SB Nation - Justin Miller

Jets Release CB/KR/PR Justin Miller

David_Wyatt — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:49:01 -0000

A month after signing Justin Miller, the Jets announced on Saturday that they have released Justin Miller.

Miller averaged 23 yards on 5 kick returns against the Dolphins, but has been inactive for the last two weeks.

It seems like the same old story for Miller, signed, not really given much of a chance at all and released.

Obviously Mike Westhoff is happy with Lowery and or Cotchery as the punt returner, with Lowery already going down as a result of retuning a kick, I'm wondering just how clever it is for us to continue using important first team players returning these kicks. If Cotchery goes down returning a kick today, questions may well be asked, and rightfully so.

Dolphins 30 Jets 25: Sick to My Stomach

John B — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:36:03 -0000

I don't think the Jets could have gone into the bye on a worse note. Today's 30-25 loss to Miami at the Meadowlands stings. It drops the Jets to 4-4, one and a half games in back of the Patriots in the division, two in the loss column. The Dolphins are just half a game back, even in the loss column, and holding the head to head tiebreaker in addition to a 3-0 division record. The Jets are 1-3 in division.

Beyond the frustration of losing is the way the Jets lost. It's very difficult to win in the NFL when you're spotting the opponent 21 nonoffensive points. All of these points had more to do with what the Jets didn't do than what the Dolphins did right.

More after the jump.

The Bad:

Kickoff Coverage: I guess it goes without saying that kickoff coverage belongs here when the opponent runs a pair of kicks back for touchdowns. The Jets looked like they were Purdue against Ted Ginn. There were so many errors on the kicks, it wasn't even funny. There was Jay Feely drilling it too low on the first one. Danny Woodhead didn't contain to the outside. Wallace Wright took a bad angle to Ginn. Larry Izzo whiffed on a tackle on the second one. Guys didn't stay in their lanes. Against a speedster like Ginn, that's asking for trouble. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one guy on kickoff coverage released between now and the next game.

Larry Izzo: Wasn't he supposed to be on the roster for his special teams play? There was his missed tackle on Ginn, but there was also the inexplicable running into the punter penalty. He had no shot at blocking a punt and still dove into the punter. Izzo is a candidate to be that guy released.

Shonn Greene: Even when Mark Sanchez has been bad, I've gone easy on him. It's rough adjusting to the NFL for a quarterback. So much is different from college. A rookie running back doesn't get the same kind of slack. Sure, there are some things that are different. One is the extra blocking duties. The defenders are also bigger and stronger. Still, you have to hold onto the football. His unforced fumble was a total gift to Jason Taylor.

Justin Miller: Is he in game shape? He looked pretty ordinary on returns (5 for 115). It seemed like he had trouble getting quickly to his lanes and breaking tackles.

Alan Faneca: Lost a ton of one on one battles, including a decisive Randy Starks sack.

The Good:

The Defense: The defense deserved better. It only allowed 9 points, and 3 were the result of a short field. The blitzes got to Chad Henne this time, even though the 'Fins did many of the same things they did in the first game like max protecting and rolling him out. 6 sacks on Chad Henne and only 112 passing yards. Henne got rattled and made some terribly inaccurate throws when he heard footsteps. Ronnie Brown had under 3 yards per carry. Ricky Williams was just over 3. Just a dominant performance by the defense. It avenged its only poor performance of the year. This unit has played much better than its 4-4.

Mark Sanchez: No question the rookie was the best quarterback on the field. The disastrous third quarter put the Jets behind two scores. Although the coaching staff was very conservative early, they had no choice but to let Sanchez cut it loose. Mark put 22 up in the second half (with an assist from Davone Bess) and had the Jets on the verge of a winning touchdown. The Dolphins covered New York's receivers on the goal line, and the offensive line had a breakdown. Not Mark's fault. He did make an incredible throw to Dustin Keller on fourth and long to prolong the drive. Great touch on the ball.

