We’ve done a great job on D filling in for injuries and suspensions. We missed K Jenkins almost the whole preseason and were short Ellis and Pace, and then lost Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland to injuries, so I think the Defense depth is suprisingly good… However, our special teams used to be a real weapon and recently it just didn’t make any mistakes, well up until the Miami game that is…. This game was ours but for those 2 TDs – Miami’s O had a hard time moving the ball all day.

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by NC_Scott on Nov 3, 2009 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

This explains a lot

I was at the game, and couldn’t understand why Feely was charging down the field, let alone making tackles, as the kicker is usually the safety on returns, for good reason.

However, NYJ fans (I’m a PhinPhan) need to get past the “we won the game” mentality. There are three units: Offense, Defense, and Special Teams. Coach R made the conscious choice to beef up his defense at the expense of his special teams, and paid the price for it.

Were two kick-off returns for TD’s likely? No, but based on the nature of the ST’s, one was, as the first one showed. The second one was extra-terrestrial talent. You had to have seen it live; TV doesn’t do it justice. It was as if time stopped for a second, while Ginn stood there motionless and the Jets flew past him. It was very creepy and cool, but the fact is that with a speed demon like Ginn and not enough agility and speed on the Jets, at least one of those returns was inevitable.

I’m not blind, so I’ve got no problem saying that the Jets have better personnel than the Dolphins and the Patriots, let alone the Bills, but Coach R has to be a Head Coach, not a Defensive Coach, starting with losing the macho attitude and saying, “We got beat because I stripped the special teams to make the defense as strong as possible.” There’s an attitude you have to have going into any competition that takes the person across from you very seriously. Giving your team an out by saying that somehow you were better than the team that beat you is…counterproductive.

I’d also like to take a moment to comment on how, well, civil, and often quite friendly the Jet fans were, which was quite a change from some other opposing stadiums in the league. In fact, I saw one Dolphin fan who was quite obnoxious, just like some Jet fans are at the Dolphin stadium. I guess there’s a certain class of fan that doesn’t travel well.

by Joel West on Nov 4, 2009 9:55 AM EST reply actions

Sunday's game

THat was about as frustrating as a loss could be. The defense gave up ten points and shut Miami down entirely. Sanchez actually had hs career high in yards I believe and the offense played more than well enough to win. Giving up to 100 yard returns on kicks is inexcusable and another fumble by Green returned for a TD. 3 stinking plays cost this game. It wasn’t like the first game where Miami drove consistantly downfield. This was embarrassing. According to the stats this should have been a blowout. Tough schedule remaining. Still have Buffalo NE in division and those are must wins now. Must beat Tampa and Carolina. Cincinnati will be tough as well as Atlanta. This team has dug itself a big shole. Also got INDY I believe and I don’t see a win on their turf. Also must beat Jax. It’s time to put it together and go on a roll but I don’t see anything better than 9-7 at this rate.

by scary on Nov 4, 2009 2:10 PM EST reply actions