New York Jets: Week Two Report Card

The Jets fell to the Packers yesterday by the score of 31-24. Let’s get right to the report card (in slideshow format, move ahead in the show to view the grades by clicking “next”).

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Jets quarterback

(7) warms up before game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

QUARTERBACK: C+ Note that this grade is not low because of the interception.  If you read the Monday Morning Quarterback, earlier today, you know that I didn’t really put the interception on Geno Smith.  The grade goes down because Geno was nowhere near as accurate as he was in week one.  For the afternoon, Smith was 16-32 throwing the football, and some of the misses were bad ones.  Too many throws were high, or behind his guys.  That is why he earns the “C+” this week.

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Jets running back

(33) is tackled by Green Bay Packers inside linebacker

(50) during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

RUNNING BACKS: C- Nobody in this group really got anything going on the ground. Chris Ivory did score a touchdown on the ground, but only managed 43 yards on 13 carries. Chris Johnson added 21 yards on twelve carries. Bilal Powell was the only bright spot on the ground, with four carries for 16 yards. Tommy Bohanon added two receptions out of the backfield for 39 yards, and a big first down on one carry for three yards.

Sep 7, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver

(87) runs with the ball during a game against the Oakland Raiders at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Raiders 19-14. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS: B- When the wide receivers were targeted, they didn’t look bad. Eric Decker led the group with four catches for 63 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with a hamstring injury. Jeremy Kerley converted first downs, and a touchdown that was nullified because of the Sheldon Richardson time out. The surprising element was the fact that the tight ends weren’t targeted often, with only two catches for 20 yards between Jace Amaro and Jeff Cumberland. This was especially surprising after Decker left the game, as was the fact that David Nelson only posted one catch.

OFFENSIVE LINE: C Geno was only sacked twice, but the Jets’ offensive line did not have a banner day in Green Bay yesterday. The running game got nothing going. The Packers are a very susceptible team to the run, yet the Jets couldn’t manage four yards per carry against them. And Bryan Winters is starting to make his way to the Vladimir Ducasse award. It’s time for him to leave the Jets’ lineup. Sooner rather than later.

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Jets defensive end

(96) fights with Green Bay Packers offensive tackle

(69) and defensive tackle

(94) tries to get between them in the third quarter at Lambeau Field. Wilkerson was ejected from the game. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

DEFENSIVE LINE: C+ The line didn’t have a horrible day. They did keep the Packers well below 100 yards rushing. The ground game of the Packers never got much going. Quinton Coples also had an excellent game, with one sack and several pressures on the quarterback. The grade comes down thanks to Muhammad Wilkerson getting tossed from the game. He’s a leader and a top performer. The Jets shouldn’t accept that from anyone, but especially not Wilkerson. That is a very bad job out of “Big Mo”.

Sep 7, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets linebacker

(97) tries to get past Oakland Raiders tackle

(69) at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Raiders 19-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

LINEBACKERS: A- By far, this was the best group on the field for the Jets. Demario Davis was an absolute beast yesterday, with 5.5 tackles and two sacks. David Harris recorded an interception that was taken away due to a penalty. Calvin Pace added a sack as well. It’s not their fault when others commit penalties.

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver

(87) catches a 33 yard pass with New York Jets cornerback

(27) defending during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

DEFENSIVE BACKS: C+ Starting cornerbacks Antonio Allen and Darrin Walls did not have a terrible game. Jordy Nelson had his catches, but he didn’t break off the big play. There was no reason to put Dee Milliner on Nelson. It was the first time he had played in four weeks, and he was coming off of a high ankle sprain. Let Dee guard one of the other receivers, to ease him in. On the 80 yard touchdown by Jordy Nelson, Milliner looked like he shouldn’t have been active for the game. On the play, Calvin Pryor was late with the help and took a very band angle as well.

And finally, was anyone really surprised that the great Kyle Wilson gave up a touchdown pass. Here’s a newsflash, Wilson can’t cover many people in the Jets’ fan base, much less opposing wide receivers.

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Jets kicker

(2) is congratulated for kicking a field goal during the second half of a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

SPECIAL TEAMS: B- Nick Folk was perfect, as usual, with three extra points and one long field goal. The returners played well also. The black mark is Ryan Quigley, who should not be punting in this league right now. He is far too inconsistent, and although he did drop one deep, he had several punts that were under forty yards. That is unacceptable and the Jets need to move on from Quigley.