Dustin Keller: Where has this guy been all year? 8 catches for 76 yards and a great grab on the receiving end of that fourth down play. I'll give the coaching staff some credit too. Miami's struggled covering the tight end, and it seems like the calls made Keller Sanchez's primary read. Is this the start of big things? Will he become Mark's safety blanket? Stay tuned.

Braylon Edwards: 4 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. Certified Dolphin killer. And if you ever question his heart, watch the way he fought his way into the end zone on the touchdown grab.

Thomas Jones: Another 100 yard day. The average wasn't too great, but put it in context. The Dolphins were loading up the box all day. There were a lot of times nothing was there. He made a lot of guys miss.

Sione Pouha: Miami's vaunted rushing attack gained 2.3 per carry. Pouha was a force inside clogging lanes. He had 5 tackles and opened things up for others.

Shaun Ellis: Nice of him to finally show up this year. He had 1.5 sacks and generally won his matchups on the line. The way Miami was leaving extra blockers in, guys were going to have to win their matchups to get to him.

David Harris: 5 tackles and a sack. He was all over the place.

Bart Scott: 8 tackles and the sack that got the Jets the ball back for their last drive with a chance to win. So was he.

Defensive Approach: Give the staff credit. They adjusted well from the first game. The Wildcat was held in check. The Jets did a much better job of staying in their lanes. They also sent extra men from the secondary. It worked. It may have left them vulnerable to the pass, but they closed on Brown well and forced him to eat it for a big loss and got a ball deflected both times he was looking to throw it. The fact is the formation is usually a running formation. Passes are going to be few and far between. When they do try to throw it, Brown isn't putting it up unless he has a guy wide open and isn't under pressure. He's not trained to throw. It's always best to attack him with extra men even if it leaves a guy open. Force the running back to make a throw.

I also liked the Pace-Gholston-Ellis-Westerman line on passing downs.

We saw plenty of the Ellis-Green-Pouha-Douglas line and Pace-Harris-Scott linebacking look I predicted to stop the run. It worked.

Again, Henne was on the run all day and got hit so much he felt heat and rushed his throws even when there was none.

I don't expect this to be a fun bye. This team should not have lost this game. The Jets lost the first game to Miami because the Dolphins outexecuted them. They lost this game because they self-destructed. Give the Dolphins credit for not self-destructing I guess, but there's no way this team should be 4-4 at the halfway point. That's where we're at, though. At this point, we have a mediocre football team on our hands.

Replacing Leon Washington

John B — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:23 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

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Leon Washington's clearly going to be missed. He does so much for the Jets, there's no way to simply replace him. It's a job for many.

Change of Pace Back: Shonn Greene

Some people questioned the Jets moving up in the third round and selling almost the entire second day of their Draft to get Greene. They viewed it as a luxury pick. It sure looks like a good move now. Greene will take over Leon's road as the second back on the roster. He'll provide a different kind of change of pace from Thomas Jones. Washington's burst was dangerous for defenses. Greene is going to get on defenses quickly and pound on them. He'll help wear down fronts for Jones later in the game.

Kick Returner: Justin Miller

Part of the reason the Jets cut Miller last year was the job Washington did on kickoff returns leaving him without a role. Justin's a very dangerous return man, though, with 5 touchdowns in his 5 year career. He made the Pro Bowl for the Jets in 2006. The only reason Leon became the full time return man was Miller's 2007 injury.

Decoy: Braylon Edwards

Part of what Leon brought was simply the threat to score on every play. He forced defenses to account for him, which opened things up for other players. The trade for Edwards is fortunate now. Braylon can draw consistent doubles and will be the focal point of defenses from this point on. The double teams he will draw will benefit everybody else.

Homerun Hitter: David Clowney

Edwards will definitely have to take some of the big play load, but defenses are going to key on stopping him. It's easier to take a receiver out of a game than a running back. You have to double him. Washington was both a focal point and a guy who made big plays. Clowney's speed on vertical routes makes him the best bet to register huge gains.

