Jets Fall to the Texans 20-16

In tonight’s preseason opener, the Jets fell to the Houston Texans, 20-16.

Here is a link to the complete box score :http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=310815034

Here are the highs and lows:

• Shonn Greene looked the part of the guy to carry the load at running back, rushing 5 times for 32 yards, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
• Mark Sanchez was sharp, going 6-7 for 43 yards, including connecting 3 times with new teammate Derrick Mason for 21 yards, seemingly on the same page early.
• The first team offense was up to its old tricks in the redzone tonight, running 3 plays for a net loss of 1 yard, ending in a Nick Folk field goal.  Nothing real positive happened in the redzone until Greg McElroy connected with Patrick Turner on a 1 yard TD early in the second half.
• Jeremy Kerley has a nice debut as the kick/punt returner tonight, with his first NFL touch being an 11 yard punt return, and adding a 31 and 34 yard kickoff return.
• A brief scare tonight when Bart Scott left the field during the first series.  Josh Mauga recorded a sack during Bart’s absence, and added an INT later in the game off a Kenrick Ellis deflection
• Jim Leonhard looked great being back on the field tonight, seemed to be moving well, and added the first tackle of the game.  All in all, nice to see the defensive QB back on the field.
• Robert Turner was carted off the field after having his ankle rolled up on, and he did not return.  Hopefully that is not a serious injury.  Rex announced that he will have an MRI tomorrow.
• The offensive line was horrendous tonight allowing 7 sacks, including 2 personally give up by bust Vladimir Ducasse.  Thank goodness the QB’s left Reliant Stadium alive this evening.
• 8 penalties is far too many, although not surprising during week 1 of the preseason.  The worst being a non-penalty, when Rex through his headset down because he needed to use a timeout to prevent a too many men penalty.  Stupid, even this early.
• Greg McElroy rebounded from a slow start to play well, throwing the most passes of any Jets QB in the preseason since Ray Lucas in 1999, going 23-39 , 208 yards and 1 TD, and would have thrown the game winner if not for a drop by Michael Campbell in the end zone late.
• Tight end Jeff Cumberland showed all the signs of influencing the passing game, leading all Jets receivers with 6 catches for 77 yards.
• At no point in the game did the team have any answers for Texan running back Chris Ogbonnaya, who gained 67 yards receiving and 37 on the ground, scoring twice.

All in all, there were some highs, and some great lows.  The offensive line has to get better, although some of the problems can be attributed to missing some key components.  Typically the defense is ahead of the offense at this stage, and I believe we saw that tonight, with the first team defense only allowing 24 yards against the Houston first team offense tonight.  Some good moments tonight, I liked the early chemistry between Sanchez and Mason.  I would like to have seen Dustin Keller involved tonight, as he will be important, and his role diminished when Santonio Holmes returned from suspension last year.  The defense seemed healthy and active.  Nice to see Kenrick Ellis make his presence felt with the pass deflection.  Let’s see the sloppiness get better Sunday night against Cincinatti.