Special Teams Coverage, Rookie Fumble and Bad Coaching Cost Jets

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Blown special teams coverage, a rookie fumble and poor decision making by Team Ryan in the stretch cost the Jets a home victory as the Miami Dolphins sweep the Jets with a 30-25 win.

Ted Ginn, who seems to save his best for the Jets had two, 100-yard plus kick-off returns against the usually reliable Jets special teams squad who were embarassed by Ginn's coast-to-coast sprints to the end zone virtually untouched.

The mental collapse on special teams was compounded by rookie Shonn Greene's fumble scooped up for a touchdown by Jason Taylor, his ninth career end zone appearance. With Thomas Jones having another outstanding season, one has to question why Greene was even in the game given the fact Jones has been excellent all season with another outstanding effort with 27 carries for 102 yards.

Looking at the game stats, one wonders how the Jets blew this contest.

Three non-offensive touchdowns by Taylor & Ginn made it nearly impossible for the Jets to recover, but decisionmaking by the Jets coaching staff in the end prevented this game from a possible overtime quarter when the Jets were forced to pass on third and fourth down on the game's final possession.

Getting swept by the Dolphins for the first time since 2003, one has to wonder why the Jets were rolling the dice on two-point conversions when Jay Feely is having a career year and was good on a 55-yard attempt in the third quarter?

What were they thinking?

Had the Jets gone for the two PAT's, the score would have been 30-27 on the final drive and Sanchez did enough offensively to get the Jets close enough for Feely to get the Jets into a possible OT.

It wasn't to be.

Ryan has to take responsbility for this loss.

His decision to go for two-point conversions negated the excellent red zone touchdowns by Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller and it took the wind out of these scores. The defense played well and Chad Henne was kept in check. The Wildcat was irrevelant and the Jets rolled to 378 net yards to Miami's anemic 104.

But this game was lost by fluke plays, poor tackling and a major turnover by Greene.

At 4-4, the Jets don't look like a playoff caliber club.

At the half-way point in the season, it looks like the Jets will need to win the AFC outright to think about playing in January. With the Colts, Steelers, Bengals, Texans, Broncos, Chargers and Patriots all ahead of the Jets in the current standings, the possibility of two AFC East clubs in the playoffs seems unlikely. The Jets will need to go 6-2 in the second-half to have any serious playoff consideration and that might not even be enough to secure a wildcard invitation.

Ryan's decision to stick with Sanchez was the right move, but the Jets need a real second-string back-up should Sanchez go down. It's time the Jets keep the ball primarily in Thomas Jones hands, and if they can't the ball should be going to the very reliable Tony Richardson.

Greene's fumble was a game changer.

With a bye week, the Jets have time to heal and refocus on a must win with Jacksonville and then a showdown with the Patriots in New England.

Those games will for the most part decide the season.

At worst, a split will leave the Jets 5-5 and probably out of the hunt for playoffs. A 6-4 record and sweep of the Patriots will make-up for today's blown opportunity. Hopefully Ryan and the Jets will recover and continue to compete in the meaningful way in November and December.

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