Backfield Receiving Threat: Danny Woodhead

Woodhead is going to play sparingly behind Jones and Greene, but he might see some work on third down. Perhaps he won't block well enough to be the exclusive third down back, but Woodhead is a better receiver out of the backfield than the top two and elusive with the ball in his hands. The team thought enough of his receiving skills to convert him to the position.

Is there anybody else you see pitching in to replace Leon?

Jets Sign Miller, Place Washington On IR

David_Wyatt — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:48:01 -0000

The question of the day has been , who will the Jets now use to return kicks, well we seem to have found the answer, and the answer is a familiar one to the Jets fan base.

Today it was announced that the Jets had signed former player Justin Miller, who was a pro bowl kick returner while with the Jets in 2006. Returning two kick-offs for TD's and averaging over 28 yards a return.

In 98 career games, Miller has returned 147 kickoffs for 3,851 yards (26.2 avg.) including five kickoff returns for touchdowns and has compiled 98 total tackles.

Last month the Jets brought Miller in for a work out, only to see him re-sign with the Raiders. Who in turn released him pretty quickly.

So welcome back to Justin, we all know what he can do.

Mike Westhoff Will Help the Jets Overcome Leon Washington's Absence on Kickoffs

John B — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:38:11 -0000

More photos » by Tony Avelar - AP

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One area the Jets are really going to miss Leon Washington is in the return game. He was a threat to take it to the house every time he touched it. Don't fear, though. Part of his success was due to the men in front of him.

Just remember, Washington took over two years ago for Justin Miller. Miller was a Pro Bowl returner. A few years before Miller arrived, the Jets had Chad Morton, who ran back a pair for touchdowns in a single game against Buffalo. What's the common thread? Mike Westhoff was the special teams coach.

Westhoff is the best special teams coach in football, and it shows in the return game. He draws up great return plays, getting guys in the right spots, and teaches excellent blocking technique. Since he's arrived, the Jets' return game has reminded me a lot of Denver's running game. They can plug in average players who play well and turn good players into great ones.

The Jets will miss Leon Washington on kickoffs. There's nobody as explosive on the roster. Still, with Westhoff around, whether it's Brad Smith, Dwight Lowery, or somebody else deep, I expect the team to retain an above average return game.

Horse Tracks 10/1/09 - Hamilton, Harris, Hillis, Larsen, A. Smith miss practice; Royal pulls up lame

Douglas A. Lee — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:04:00 -0000

NYT - Former Players Face Obstacles When Filing Dementia Claims With N.F.L. - Alan Schwarz

GQ - Game Brain - Jeanne Marie Laskas
An eye-opening look at chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the brain disease thought responsible for the early deaths of several former NFL players and being researched around the country by many independent scientists. Unfortunately, the NFL has only ignored the current research and tried to marginalize it. Many thanks to MHR member diviesti for the link.

DB - Week 4 - Wed: McDaniels - Broncos TV

DB - 'Something Will Have to Give' - Gray Caldwell
Ben Hamilton, Ryan Harris, Peyton Hillis, Spencer Larsen and Alphonso Smith did not practice yesterday. Brandon Stokley was limited in practice.

DP - Broncos hurting in offensive line - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Moreno, Buckhalter providing dynamic inside, outside punch - Mike Klis
Eddie Royal pulled up in practice with what looked to Klis as a groin pull.

DPP - Strong bond of Broncos DBs Goodman, Hill good for team - Lindsay Jones
Renaldo and Andre' have now started 33 games next to each other with the Dolphins and Broncos. They dine and study film together during the week. While I doubt McD knew how close these guys were, he must have been aware of how well they played together...

