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It’s time to look at the secondary play in the Jets-Miami game, and also looking ahead. Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie finished the season on a strong note. These two should be an outstanding combo moving forward, but there are other issues that need to be fixed.
The Jets secondary caught a break at the end of the first Miami’ series. On a third-and-nine, TE Tony Fasano dropped a pass over the middle, and the Dolphins had to punt. He seemed to have Donald Strickland beat on the play.
On the Dolphins’ second series, on third-and-five, QB Matt Moore threw a pass to Fasano on the short left side, and Eric Smith stopped him after a gain of one, and the Dolphins punted.
On the Dolphins’ third series, on second-and-six, Brandon Marshall caught a pass on the short left side, and broke a tackle by Smith. On the next play, a pass down the deep right side, Antonio Cromartie made a spectacular leaping interception. This was Cro at his best – showing his great athletic ability and leaping ability.
Late in the first half, on the first play of a possession, Revis had a terrific PD on the short right side. On third down of this possession, Cro had airtight coverage on a pass to Hartline on the short right side, forcing an incompletion. This was the three-and-out.
The next possession, very late in the first half, Brodney Pool picked off a pass down the deep left sideline intended for Hartline.
Jets fans can only hope that Tony Sparano drops this play from his playbook when he comes to the Jets. It resulted in two first half picks. Jump balls to Brian Hartline down the sideline. Who is he, Larry Fitzgerald?
On the play before the Pool interception, Strickland sacked Moore. Rex Ryan and Mike Pettine dialed up a blitz that had both Strickland and Trufant coming off the left edge, and right tackle John Jerry had to choose one or the other, and he picked up Marcus and Donald was free for the sack.
This first half was a perfect example of what opposing quarterbacks face when both Cro and Revis are on top of their games. On so many plays, Moore had nowhere to throw because Cro and Revis were doing such a good job. This is what Rex and Mike dreamed of when they locked up both guys to lucrative long-term contracts.
However in the second half, Moore came up with a solution to this, and we will get into this on Saturday.
Premium will return by 5 pm on Saturday with the rest of our secondary review.