Monday Morning Quarterback: Week 2 Jets vs. Steelers

Sep 16, 2012; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin talk before their game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

Monday Morning Quarterback time. With the Jets taking a 27-10 pounding at the hands of the Steelers yesterday, there is quite a bit to dissect from this game, so let’s get to it.

First we will start on the offensive side of the ball. The first drive was brilliant, they were having success on the ground, and Mark was getting the ball to the outside, all over the field, and the Jets looked like the offense from last week.

But then, we saw the offense from the preseason. In a word, anemic. They couldn’t get anything going at all. In real time, Mark Sanchez went over 2 hours without completing a pass to a wide receiver. That’s a long time. Shonn Greene was running well early, but he came out after a hit to the head, and wasn’t the same when he came back. Bilal Powell had some bursts, but only finished with 33 yards over 9 carries. The longest run of anyone all game long, on either side was a 22 yard run by Tim Tebow.

Sep 16, 2012; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) runs the ball past Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Ziggy Hood (96) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

And that brings me to the Wildcat. Why didn’t they go to it much? I am not saying that it would have made the difference in the game, but it might have helped. It’s not like the offense was in rhythm like last week, a change of pace could have helped. Tebow had success with it last season against Pittsburgh. If you brought him in to run it, why wouldn’t you use it against a team it has worked against? Just surprising.

Mark was a whole lot less accurate than last week, that’s for sure. 10-27 was not all on the wide receivers. The offense had no flow, from the playcalling, right through everyone, including the quarterback.

Sep 16, 2012; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of the game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

Let’s talk about dropped passes by the wide receivers. Specifically, this wide receiver to the right, Mr. Santonio Holmes. Yes, he had a nice opening drive including the TD. But, after that, he did more whining about penalty flags than catching the football. The numbers don’t lie, 11 targets, 3 catches. Not nearly good enough for a guy that thinks he is a number one wide receiver. Stop complaining and waving your arms to the refs after every pass, instead, concentrate on catching the football. Maybe you tired your arms out too much by waving them.

Santonio was not the only one with the dropsies. Jeremy Kerley, coming off a great game last week, had his own couple of drops in the passing game as well. He had another drop as well, which was on special teams that we will talk about in a minute. All Mark Sanchez can do is throw it to them, he cannot catch it for them too. The guys on the outside have to help him out. The Jets missed Dustin Keller today, but they have to step up in his absence. Stephen Hill was invisible, no catches. And did Chaz Schilens even play a down?

Don’t forget the play when Jeff Cumberland for that he actually has to turn around if he is going to catch the football.

September 16, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (11) runs after a pass reception against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Keenan Lewis (23) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Oh, Jeremy. The Jets defense has just come off the field thanks to a challenge won on the spot of the football. The Steelers are punting from deep in their own territory. Kerley takes his eyes off the football and muffs the punt. Big momentum change in the game happened there. Whether you signal for the fair catch or not, all you have to do is make the play on that. Catch the football. That’s all. In excusable mistake.

Sep 16, 2012; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Isaac Redman (33) is tackled by New York Jets linebacker David Harris (52) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

The defense missed so many tackles today, we probably don’t have enough fingers and toes to count that high. It was hard to watch, how many times the Jets either had Big Ben, or a back wrapped up, and they let him go! There were several times where the Jets had the right call on defense, with a free rusher coming at Ben, but they kept going high. If you go high on Ben, he is going to make you miss. You have to go low from the legs, and wrap him up. The Jets wrapped nobody up today.

And where was this fierce front four, that was going to get to the quarterback consistently? Did they stay home? They played decently against the run, but against the pass? It seemed like the only time the Jets got any pressure on the quarterback was when they blitzed. Isn’t that exactly what we were told wasn’t going to happen? I love the guy, but where was Aaron Maybin? Did he even dress? Hard to tell since we didn’t hear his name called.

September 16, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace (17) catches a 37 yard touchdown pass in front of New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie (31) during the third quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

The Jets clearly missed Darrelle Revis today, but not more than they did in the play in the picture to the left. Yes, Mike Wallace did a brilliant job getting his feet down in the endzone. But, the ball hung up in the air for 2-3 days. Did Cromartie have any idea where the ball was? He looked like one of the kids in the soccer game that doesn’t really want to be there, so he just stares into space. Not good.

And then, there were stupid penalties. LaRon Landry was guilty of two big ones. The late hit out of bounds, and the horse collar were huge. Both ended up setting the Steelers well into Jets territory. His aggressive play is terrific, but cannot change from aggressive to stupid.

August 25, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; A NFL replacement official catches a football during the first half of a preseason game between the New Orleans Saints and the Houston Texansat the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Finally, a few words about the officiating (sorry I couldn’t find a picture of the refs from today’s game). This is not the reason the Jets lost, but the referees were brtual, to biblical proportions. Bad spots were the earliest problem. They were spotting the football, and it wasn’t even close to where the ball was. Phantom penalties too. I loved the call, but late in the game they invented that pass interference call against the Steelers. I think they dreamt it.

And then, the fumble by Redman, which was a fumble, besides the fact that his knee was down five yards earlier. They had a replay, and missed both. Again, this is not why they lost, but the refs need to come back.

Back to the drawing board for the Jets, as they head to Miami to face the Dolphins next week. We will be back this afternoon with the report card.