NFL - Wednesday Injury Reports

DB - Week 4 - Wed: Orton - Broncos TV

DB - Week 4 - Wed: Dawkins - Broncos TV

DB - Prater Wins SP/T Player of September - Broncos TV

DPP - Broncos' Marshall saying lots of nothing - Mike Klis

CSG - Offensive line making life easier for Orton - Frank Schwab

CSG - Broncos know Dallas will be first major test - Frank Schwab

AP - Orton Embraces Notion That He's A 'Game Manager' - Arnie Stapleton

DPP - Q&A: Quiet Champ a good sign? - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Numbers: Broncos-Cowboys series full of horsepower lately

DB - Cornell Green - A Quiet Legend - Jim Saccomano
No, not THAT Cornell Green (Raiders OT). Cornell Green the former Cowboys player and current Broncos NFL scout.

DPP - Woody's Mailbag: NL playoff picks
Woody isn't really convinced yet...

SI - Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan, Josh McDaniels enjoying early momentum - Ross Tucker

ESPN - It's still too early to call the Denver Broncos a legitimate contender - John Clayton
Funny. Clayton says the Broncos "might reach six or seven wins" but only if they beat the Cowboys or Patriots. Even still, he doesn't really cop to being wrong; now it's a question of whether the Broncos are actual contenders...

Y! - Players haven't given up on Mangini … yet - Charles Robinson
Robinson says the Broncos are overrated and "can hear the furious click of fingertips on computer keys as Broncos fans prepare to fire off an explicit salvo of emails." He's raising the bar, saying that unless the Broncos win 2 of their next 3, they're not a playoff team. When writing about Jay Cutler, Robinson admits to not having watched much Broncos film in the last few years. I wonder if he's watched any this year...

PFW - Success fleeting for Belichick disciples - Hub Arkush
Arkush isn't ready to give McD any credit.

Cowboys News

NFL - Cowboys LT Adams fined by NFL for third consecutive week

ST - Michael Jenkins’ solid play wins starting corner job, for now - Jeff Caplan & Charean WIlliams

ST - Tony Romo needs to be in charge of Tony Romo - Randy Galloway

ST - Cowboys’ third Choice might become first Choice - Clarence Hill

DMN - Jenkins lands starting job at right cornerback for Dallas Cowboys - David Moore

DMN - BRIEFS | Dallas Cowboys News

DMN - Pressure is on Dallas Cowboys to get to opposing QBs - Jean-Jacques Taylor

DMN - Dallas Cowboys' Williams says his role is unclear - Bill Nichols & Todd Archer

AFC West News

SDUT - Chargers defenders start slow, then finish fast - Kevin Acee

SDUT - This time, LT can contribute against Steelers - Tod Leonard

SFC - Raiders re-sign kick returner Justin Miller - David White

NFL - It's too soon to bury Russell, though he's digging his own hole - Bucky Brooks

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : Post-practice update - David White

OT - Fumbles haunt Raiders' McFadden - Steve Corkran

KCS - Haley says roster changes could continue - Adam Teicher
The Chefs added 2 former Pats - LB David Herron and CB Mike Richardson.

KCS - Chiefs notebook: Team brings back disciplinary tactic - Kent Babb

NFL News

NFL - Quinn out, Anderson back in as Browns' starting quarterback

NFL - Mora: QB Hasselbeck, LT Jones likely not ready to go for Seahawks

NFL - Fox sticking with Delhomme as Panthers' starting quarterback

NFL - Giants RB Bradshaw wearing protective boot but expects to play

NFL - Henne takes over as Dolphins' QB; Pennington to have surgery

NFL - Titans address special-team struggles by bringing back Jones
No, not THAT Jones.

NFL Opinion

ESPN - Life's not easy when stars realign - Jeffri Chadiha

NFL - Many already second-guessing the moves of three new coaches - Steve Wyche
What about Josh McDaniels? I thought he's been on the hot seat since April? No??

NFL - Having a 300-yard passer is no longer a losing proposition - Pat Kirwan

NYT - Brian Billick Answers Your Questions

NFP - Scheme Session: a look at the Colts playbook - Matt Bowen
I wish more writers would use play diagrams in their articles...oh, wait. Hi Ted, HT!

