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It was one of the truly horrible . . .
. . . defensive plays in recent Jets history – on third-and-19 – Dolphins running back Frank Gore caught a nineteen-yard pass to basically ice the game.
I could not believe my eyes, and I’m sure many of you felt the same way.
How is possible, that Gore, could sneak out of the backfield, uncovered, and be allowed to make such an easy catch-and-run?
It’s hard to fathom.
Whose fault was it?
It’s hard to tell without knowing the Jets’ defensive playbook, and whose assignment it was to cover the running back out of the backfield on third-and-long.
The two guys in the closet vicinity to Gore seemed to be Jamal Adams and Darron Lee.
After the game, Todd Bowles came into the locker room, and I saw him talk to three players – first Lee and Avery Williamson together, and then Jamal Adams by himself.
Obviously, I have no idea what was said in these conversations because I would never listen, but I’m just pointing out who Bowles talked to after the game, and I thought it was kind of interesting that he was talking to three prime suspects who you’d expect to cover a running back out of the backfield, the two inside linebackers and a safety who plays in the box a lot.
Once again, I’m not attaching blame to any individual, just throwing some observations out there.
But the bottom line is this play was beyond belief, and the kind of mental error that costs you games,
And even though I asked Todd Bowles some tough questions after the game about this play, I don’t blame him for the mental error. I blame the player who was responsible for it.
Nobody is going to tell us who it is, unless some unnamed player leaks it to the Daily News or something like that.
The reason I don’t blame Bowles is because I think the players are told what to do there, but somebody didn’t do their job.
But while I won’t blame Bowles for the blown coverage, I will criticize Bowles, Maccagnan or whomever, for having a culture where players make mistakes like this, and there are seemingly no consequences.
Look, Bill Belichick got rid of a punt returner who fumbled a punt returner in the New England Patriots opener.
I’m not necessarily calling for Jets to cut players over this player, but the place is too forgiving of starters for big mistakes.
Bowles said after the game after I pressed him on this play, “We are moving on.”
Well maybe they need to starting considering “moving on” from players who cost them games.
Once again, this play blows my mind.
Think about it – Ryan Tannehill, who didn’t look very good today, and I wouldn’t be shocked if the Dolphins have a new QB next year, is the king of dinking and dunking. What did he take one shot down field today? So you had to figure he would look for Gore on that play. And I don’t want to hear the excuse that at first he was staying in to block. Running backs pull that trick all the time, they chip somebody and then go out.
September 16, 2018
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