NY Jets: 5 ways to maul Miami

The Miami Dolphins vs NY Jets match-up will certainly be no turkey.  Expect a tough, physical battle as Ryan Tannehill and the cellar-dwelling Dolphins (4-6) come to MetLife Stadium to take on the reeling Jets (5-5).

Nov 22, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) flips the ball to back judge Perry Paganelli (46) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Houston won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

To use a boxing analogy, the Jets are punch-drunk and against the ropes, but they are not down for the count.

We can speak ad nauseum about what went wrong in this past week’s 24-17 loss in Houston. But the bottom line is, the Jets defense had no answers for some very average injury stand-ins such as quarterback T.J. Yates and Alfred Blue.  Such a defensive performance devoid of professional tackling prowess is unsatisfactory by any yardstick.

As for the Jets’ vaunted secondary, Darrelle Revis had his worst game as a New York gridder, making the Texans solid reciever DeAndre Hopkins look down-right Jerry Rice-like. Revis at least has the excuse of a third-quarter concussion; his partner-in-crime Antonio Cromartie can offer no such alibis, suffering through a dismal 2015 season that will likely preclude a return in 2016.

Things have not been moving forward for Gang Green.  Four losses in the last five games has turned a promising playoff-bound start into a demoralizing sprint to the finish line.

The Jets look forward to this rematch with the Dolphins, who New York so utterly dismantled in London that their coach Joe Philbin got fired after the plane ride home.

Here’s 5 reasons to believe in the Jets over the Dolphins this weekend  – as explained through the songbook of Slayer.

Next: 5. Undisputed Attitude

Nov 22, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans strong safety Andre Hal (29) makes the interception in front of New York Jets wide receiver

Brandon Marshall

(15) during the second half of a game at NRG Stadium. Houston won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

5. Undisputed Attitude

The Jets’ offensive line looks lost without Nick Mangold snapping and Willie Colon bringin’ the nasty attitude. That’s a major reason why the double-headed power rushing team of Chris Ivory and Stevan Ridley has been so average of late.

And let’s take a moment to talk about the Jets allegedly robust receiving class.  Eric Decker has been far from spectacular, but Brandon Marshall and Devin Smith proved once again responsible for seizing defeat from the jaws of victory.

Smith is a woefully overwhelmed and chronically injured rookie.  But what is Marshall’s excuse?  There’s nothing wrong with positive thinking, but #15 is down-right delusional about his All-Pro status and Hall of Fame prospects.  Maybe he needs more time in the training room and less time in the NFL Network “green room.”

The fact remains: Marshall and Smith have collectively lost more games and dropped more easy catches than any subpar catching crew employed by Rex Ryan’s defense-only regime. These two need to wake up and deliver against the Dolphins to redeem themselves in this match-up.

Next: 4. Seasons In The Abyss

Nov 22, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New York Jets head coach

Todd Bowles

prior to a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

4. Seasons In The Abyss

Albert Breer of the NFL Network in a recent interview made a salient point about the 2015 Jets. To paraphrase, he said the team is reaching its equilibrium.

He felt that the team’s draft selections over the previous 5-6 seasons was so terrible that it left the roster bereft of talent from players 20-53, and that despite a few nice player additions in the off-season, a few key injuries would expose the depth problem.

So all you Jet lifers jumping off the Todd Bowles bandwagon faster than WFANs Joe Begningo, please understand that this team is a work in progress. If you ever noticed, general manager Mike Maccagnan never overplayed his hand. He understands better than anyone that the cupboard was stripped bare by the previous regimes led by bean counters posing as talent evaluators.

The Jets new front office has attempted to hide their true feelings about the real state of the franchise.  However, the team’s erratic on-field play has bared the ugly truth for all to see. It is always good to beat a division rival so in this game, Bowles needs to make sure that he delivers a big message to have everyone step up and execute.