NFP - Wednesday whys: playing and observing a holiday - Andrew Brandt

NFP - Tavern talk: What’s Peyton worth now? - Mike Lombardi

Y! - Nike sends bad message by re-signing Vick - Charles Robinson

FOX - Move over Lions, these teams might be worse - Alex Marvez

FOX - Week 4 Cheat Sheet: NFL picks and predictions - Peter Schrager
Predicts the Cowboys will trounce the Broncos

CBS - Faceoff: Giants or Jets? Worst team? Best QB comeback? - Pete Prisco/Clark Judge

SI - NFL Power Rankings, Week 4 - Don Banks

USAT - Jeff Sagarin NFL ratings
Thanks for the link, Calijoefornia!

NFP - Small-school prospects - Wes Bunting

Lito and Strickland Good to Go?

John B — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:12:44 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

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That's what Rich Cimini speculates:

The Jets didn't announce any cornerback signings today, which means they're optimistic that Lito Sheppard (quadriceps) and, possibly, Donald Strickland (ankle) will be ready for Sunday's track meet ... er, football game in New Orleans. The Jets worked out ex-Raven Corey Ivy and ex-Jet Justin Miller last week as part of the contingency plan.

His theory makes sense. You don't want to head down to that dome shorthanded in the secondary. If neither was going to play, you'd think the Jets would have a lot of interest.

Good news if it's true. Miller's shown us his best position is return man. Ivy doesn't strike me as much better. He's Abe Elam as a corner. He's a good blitzer, run defender, and hitter. His issues are in coverage. The problem is a corner's primary job is to cover receivers.

Do the Chiefs Have Anyone in for Free Agent Workout Day?

Joel Thorman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:06:25 -0000

More photos » by Rob Carr - AP

2 months ago: Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley, left, and Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh talk at mid field after the Ravens won 38-24 during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 38-24. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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Tuesdays are generally the day of the week that teams bring in free agents for workouts. Presumably, the Kansas City Chiefs are doing the same today. There's usually quite a bit of movement on Tuesday and today is no exception.

The Tyler Thigpen trade today means there is an opening on the 53 man roster. The early favorite, per speculation earlier this week, is Lance Long being promoted from the practice squad.

Here are a few moves that may be of interest:

Former Chief WR Taurus Johnson tried out for the Lions today. He was signed as a UDFA (and the Chiefs worked him out pre-draft) by the Chiefs and released on the final big cutdown day.
T Levi Jones worked out for the Packers. The team isn't in a whole lot of need at left tackle so we assume this was for a shot as a right tackle.
S Keith Davis tried out for the Titans today. The Chiefs reportedly worked him out way back in March but there's been no movement on this. He's a special teams guy as well.
CB Roderick Hood tried out for the Titans as well. The Chiefs have reportedly worked out a few defensive backs in recent weeks.
The Patriots released LB Prescott Burgess yesterday. As we've noticed, the Chiefs like former Patriots. (As butchcassidy pointed out in the comments, Burgess was only a Patriot for a few weeks. He was previously with the Ravens, who play the Patriots this season)

Here's a list of official transactions.

This certainly isn't a comprehensive list of players that might interest the Chiefs. The Tuesday workout players are rarely reported but last week we found out the team worked out two defensive backs, Corey Ivy and Lewis Sanders, as well as return man Justin Miller.

We'll stay on top of any reports that come out regarding the Chiefs free agent workouts.

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Apparently Hackville Has A Newspaper Edition

August West — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:09:46 -0000

More photos » by Tim Larsen - AP

Ooohhh you burned Nick Harper... you must be ~~great~~... ~~good~~... ~~solid~~... ~~roster-worthy~~... breathing.

