Monday Morning Quarterback: New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins

Nov 17, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterback Matt Simms (5) throws a pass during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 37-14. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

“It’s got to be the morning after.” A quote from an old song, just quantifies the sentiment we are all feeling this morning I think. It’s the morning after. The morning after another week, and another bad loss. And this one hurt, ladies and gentlemen. With the loss, the Jets dropped to 5-7, and fell further back in the race for the final Wild Card position. And, the lack of tiebreaker advantages make the playoffs basically out of reach.

Let’s talk about this one, for what it’s worth.

Everything went wrong. They failed in all phases of the football game, offense, defense, and special teams. The offense got nothing done, NOTHING. Geno Smith got benched in the second half, and deservedly so. His confidence, despite what he says, is not good. He was missing wide open receivers yesterday, and the offense could just never find a flow or rhythm.

It’s far from only one guy. We get on Geno Smith’s case for not completing passes. The question, though, is, to who? When he actually had time, he had nobody open. This group of wide receivers did not get any separation at all. The quarterback is going to look a lot worse when he has nobody to throw it to. The group is under talented, we know that, but they don’t play up to another level. They don’t get open, period.

Geno Smith, and later Matt Simms, were running for their lives all game long. The offensive line was pretty terrible yesterday. Say whatever you want about guys not getting open, and the quarterback not completing passes. These are both very difficult tasks when you are lying on your back. No matter who is back there, the offense will never get in a rhythm if the offensive line can’t block anybody.

With that, the game was still close at the half, 6-0. In comes Matt Simms, to “spark” the offense, as Rex put it after the game. The offense had no life, so you bring in the backup quarterback. To the delight of the fans, Matt ran in to a standing ovation. But, did Marty Mornhinweg open up the playbook for Simms? Nope. It seemed that for most of his time, he, as was Geno, a handoff machine.

I think that is what made me the most irate about this game, and I was irate when it ended. Angrier than usual, and was talking to my wife about why, and I figured it out. The coaches did not have the guys ready to play, and the game plan helped nobody.

Marty clearly had no confidence in either of the quarterbacks, as he was doing everything he could to prevent them from screwing the game up. Both guys were playing off of limited scripts, only throwing when they had to. Despite everything, you cannot play that way.

The starting quarterback has had trouble with turnovers, and the backup has no experience. I get that. But, that still doesn’t mean that you have them play like they are scared of their own shadows. If you have the quarterback afraid to throw the football, you don’t have an effective quarterback. That is what we have. We have the quarterback too scared to play because they are afraid to turn the ball over. You have to open the offense up, and give them a chance to play.

For one, you have to see what you have in these guys. Having them hand the ball off all game does not tell you if Geno or Matt can play quarterback. Two, if you run the football on every play, your team has no chance to succeed. If the other team stacks the box, as they do against the Jets, and dare you to throw, you have to throw. Otherwise, there is no point in even trying, because you are set up to fail.

The coaches didn’t set the team up for success against the Dolphins, and that is a bad sign.

Just a couple of things on the defense. I am sick of Dee Milliner getting beaten like a rented mule on every play. Will he be a player? Maybe. But get him off the field for now as a full-time player. It’s unwatchable.

Secondly, what is going on in Cromartie’s head? He asked out of the game, and then returned kicks? What is happening here? If you are hurt, fine, stay out of the game. Frankly, it’s nauseating to watch Cromartie get beaten all over the field. But, don’t go running back kicks. Either do your job or get out.

Rex said it, they have to get better. They have to do it fast.