Jets need to take advantage of Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress
FLORHAM PARK, N.J.
If the Tuesday night shocker of a trade involving Derrick Mason didn't provide the shot of reality the Jets need to snap out of their three-game losing streak, perhaps Santonio Holmes' description of the Jets' situation will convince the team just how serious things have become.
Yup. Holmes used the "d" word to sum up where this team is at heading into Monday night's game against the winless Dolphins.
"There's a feeling of desperation, like we really have to win this game," Holmes said Thursday. ", it would set us back to 0-2 in our division, it would set us back against an 0-4 team and giving these guys a victory. We can't give 'em a chance. We have to come out and play New York Jet football on Monday night."
We have not heard the word "desperation" come out of the Jets' locker room until now, but good for Holmes for at least telling it like it is and not pretending the Jets will be fine, that they're ready to get back on track and the blah-blah-blah that we've been hearing from too many players convinced there's still plenty of time to turn things around.
The plain truth is this: Beating Miami is critical if the Jets are going to contend for a playoff spot. Must-win? Perhaps not in the mathematical sense; we're only in Week 6. But I think we can safely assume that the Jets aren't worthy of their Super Bowl-or-bust bravado.
Let's face it. If you can't beat the Dolphins at home when they're playing their backup quarterback, you don't belong in the conversation about Super Bowl contenders.
"It's really going to be tough for us, but we as professionals know what's at stake if we lose this game," Holmes said. "Everything starts over this Monday."
But only if the Jets win. Only if they can get back to 3-3 and start feeling better about themselves.
Holmes is ready to do his part, but only if the Jets' offense emerges from its funk. How to turn things around?
"You really want to ask me?" Holmes asked rhetorically. "I'll tell you, 'Just throw the ball to No. 10.' "
Were it only so simple as feeding Holmes and letting him produce the kind of game-winning catches he contributed last year, when he nearly single-handedly won a half-dozen games.
If Holmes is going to be at his most effective, embattled quarterback Mark Sanchez is going to have to play better and get more time to throw. Holmes again reiterated his pleas for the Jets' offensive line to do a better job, which he was criticized for after he said the same thing after a 34-17 loss to the Ravens. But he was as right then as he was Thursday; Sanchez needs better protection to make deeper drops that are required for a longer-range passing game.
The Jets have taken far too few shots down the field to Holmes and Plaxico Burress, in large part because Sanchez hasn't been given time to drop back and wait for plays to develop. Instead, he has had to take much shorter drops. It's no way for a quarterback to live, especially when Holmes can be such a productive downfield receiver.
Holmes had a gleam in his eye when he was asked about whether it would be helpful for the Jets to take some shots down the field. "We've done a lot of talking in our meeting rooms about how well things can change if we stretch the ball down the field," he said.
Holmes is right. Which is why offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer would be well served to pencil in longer-range patterns in his game plan. Let Holmes and Burress make a big play down the field on a "go" route, and you'll see this team and its skeptical fan base get an immediate lift. Time for Schottenheimer to let his playmakers loose and turn this thing around.