Next: 3. South Of Heaven

Oct 25, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) speaks to New York Jets outside linebacker Quinton Coples (98) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

3. South Of Heaven

All discussion leads back to the Quinton Coples fiasco. Going into the 2012 NFL Draft, the Jets had a competent scouting staff that focused on a variety of stud players for their #16 pick, including now-NFL star linebacker Bruce Irvin, defensive ends Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw, and guard David DeCastro.

Unbeknownst to all, Rex Ryan told Quinton Coples that he’d grab the UNC lineman with his team’s top pick, and then somehow convinced his boss Trader Mike Tannenbaum to support the ill-conceived move.

When the Seahawks traded up to grab Irvin, the Jets set off an inner-office mutiny by selecting Coples and not following the board. Like a lemming, the GM followed his head coach into a sea of oblivion.

Joey Clinkscale was one of those tireless workers who went ballistic and quit. Now the Director Of Player Personnel for Oakland, he has assembled a quality roster that really put a whoopin’ on the NYJ in Week 6.

Then there’s the issue of Dee Milliner, the Coples of the John Idzik era, who has been beyond disappointing as a pro.

The #9 overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft, intended to replace Darrelle Revis, is not even good enough to get on the field and play cornerback for a team suffering from a glut of CB injuries.  If Dee remains a Jet, it is solely due to salary cap constraints. Regardless, the Jets’ defensive secondary must have everyone contribute to stop the Dolphins’ passing attack.

Next: 2. Piece By Piece

Oct 2, 2015; Sunbury-on-Thames, United Kingdom; New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (29) and receiver Devin Smith (19) at practice at the Hazelwood in advance of the NFL International Series game against the Miami Dolphins. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

2. Piece By Piece

All this discussion leads to analysis of Mike Maccagnan’s first draft.  Top pick Leonard Williams has hit a few bumps in the road, but has displayed few major causes for concern.

Third rounder Lorenzo Mauldin has all the makings of a staunch NFLer.  Fourth-round pick Bryce Petty as well as present-day practice squadders Jarvis Harrison and Deon Simon are works in progress, at best.

But second-rounder Devin Smith has all the makings of a washout.  Coach Bowles made his most damning remarks to date regarding his perennially injured, slow-learning and brainlocked speedburner from Ohio State.

At least two of the Jets five losses have been due to Devin’s profound inability to grasp the speed of the pro game. At this rate, Mr. Smith can go back to Columbus and think back on what might’ve been. As mentioned earlier, either he needs to prove his worth against the Dolphins or enjoy riding the bench until he gets his head back in the game.

Next: 1. Show No Mercy

Nov 22, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) yells at New York Jets tackle Breno Giacomini (68) after being hit late on a play during the second half of a game at NRG Stadium. Houston won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

1. Show No Mercy

The Dolphins are a complete mess.  Never mind the Jets’ early season London lynching of the squad in Orange and Teal.

Miami’s interim coach Dan Campbell has been a South Florida feel-good story, but the franchise is just 3-2 under his watch, beating only Tennessee, Houston and Philadelphia – with a combined 11-21 record..  Last week they scored just 17 offensive points against a very average Cowboys defense.

The Jets biggest headache is now Miami’s with their hiring of Mike Tannenbaum as GM.  In the preseason, Mike tried to sell the Dade County faithful on how lavishing a quarter-billion dollars on Ndamukong Suh and Ryan Tannehill would bring greatness back to a once-great franchise. Do you think the GM now wishes that he could eat those words?

Next: 5 reasons to stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick

You may have read that Tannenbaum has just scooped up his prized pick Coples off the scrap heap – but who knows how much of this move is Trader Mike’s chutzpah or just an attempt to mine more info on Gang Green for this weeks big game. Either way, this move is the living definition of much ado about nothing.

The Dolphins are drifting into shallow water and seem like easy prey, even for the Jets.  But if New York manages to lose this one – Just End The Season!