Time for Santonio Holmes to make a difference

It was the perfect two-word catchphrase to describe Santonio Holmes' 2010 season with the Jets.

Tone time.

When the Jets were in need of a big play late in a game last year, chances were the ball was going to Holmes, who had a knack for making clutch plays that led to dramatic late-game victories.

There was the pass interference he drew on a deep route against the Broncos that set up LaDainian Tomlinson's game-winning touchdown run in a 24-20 win in Denver.

And the 52-yard catch-and-run in overtime that led to Nick Folk's game-winning field goal in Detroit.

A week later, Holmes won it himself in overtime on a 37-yard touchdown reception in Cleveland as the Jets became the first team in NFL history to win back-to-back overtime games on the road.

And in the next game, Holmes' 6-yard touchdown catch with 10 seconds left keyed a dramatic comeback win over the Texans.

Big plays were the big news for Holmes in his first season with the Jets. But this year, the big news has been about what Holmes has said, not what he has done. Publicly critical about his offensive line and blunt about his quarterback's need to show improvement, Holmes has made much more of an impact off the field than on it.

But if the Jets are to turn their season around after two straight losses, Holmes needs to be much more of a contributor and get back to the dynamic playmaking receiver he turned out to be last year. The one-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player needs to start producing up to his reputation. And just as important, he needs to be put in position to make more of an impact, so it's up to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to start getting the ball in Holmes' hands more often.

Holmes himself acknowledges that the big play is missing from the Jets' offense, and says he's only too willing to contribute more. But only if it's asked, because the play calls aren't up to him.

"I don't think we have enough big plays to solidify wins and separate ourselves from our opponents," he said.

Holmes' production in particular has been muted so far. He has only 35 catches for 472 yards and four touchdowns. At his current rate, he would wind up with only four more catches and nine more receiving yards than last year, when he played in only 12 games. (He missed the first four because of a league-mandated suspension he incurred with the Steelers the previous season.)

Despite the decreased production, Holmes isn't about to call out Schottenheimer, Sanchez or any other teammates as he attempts to help lift the Jets from their midseason troubles. But if you watch his body language in games, especially after plays in which he's not targeted, it seems clear he wants the ball in his hands more.

And it's time to make that happen.

"I can only go as far as I'm allowed to," he said. "With the opportunities that are being presented to me, I make the best of each one of them. As a wide receiver, you want to go in thinking you're going to catch every ball that's thrown your way, and you want to make every play possible."

Despite previous comments that Sanchez needs to elevate his level of play, Holmes said he continues to believe in the third-year quarterback, who has come under increasing criticism after poor performances against the Patriots and Broncos.

"The confidence I have in Mark, that I've been believing in him since Day 1, is still there," Holmes said.

Time to let Holmes help Sanchez snap out of his slump by putting the ball in his hands, starting with Sunday's game against the Bills at MetLife Stadium. Time for the Jets' $50- million receiver to start making the kind of impact he did last season, when he was a difference-making weapon.

Tone Time.