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Nice to see the Tennessean towing the company line. I think we all know Jeff Fisher won't 'think' about changing QBs until 2 minutes before he does it... mainly because he knows how to manage people and realizes that it's pointless to undermine them. Jimmy and I discussed it on MCM Radio, but it bears repeating: Jeff Fisher doesn't say anything with you or I in mind. All he cares about are protecting his players and winning games. So, please, don't read too much into any of his answers because at times like these they may not alway mean what they seem to mean... and I'd expect better from the guys who cover the Titans every day than to just eat Fisher's missives up by this point.

Case in point that backs-up my previous assertion: we're now actively auditioning returners. Guys like Justin Miller and Roderick Hood make the most sense as they give us another body in the depleted secondary.

Jared Cook has been extremely limited by his ankle injury so far this season, but barring any set-backs the coaches are planning on greatly expanding his role in the offense... mainly because he's a stud and a match-up nightmare.

Follow us through the jump to see last week's most unfortunately timed article...

I'm pretty sure PFW regrets running this gem last week, wherein they describe Special Teams coach Alan Lowry thusly:

Known for being one of the more innovative special-teams coaches in the league, Lowry has regularly fielded kick and return units that produce top-10 finishes in most categories.

I don't think Jim Wyatt is a commenter on MCM, but he sure could be these days.

Teresa Walker is right: neither the team, or coaches or even we fans can have time to worry about more than this week. Just win this game, and good things will grow.

Lawyer and former agent Robert Boland takes a look at the David Givens lawsuit, and ends up with mostly the same questions we had.

T-Rac's Posse is bringing the pain these days.

I'm almost surprised this guy didn't blame our poor start on the Terrible Towel.

If there's anything you would like to share with the MCM community, please take advantage of the comments, fanshots and fanposts to do so! Or, you can always email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com.

Jets 24 Titans 17: Not Perfect But Still Perfect

John B — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:02:32 -0000

More photos » by Tim Larsen - AP

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Doesn't 3-0 have a nice ring to it? It feels like 5 years since the Jets have gotten off to this hot of a start, and that was against a perceived much softer schedule. Today's 24-17 win over the Titans had letdown written all over it. The Jets had every reason to have a hangover after such an emotional win last week. They were up against a proud and desperate opponent. That didn't matter. Gang Green will ride into the Superdome next week for a showdown with the also undefeated Saints as arguably the team to beat in September.

More after the jump.

The Good:

Mark Sanchez: Sanchez played well at the start and at the finish. He was 17 for 30 with 2 touchdowns. He also turned it over twice. He struggled through a bad cold stretch in the middle of the game but caught fire late to lead the Jets to yet another victory. He's now the first rookie since a merger to lead his team to a 3-0 start. What impresses me about Sanchez more than anything is his makeup. After the Jets jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead, the Tennessee pass rush seemed to rattle him. He left the ball exposed and coughed up a fumble. From that point, it looked like he lost confidence. He was flustered in the pocket and struggled to grip the wet football. For a lot of rookies, that can mean game over. They start pressing and are overwhelmed by negative vibes. Sanchez shook it off and finished hot. He did enough to win the football game.

Special Teams Coverage: Mike Westhoff's boys forced a pair of turnovers that led to 14 points. The first was on a devastating hit by Jason Trusnik to rookie Ryan Mouton. The Titans inexplicably kept the rookie with shattered confidence in to return punts. He later committed a second unforced error on a punt. First, he called for a fair catch with nobody near him. He then misjudged the flight of the ball and had to backpedal. Then he muffed the ball. This is where the excellent coverage came in. Brad Smith was the first guy on the scene. He hit Mouton and pulled him away from the ball, giving Larry Izzo enough time to fall on it. Execution on these plays was the difference in the game.

Jerricho Cotchery: Who said this guy wasn't a number one receiver? 8 catches, 107 yards, and a touchdown today.

Adjustments: The Jets were relatively more conservative on defense than in the first two weeks, not blitzing as often. The fear was Chris Johnson would get behind the defense. Once the Titans started moving the ball, Rex turned up the heat. On the last drive, Collins constantly had men in his face. Kerry Collins finished the game hitting under half of his passes.

