New York Jets Report Card
Week 8: Packers @ Jets
Quarterback: C-
Mark Sanchez: 16/38, 256 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT
There are a few misleading things about Mark Sanchez’s stats on the day. They don’t take into account catchable drops, two highly questionable interceptions or poor starting field position. I know some will expect a lower grade, but I think that has to be taken into account. Still, the young signal caller failed to lead his team into the endzone just once in this game, despite many opportunities. He had Braylon Edwards wide open for a 60+ yard touchdown and didn’t throw the ball to him.
Running backs: D+
Tomlinson: 16/54/0
Greene: 6/22
They failed to produce on the ground, putting up a sub 4 yards per carry average. I insist that they did not have enough opportunities, especially in the 2nd half. The pass to run ratio was practically 2:1. That’s just poor play calling.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: F
Cotchery: 4/89
Keller: 2/45
Holmes: 3/43
An atrocious game by the wide receivers and tight ends. Keller and Edwards were targeted rarely, so no big deal there. However, Smith lost a fumble and Cotchery is a shell of his former self. He might have had as many drops in this game as he has in his entire career. Holmes had the dropsies as well.
Defensive Line, Linebackers, Secondary: A
Harris: 8 tackles, 1 sack
Lowery: 1 sacks
I’m grading the defense together today because there isn’t much to seperate them on. The defense performed outstandingly. Six of the nine points they surrendered came off of turnovers deep in Jets territory. They did not produce a turnover, but you honestly can’t expect a better all around performance than this. Stunning job.
Special Teams: D-
The only thing that kept the special teams from receiving a failing grade was Brad Smith’s second half kick return to midfield. Other than that you had a missed field goal, a failed fake punt and all around poor starting position for the Jets combined with great starting position for the Packers.
Coaching: D
Lost in this game will be the tremendous defensive coaching by Rex/Pettine. The offensive play calling was brutal. They relied too much on the pass and not enough on the run, and no one seems to be fooled by any of Schottenheimer’s “tricks”, including a double reverse that almost resulted in a fumble. Rex also lost 2 challenges in the first half, and that kept them from having one for the rest of the game.
With so many people making weekly NFL picks, not many of them could have seen a shutout coming. The NFL odds makers didn’t as they had this total set in the high 30’s.