New York Jets Report Card: Week 12
Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets
Quarterback: A-
Fitzpatrick: 22/37, 277 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 5 rushes for 21 yards
Perhaps Fitzpatrick’s off-hand is finally healing up or perhaps he was feeling the heat after weeks of lackluster performance. But whatever the cause, the result is Fitzpatrick’s best game of the season. No turnovers, 4 touchdowns… nothing to argue about. There were a few plays that could have gone the other way: a duck or two and a couple dropped picks, but once he hit his rhythm around mid-game, Fitzmagic was in full force.
Running Backs: B-
Ivory: 21/87/1, 2 receptions for 15 yards
Powell: 6/28/0, 2 receptions for 7 yards
Ridley: 2/1/0
Despite posting a solid stat line at the end of the day, Ivory struggled mightily throughout the mid-game. He’s still capable of breaking the big play: not with his wheels but with power and vision. Powell and Ridley had only a few touches here and there, as the Jets ground game continues to be centered around Ivory.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: B+
Decker: 5/62/1
Marshall: 9/131/2
Enunwa: 2/29/0
Smith: 2/33/1
Rookie WR Devin Smith brought down his first career touchdown, Decker and Enunwa both contributed but each was responsible for a drop. Marshall was in early season form, using his height advantage over Miami CB Brent Grimes to pull down pass after pass.
Offensive Line: C-
The return of Nick Mangold provided a substantial boost to an offensive line desperately in need of one, but the Jets line was hit with numerous holding and false start flags throughout the game and struggled to create holes in the running game against a run defense that has struggled severely this season.
Defensive Line: B+
Wilkerson posted a sack and Richardson had a sack of his own and a forced fumble. It was a nice bounce back game for the Jets d-line, who did a much better job of absorbing blocks this week.
Linebackers: B
Dolphins running backs combined for just 8 yards on the ground as Miami wisely abandoned the run early. Lorenzo Mauldin is emerging as a pass-rushing threat for the Jets in his rookie season. The Jets linebackers didn’t embarrass us too much in coverage for the first time in a long time!
Secondary: A-
Marcus Williams grabbed his 5th interception of the season, but left early due to injury. Even without Revis and Williams, the Jets secondary forced punt after punt. Don’t be fooled by Tannehill’s quarterback line of 33/58, 351 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT: almost all of the damage that Miami did through the air came in garbage time, after the result of the game was already decided. In his sophomore season, safety Calvin Pryor is emerging as a future mainstay in the Jets secondary.
Special Teams: C
Bullock hit a 41 yard field goal. So there’s that. Jeremy Kerley had one of his best games as a punt return man. The Jets allowed Miami to successfully convert an onside kick. Punter Ryan Quigley still needs to be cut.
Coaching: B+
Yet again, the Jets started out a bit slow. Late in the game, the defense allowed Miami to march up and down the field with ease. Still, it’s hard to argue with this kind of success. The Jets responded the way they needed to respond after a brutal 1-4 stretch: by blowing out a divisional rival.