The offensive line struggled in pass protection. On the decisive drive, Brian Schottenheimer left extra blockers in so Sanchez had more time. Mark started finding Cotchery.

The Secondary: Even though Collins caught fire in the middle of the game, it was because he was making perfect throws into tight coverage. Give the other guy credit. There was nothing wrong with the way the secondary was playing.

Eric Smith: This guy's been a different player under Rex Ryan. He picked off a pass and was involved in a few other passes defensed.

Bart Scott: This guy does everything well and is really fun to watch. He had 9 tackles and was always around the ball even when he wasn't making the play.

Kris Jenkins: Another week, another domination of an offensive line.

Sione Pouha: He was consistently getting a push when he was in there. At the start of the season, defensive line depth was a concern. Returning players like Pouha and Mike Devito looked very flawed. Things have sure changed. It's amazing how much of a difference coaching can make in improving players.

David Harris: The future Pro Bowler was quiet for three quarters then picked off a pass and registered a critical sack in the fourth.

The Pep Talk: Give the coaching staff credit. You had to be concerned about the team starting flat coming off such an emotional win. The Jets were flying all over the place at the start of the game and had a 14-0 lead before the Titans even got the football.

The Bad:

Thomas Jones: The offensive line struggled, but Leon Washington had much more success running the ball than Jones. TJ only had 20 yards on 14 carries. He had a tough time breaking tackles and wasn't finding his holes. It's too early to write him off, but in the back of our minds, he's a concern right now.

Offensive Line: Not enough running lanes opened. A pair of sacks. A rookie quarterback constantly under pressure. The Titans weren't sending the house either. They were just outexecuting the Jets up front.

No Shonn Greene: I get why the Jets didn't use him. A bad weather game isn't the best time to break in a rookie for the first time. Still, he's the best power runner on the team, and today was a day where any yards on the ground were going to have to get grinded out in the trenches.

Steve Weatherford: Only a 36.4 average on 9 punts, including a 23 yarder in crunch time. The search for a punter is not over. It's time to bring in some more guys for a look.

Getting Sanchez Ready for the Elements: There aren't many bad weather days in Southern California. Mark Sanchez isn't used to handling a wet football. It was clear for days that weather was going to be a factor. Every ball he handled all week should have been dumped in a bucket of water first.

Be Who You Are: Again, I get why the Jets didn't blitz much early. It was to keep Johnson in check. Still, the Jets are a team strongest blitzing. Adjust your style only if your opponent makes you. Do what you do best. Make the opponent adjust to you. This was an excellent defensive performance, but the Jets were having issues defending the pass until they went back with their familiar aggressive style.

Other Thoughts:

I guess everything really evens out in the end. Four years ago, the Jets suffered a devastating Week 3 loss to Jacksonville in no small part because of a disastrous outing by a rookie return man named Justin Miller.
I'm not upset the team didn't play a perfect game like the first two weeks. Things were eventually bound to go wrong. I'm very impressed with the character these guys showed fighting back. There will definitely be tougher times at some point this year, but the Jets passed their first test with adversity.
Make it two straight weeks Dan Dierdorf makes an excuse for an official blowing a call. It came on Leon Washington's pass. Nick Mangold blatantly held on the play, but Washington's facemask was grabbed. Only the holding got called. Dierdorf said the reason there was no facemask call was the holding. Apparently he didn't realize there can be penalties on both teams on the same play.
I'm not upset because Chris Johnson broke some big runs. He's a great player. He's going to get his. The important thing is he wasn't able to go crazy all day like he did against the Texans. The Jets held him mostly in check aside from those few big runs. It was all or nothing, all or 4-5 yards.

This sets up a showdown down in New Orleans next Sunday. The Saints will put their dynamic offense against the elite Jets defense. Who would have thought Rex would have the team playing this well so soon? With the rookie quarterback and the new system, I honestly thought this was a year away. This start exceeded my wildest expectations. Let's keep it going!

PS Miami's 0-3 :-)