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Florham Park – The Jets secondary played well in Cleveland, but covering opposing tight ends continues to be a problem for the deep patrol . . .
The Browns went right after nickel back Kyle Wilson on their first offensive play, but the pass fell complete on the short right side. It was a bad throw.
The Jets continue to have issues covering the tight ends. On the first drive, Jim Leonhard blitzed (along with others), and there was a big void on the right side, and a wide open Ben Watson went for 19 yards.
Eric Smith was called for pass interference on Watson on the right side, on the first series. It was just one of those five-yard interference calls.
At the end of the first series, Eric Smith blitzed and got to Colt McCoy, but couldn’t finish the deal, but the blitz was successful because it hurried the quarterback into a bad throw to Watson down field.
Late in the first quarter, Smith was beat for a gain of 18 on a crossing route, by Watson.
On the game-tying drive late in the game, Smith was beat for a gain of 17 over the middle by Watson.
The problem for Smith isn’t blown assignments or positioning, but a lack of ideal speed.
That last drive was the only possession the Browns wide receivers really did some damage.
Evan Moore made the only play on Revis by anybody the entire day on a gain of 18 on the right side. The 6-6, 247 Moore, who is kind of a hybrid tight end/wide receiver, used his size advantage on this play to tussle the ball away from Revis, who didn’t have bad position.
Then on the next play, McCoy hit Mo Massquoi on a quick slant on the left side on Antonio Cromartie. This was basically the only play of note given up by “Cro” the entire game.
By the way, the pass rush was lousy on this drive, and McCoy had plenty of time to throw on these play. This was one of those drives where you need “a closer” to come up with a big sack, this didn’t happen for Gang Green.
Leonhard caused a fumble on Hillis to end the Browns second possession. This plays shows Leonhard’s toughness. Hillis outweighs him by 64 pounds.
Early in the fourth quarter, James Ihedigbo had a sack of McCoy that lost six yards, on a blitz.
Kudos to Cromartie for amassing three tackles on Hillis in run support. Remember when Cromartie came in, his tackling was a concern, but hasn’t been an issue this far.
Drew Coleman caused a fumble on a pass to Stuckey in overtime.
The Jets better figure out a better plan to cover tight ends. However, they actually might get a break this week because Houston Texan Owen Daniels is injured. I personally would get Brodney Pool more involved in covering tight ends. He’s got better size than Leonhard, and better speed than Smith. Pool is 6-2, 214 pounds and runs under 4.6. Stop having him play in another county, and utilize his skillset a little more.