New York Jets Week 15: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Dec 14, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Jets running back

Chris Ivory

(33) rushes against Tennessee Titans free safety

Michael Griffin

(33) during the second half at LP Field. Jets won 16-11. Mandatory Credit:

Jim Brown

-USA TODAY Sports

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The Jets got back in the win column beating the Titans in Tennessee 16-11. People will look at this game two different ways. One set of fans will be happy to see the team win while another set will lament the loss of draft position. How did it happen? Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly:

The Good

1) The Jets win! – As Herm Edwards said while coach of the Jets, “You play to win the game!” and the Jets did just that. The Jets were aggressive, they threw the ball, they blitzed a beleaguered Titans offensive line relentlessly and they played with good effort. The team was far from perfect but a win is a win and they have been few and far between this year.

2) Geno Smith plays well for the 2nd straight week – Geno Smith was 16/28 for 179 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers. Smith led the Jets on an 11 play 76 yard touchdown drive with three minutes remaining in the game that proved to be the difference in the game. He made a few terrific throws including one to Eric Decker for 48 yards where he threw Decker open, a trait that has not been a part of Smith’s game in his 1st two years in the league. Geno also didn’t lose his cool when he punched in the face by Jurrell Casey, he just walked away and let the Titan player be the only one to be penalized. Smith may not be able to prove that he is the quarterback of the future in the final few weeks of the year but he can certainly earn the right to compete for the job next year if he continues to progress.

3) Quinton Coples has a monster game – Quinton Coples had four quarterback hits (including knocking Jake Locker out of the game), two tackles for loss and a sack (his 4th of the year). Coples plays much better as a defensive lineman whether it is rushing from the edge or from the defensive tackle position. His best fit would probably be in a 4-3 and he is auditioning for the next coach here or enhancing his trade value. IK Enemkpali had two pass deflections and also got some nice pressure on the quarterback. Enemkpali hasn’t gotten as much playing time as he should have but he is starting to make the most of the time he is given and show that he can be a part of the Jets future.

Dec 14, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver

Nate Washington

(85) talks with Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey after a fight between the Titans and the New York Jets during the second half at LP Field. The Jets beat the Titans 16-11. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

The Bad

1) The Jets win! – The other side to the coin of the Jets winning is that it knocks them down from 4th to 6th in the draft order for the 2015 NFL Draft and considering they now would lose head to head tie-breakers with both Oakland and Tennessee it pretty much eliminates them from getting the top pick in the draft. The draft is an inexact science and good players can be found in most spots in the top 10 but usually the higher you draft the better chance you have at being successful. If the Jets are QB shopping they may need to trade up to get Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston.

2) Penalties at key times derail the offense – The Jets had a holding penalty on Giacomini negate a beautiful scramble and pass by Geno Smith to Zach Sudfeld for 43 yards. They also had an offensive pass interference on Chris Ivory negate a successful screen pass to Chris Johnson that would have given them a 1st down around the Titans 20 yard line, instead it stalled the drive. They also had a false start that negated a Chris Ivory touchdown late in the game. Geno Smith was also called for intentional grounding while in the end zone which resulted in a safety. Overall the Jets had seven penalties for 46 yards.

3) Nobody could cover Nate Washington – Washington had six catches for 102 yards with most of those coming on 3rd down. Whether it was Philip Adams or Marcus Williams, each time the Jets would blitz on a 3rd down Washington would win. He covered a 3rd and 14 on a scramble drill where Adams fell down allowing the catch for 26 yards then he also converted a couple of other 3rd downs in the 1st half, and was part of the multiple lateral play at the end of the game that was nearly a 2nd Music City Miracle. Delanie Walker also had a good game with four catches for 93 yards.

The Ugly

1) The record – The Jets record is 3-11 and however nice it is getting a win the fact remains that this has been an ugly season and change is just two games away.

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