Instant Analysis: Third-down struggles, blown coverages cost Jets in loss to Dolphins

Jets Wire breaks down New York’s Week 6 loss to the Dolphins.

As is the case on a weekly basis, the Jets never had a chance to win on Sunday.

New York got down early and never came close to recovering against the Dolphins, as Miami handed the Jets their sixth loss of 2020 by a final score of 24-0. Adam Gase’s offense could not get anything going, while Gregg Williams’ defense turned in yet another undisciplined and underwhelming performance.

Don’t expect the Jets’ fortunes to change when the Bills roll into MetLife Stadium next weekend. If anything, things are about to get a whole lot worse for a New York team that has been no stranger to embarrassment this season.

Game Balls

Braden Mann: This is indicative of the Jets’ struggles in 2020, but Mann has been one of New York’s lone bright spots so far this season. The sixth-round pick had another busy day and used it to show he is the real deal at punter.

Brian Poole: Poole was one of the few players on New York’s defense that came to play on Sunday, making a touchdown-saving tackle and an interception in the second quarter.

Instant Analysis

-How can a team be expected to go out and compete when its head coach and defensive coordinator are publicly feuding? If the “adults” in the room can’t get their act together, it’s tough to expect the same out of the players.

-So much for the emphasis on eliminating penalties. Three personal fouls and seven total flags cost the Jets 80 yards against the Dolphins. You can say what you want about New York’s lack of talent and poor coaching, but its lack of discipline is a big reason why Gang Green has lost six consecutive games.

-It took the Jets 50 minutes and 13 attempts to convert on a third down. That perfectly encapsulates New York’s struggles in 2020.

-Gase’s unwillingness to use La’Mical Perine more than Frank Gore is astounding. Perine is the only running back the Jets have that can go for six on any given play, yet Gore is the featured back. Heck, Ty Johnson should be seeing more touches as well with the season already lost. Another example of Gase being stuck in his ways and the Jets suffering as a result.

-Speaking of a coach’s unwillingness to use a player, why is it that Williams did not start giving Avery Williamson the snaps he deserves until it was absolutely necessary? Williamson still has plenty left in the tank, yet Alec Ogletree was taking the bulk of his playing time for a while. The head-scratching decisions from this coaching staff keep piling up.

-Do the Jets have any idea how to cover tight ends? The number of busted coverages in New York’s secondary that allowed Miami’s tight ends to break loose was unacceptable.

-Six punts, four first downs for the Jets in the first half. At least Mann’s development has been fast-tracked so far this season?

-How does an NFL team nearly accumulate a negative amount of passing yards in a half of football? The Jets continue to accomplish the impossibly bad every time out.

-A positive note: At least Marcus Maye gave Jets fans something to smile about when he picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter. It was a meaningless play given the score and time remaining, but an impressive one nonetheless.

-If the Jets were ever going to defeat an AFC East opponent before their Week 10 bye, it was Sunday against the Dolphins. Then again, even Miami is worlds ahead of New York right now. Is there a win on Gang Green’s 2020 schedule? It’s tough to say at this point.