Jets Blog: Time To Push The Panic Button
By Peter Schwartz
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After the Jets' loss in Foxboro, the countdown began.
When will it be time to push the panic button?
Start pushing!
Sunday's loss to the Dolphins was more alarming than the debacle against the Patriots. This was downright disgraceful. Well, at least the defense showed up to play. They were brilliant and kept giving the ball back to the offense with the hopes that, at some point, something would get going.
But it never happened.
Rightfully so, Mark Sanchez is taking the biggest hit. He was not very good on Sunday and he admitted so after the game.
Did he have help?
Absolutely. Santonio Holmes dropped a touchdown while Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller had critical drops as well. The running game was non-existent and that's alarming because that is supposed to be the personality of the offense.
True to his word, head coach Rex Ryan took the ball to start the game after the Jets won the opening coin toss. It didn't provide the spark he was looking for. The Jets went three and out on their opening drive.
As Ryan entered the Coaches Club for his post-game press conference, the fans were chanting "Schotty must go!, Schotty must go!"
Does offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer deserve some of the blame? I would think so. There have too many times this season when this offense full of playmakers have looked lethargic.
He will be answering a lot of questions when he has his session with reporters this week.
Speaking of this week, the Jets will be on the road in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. While many teams would love to be 9-4, the Jets are clearly a team in turmoil heading into this game. While Jason Taylor said after the game that the defense didn't do enough to win, he was just being nice and tried to not throw the offense under the bus.
But the offense certainly did letdown the rest of the team. With the talent that they have, it's mind-boggling that they have gone two games without finding the end zone.
They all said that they still had their swagger after getting blown out in New England. After their second straight loss, it will be hard for them to convince anyone this week that it's still there.
They will say this week that they are still 9-4 and the playoffs are the goal. They will say that they found a way to get in last year and went on a run. They will try to paint a picture that everything is fine and that they just need to take things one game at a time.
Let's be honest. There is reason to be concerned. Very concerned.
The Dolphins defense is good. The Steelers defense is better. Much better.
The Jets offense has a lot of work to do this week. The whole team has to look themselves in the mirror and ask this question.
Were the detractors right in saying that the Jets were lucky to squeak out wins along the way to a 9-2 start?
Those naysayers are looking pretty good right now.
It's up to the Jets now to silence them but they are running out of time.
Some other notes from the game…
*Joe McKnight notched his first career reception when he hauled in a five-yard toss from Sanchez in the third quarter.
*The Jets defense allowed just 89 total yards of Dolphins offense in the first half and just 23 yards passing. For the game, the Jets gave up just 131 total yards by the Dolphins.
*The Jets defense recorded five sacks and forced three turnovers.
CLEMONS PLAYS
No, not Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens. Clarence Clemons, from Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band, played the National Anthem. It's probably only a matter of time before we hear about "The Boss" scheduled some concerts at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
That's it for now. Check back later in the week for a preview of Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Related articles
- Sanchez 'Sick' Over Jets' Sloppy Loss To Dolphins (newyork.cbslocal.com)
