Will Dustin Keller Rejoin the Passing Game?

by John B on Oct 14, 2011 8:01 AM EDT

Remember that tight end who causes matchup problems the Jets have? His name is Dustin Keller. He got off to a hot start. He was an afterthought in last week's passing attack. Keller was targeted only twice against New England. One would think the Jets would have tried to get him involved against what was the least effective pass defense in the league. Perhaps that will change against the Dolphins.

Keller has posted some big games against the Dolphins in the past. According to Football Outsiders, this year the Dolphins allow 78 passing yards per game against opposing tight ends. That is most in the league. The issue stems from having a pair of safeties in Reshad Jones and Yeremiah Bell who both struggle in coverage. They both seem like strong safety type better at playing the run than the pass. (Sound familiar?)

Miami brought in Kevin Burnett to pair in the middle of their 3-4 defense with Karlos Dansby as a cover linebacker, but he has allowed 9 completions the past 2 games for 138 yards. The linebackers on Miami do not seem to do a good job jamming tight ends off the line, which leads to problems.

Keller should be an offensive focus. Given the offensive plans we have seen lately, whether he will be is anybody's guess.

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ooo nice piece of info

“Speculation surfaces that Colts could move Reggie Wayne, Robert Mathis”
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/14/speculation-surfaces-that-colts-could-move-reggie-wayne-robert-mathis/

mathis a jet?! i know i would be popping bottles.

by z0d420 on Oct 14, 2011 8:10 AM EDT reply actions

:)

“Phillip Wilson of the Indianapolis Star traces the spitballing to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who apparently said that the Colts should trade Wayne to the Bills and Mathis to the Jets. That idea has quickly become rumor, even though at this point there’s no reason to believe either deal could happen.”

i know it wouldn’t solve alot of issues but it would really help out our pass rush

by z0d420 on Oct 14, 2011 8:12 AM EDT reply actions

Santonio calls out offensive line, again 10/14/11

"I may be criticized again for saying it, but it starts up front," Holmes said Thursday, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. "The big guys know it. If they give Mark enough time to sit in the pocket and complete passes, I think everything changes."

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/14/santonio-calls-out-offensive-line-again/

by z0d420 on Oct 14, 2011 8:32 AM EDT reply actions

RR put a "C" on Tone's jersey and now he thinks a license to run his mouth to the media.

Everything he says is right, but this stupid MF’er doesn’t know how to keep things in-house. He’s no leader and I don’t see a damn thing he’s done on or off the field that makes him a leader.

by DesertJetFan on Oct 14, 2011 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s an absolute travesty that DK is not putting up numbers similar to guys like Graham, Gronkowski and Finley.

by DesertJetFan on Oct 14, 2011 8:55 AM EDT reply actions

EHhhh

Gronk and Finley are being thrown to by highly accurate Pro Bowlers.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Oct 14, 2011 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Unless DK is playing against Ray Lewis, he's an AUTOMATIC mismatch.

by DesertJetFan on Oct 14, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

+10

by dar9898 on Oct 14, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually that Graham fellow has an alright QB too

in Drew Brees. I’ve heard he’s an alright passer

In completely unrelated news,

It is an absolute travesty that Mark Sanchez is not putting up numbers similar to guys like Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Aaaron Rodgers

by dar9898 on Oct 14, 2011 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Well that didn't work... insert sarcasm tag as appropriate

In completely unrelated news, it is an absolute travesty that Mark Sanchez is not putting up numbers similar to guys like Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Aaaron Rodgers

by dar9898 on Oct 14, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

One more thing

Not only do those guys have much, much better QB’s they also measure: 6’6", 6’6" and 6’7", respectively. Keller: 6’2" is not nearly as big of a mismatch going down the field

by dar9898 on Oct 14, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

excuse me 6'5" for finley, not 6'7"

by dar9898 on Oct 14, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

great post john

miami has always had trouble against TE and this would be the perfect bounce back game for Dustin but i saw that u compared our starting safeties to there starting safeties which doesnt sit to well with me saying there not good in coverage and better against the run and they do do a good job at stoping the run but heres the thing our defense is 5th against the pass at thats a big part to our corners but the last time i checked they cant cover every receiver on the field so #33 and #36 must be doing something right in coverage

by Emmanuel Agu on Oct 14, 2011 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

The defences we have been playing feel the same way, that's why they have been making a point of taking Keller out of the game

Get busy winning or get busy losing.

by GangGreenMag on Oct 14, 2011 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed. Belicheck has made it point in the past.

And if we don’t throw to the WRs, then there is no reason to give up coverage on our TE.

by CervezaVerde on Oct 15, 2011 3:06 AM EDT up reply actions

This has been Keller's MO his whole career

Dominate for a 2-3 week stretch, disappear for 3 or 4, have another solid 3 games or so, disappear for the next 3, have another good game, disappear again. It all adds out to a guy who is pretty good but ultimately disappointing. But there is something to be said about the size thing… for all of Keller’s athleticism and speed, generally the better TE’s in the league, the guys like Finley, Gronkowski, Graham, Witten, Gates, Gonzalez, Pettigrew… outside of Gates (who is 6-4), they are all 6-5+, bigger body guys. Keller at 6-2 doesn’t give the same body and catch radius. The only other really successful TEs 6-3 or less are guys like Owen Daniels and Vernon Davis (who’s an athletic freak of nature).

by J-Nasty on Oct 14, 2011 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

He's an occasional ball dropper

Which is what I don’t like, but he should be okay, that is, if you keep him away from Ray Lewis.

by Melrenee on Oct 14, 2011 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Why is Dustin Keller supposed to be a good TE again?

He’s not particularly fast. He’s undersized. He’s a poor blocker. Sure he may be a good athlete, but there are much better athletes at TE around the league

by dar9898 on Oct 14, 2011 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

He is fast for his size, good hands, good moves and blocks better than he gets credit for

by CervezaVerde on Oct 15, 2011 3:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Good thoughts about Miami versus the TE

But also look at Football Outsider on Miami against receivers.

18th against TEs: (13%)
But 28th against 2nd WR (36.5%)
And 24th against 1st WR (+31.9%)

So yes, please get Keller involved, but honestly we got to get Holmes and Plax running deeper routes. It looks like Miami indeed gives up chunk TE yards in the middle of the field, but their bigger weakness is against WRs by situation, when the yards matter most.

by ________key on Oct 14, 2011 7:31 PM EDT reply actions