Week 3 Jets Report Card

Sept 23, 2012; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) reacts on the sideline in a game against the Miami Dolphins in the second half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE

Week 3 is in the books, and it is time for the grades. Like we said before, a win is a win, but that doesn’t mean the grades will bring you up to the Honor Roll. Here we go:

QUARTERBACKS:B-

Mark Sanchez has to play better than he did yesterday in order for the Jets to be successful. 21-45 for 306 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs is just not good enough. The first INT was on the receiver, but the second was totally on him, and was a huge momentum killer that could have cost them the football game. Luckily it didn’t. The grade only comes up over a C for me because he made the throws he had to make at clutch times. Big throws to Kerley and Holmes late saved Mark from another C, but he has to improve. Tim Tebow didn’t do enough to take part in the grade.

RUNNING BACKS:D

The running backs just weren’t any good yesterday, plain and simple. A team that is supposed to have the running game as their bread and butter has to execute better than that. Shonn Greene was putrid, with 19 carries for 40 yards. As much as I defend Greene, he becomes harder and harder to watch these days. Bilal Powell was better, with 10 carries for 45 yards, but he didn’t look particularly exciting either, and he did have a big dropped pass. This group needs to step up for the Jets to have any chance next week.

RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS:B

This group did have its issues, don’t get me wrong. Clyde Gates ran a horrible pass route early, that caused the interception on the first drive. The receivers had their drops, especially rookie Stephen Hill. But, the grade comes up for a couple of reasons. First, there were some good things done by the tight ends, Konrad Reuland and Jeff Cumberland. Cumberland stepped it up from his poor game last week, and looked much better in the passing game, even though he only had 2 catches to show for it. Long time friend of Sanchez, Reuland looked proficient in his pair of catches as well. The work they do in their free time as friends clearly has paid off.

And secondly, the receivers made plays when they needed to be made. Santonio Holmes stepped up and played like a number one receiver, and had his first 100 yard performance since 2010. Jeremy Kerley made only two catches, but they were huge, one for 66 yards to set up points, and one for a TD that put the Jets ahead. This brought the group up to a B.

OFFENSIVE LINE:B-

The offensive line wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either. The running game only gained 2.7 yards per rush, so some of that has to be put on the offensive line. Mark Sanchez was only sacked one time, but he was pressured a bit today, and that is on the line as well. Austin Howard got beaten a few times on the right side, showing his youth a bit. Can’t give them a very high grade.

Turn the page for the defense and special teams.

Sept 23, 2012; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) is attended to after being injured in the second half in a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE

DEFENSIVE LINE:D

This group was invisible, both against the run, and getting to the quarterback. Specificially, they didn’t get to the quarterback. The Jets recorded zero sacks, against a rookie quarterback. You have to get pressure on a young quarterback, and the Jets just did not do that. And the Jets vaunted run defense, allowed 4.3 yards per rush. They had no answer for Reggie Bush, and the rest of the Dolphins running attack gave them a hard time as well. The grade would have been an F if not for Mo Wilkerson’s 7.5 tackles. Not a good day for them.

LINEBACKERS:D

Here’s another group that made no impact on the football game at all. Yes, they made their tackles, David Harris leading the way with 8.5. But, most of the tackles they made were because the Miami running backs were getting to the second level, not because they were coming up and making huge plays. Did anyone hear the linebackers’ names called at all? If they were called, it wasn’t all that often. Calvin Pace is paid a lot, and he is nowhere near the quarterback. Maybin has yet to cause any “Mayhem” at all so far. The linebackers were not good yesterday.

DEFENSIVE BACKS:B+

These guys did not shut the passing game down entirely, but they did a pretty good job, holding Tannehill to under 200 yards passing. They also did create two turnovers, one with the LaRon Landry pick six, and the fumble that Darrelle Revis recovered. Davon Bess did make some clutch catches, bringing in 5 for 86 yards. Not good enough for an A, but the big plays are more than good enough to earn this group a B+.

SPECIAL TEAMS:A-

This group was solid. Robert Malone dropped 4 out of 6 punts inside the twenty, clearly showing he is a step up from TJ Conley. Nick Folk was 3-3 on field goals, including the game winner, albeit with help from the Philbin timeout. The returners didn’t turn the ball over on punts or kicks. No big returns, but a solid day all around from this group.