QB REGRESSION
Last week, I stated that for the New York Jets to be successful, Justin Fields was going to have to be a reasonable facsimile of “regular season” Jalen Hurts—an elite runner, efficient in the pass game, and occasionally inconsistent. Perhaps I should’ve defined the word inconsistent.
Prior to leaving the game with a reported concussion, Fields went 3 for 11 for just 27 passing yards, with 5 carries for 49 yards for a 39.6 passer rating. Not very Hurts-like.
The good news is that Fields hadn’t had a passer rating under 71.5 in his previous 13 starts covering three teams over three seasons. The bad news is he didn’t carry over any of the positive attributes he showed against Pittsburgh.
Week one he was decisive with both his arm and his legs. He made quick decisions and seemed to have a good handle on the offense. In week two he missed open receivers, held the ball too long, and was inaccurate.
Last week Fields gave us hope. This week he gave us Zach Wilson flashbacks.
DISCIPLINE IS NOT BUILT IN A DAY
The first quarter roughing the passer penalty on Micheal Clemons was borderline at best. Josh Allen really sold it by swinging his head back and pointing to himself on the way down. Unfortunately, Clemons’ past conduct means he doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt.
Online speculation is that Clemons will meet the same fate as Xavier Gipson did last week when he was cut after a crucial fumble. I disagree. Gipson was a borderline roster player. Clemons was praised by his new coaches throughout OTAs and Training Camp.
There’s a fine line between teaching your players accountability and having them play scared to make a mistake. My take is that Clemons should be called out in a team meeting, lose a few snaps next week, and be given a shorter leash moving forward. But he should survive.
INDEFENSIBLE DEFENSE
While the Jets have committed two costly turnovers, that’s not an excuse for a perennial Top 10 defense to give up 64 points through two games. Plus, they are one of just four teams yet to register a takeaway.
TAMPA NEXT
Aaron Glenn will coach his first road game next Sunday against a familiar opponent. Glenn and OC Tanner Engstrand’s Detroit Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice in 2023 (including a playoff game) before losing in 2024.
Tampa Bay will be on short rest as they play the early game in tomorrow night’s (September 15) ABC/ESPN Monday Night Football doubleheader against the Houston Texans at 7p.
2 thoughts on “4 Things Jets: QB Regression, Indefensible Defense”
How’s that over bet looking now? 😉
I had to do some research to see that we published one of your questions in a RantBack post in July – https://sportsrantny.com/rantback-mailbag-mike-brown-yankees-third-base/. You asked me — “Over or Under? New York Jets fans will be rooting for draft position before the end of the 2025 World Series.” I said “over”. Luckily there was no money on the line!