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The Jets were dominant against the Buffalo Bills, but the secondary still needs some major work on communications. Dan breaks down the team’s defense. Tons of premium each month for $7.95 . . .
Jets came out in 4-3 defense since they were so thin at outside linebacker with Jamaal Westerman and Calvin Pace out with injuries.
On Marshawn Lynch’s first carry of the game, Jason Taylor blew up the run in the backfield, and this led the runner into the hands of Bart Scott after a short gain. On the next play, Taylor tackled a scrambling Fitzpatrick after just a gain of two.
On the Bills second possession, Shaun Ellis and Mike DeVito couldn’t shed blocks on the left side, and Fred Jackson ran between them for a gain of 12. Also on the Bills second possession, DeVito shed a block and got into the backfield quickly, forcing Fitzpatrick to throw the ball away.
On the Bills third possession, Bart Scott executed a blindside blitz, and hit Fitzpatrick as he threw, and the ball fell incomplete.
Vernon Gholston had no tackles on defense, and missed a tackle on a Roscoe Parrish first quarter punt return that went for 13 yards.
David Harris had two really nice plays on the Bills’ third possession. On the first play of that possession, he stopped Lynch on the line for no gain. Two plays later, he knocked running back C.J. Spiller out of the way (this is why rookie running backs can be a liability – a lot of them can’t block), and had a QB pressure on a Fitz pass that slipped out of his hand.
At the beginning of the third quarter, Ellis did a great job not biting at all on a play-action, and he sacked Fitzpatrick. He hurt his knee on this play and didn’t return.
Bryan Thomas caused a Lynch fumble in the third, and Taylor recovered it.
Trevor Pryce jumped off sides in the fourth quarter.
Antonio Cromartie had a Revis-type role in this game. He was like the Maytag repairman – not a lot of action on his side.
Cro ended the first possession with a PD on a pass to Lee Evans down the right sideline. This jump ball situation greatly favored Cro who is four inches taller than Evans.
Dwight Lowery had a sack on a late first quarter blitz. Lowery ended a second quarter possession by stopping wide receiver David Nelson short of the first down on a third down throw.
Brodney Pool missed a tackle on a Nelson 37-yard pass at the end of the first half. He attempted to blow him up with a shoulder hit, instead of wrapping up. This tackle attempt was reminiscent of the type of play that Kerry Rhodes got blasted for last year. Drew Coleman saved a touchdown on this play by tracking down Nelson. On the next play, Pool was late coming over to Nelson, on a square out on the right side, that gained 11 yards. The play that followed this was a disaster for the Jets pass defense. Tight end David Martin was left wide open in the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown, Nobody was near him.
Late in the game, Nelson beat Lowery for a gain of 20 late, and missed a tackle after the catch. James Ihedigbo showed some good hustle, tracking down Nelson to save a touchdown.
Kyle Wilson was inconsistent.  He was beat by Steve Johnson for a gain of 12 on the left sideline early fourth. The possession ended with Johnson blowing by Wilson for a 13-yard touchdown on the right side of the end zone. It wasn’t even close. Also, in the fourth quarter, Johnson caught a pass down the deep left sideline on Wilson, but didn’t get both feet in bounds.
The Jets second had a decent game, but they were aided by a lot of drops. Evans had a terrible game.
