If Jets win toss, they'll take the ball
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez points out a play at the line of scrimmage during the first quarter against the New England Patriots. (Dec. 6, 2010) Credit: AP
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Rex Ryan is ready to switch things up.
Typically, if the Jets win the opening coin toss, the defensive-minded coach elects to defer to the second half and play defense first, hoping to set the tone. But after the Jets' season-long struggles on offense, Ryan figures it may be time to try something different against the Dolphins on Sunday.
"I give in," he said Wednesday. "We are going to take the ball. If we win the toss, we will take the ball. That's a definite."
The Jets have been outscored 37-26 in the first quarter, producing only two touchdowns - the last coming against the Bills on Oct. 3 - and were down 17-0 to the Patriots before the second quarter rolled around. Their slow starts have been a steady topic of conversation all season.
"I'm tired of hearing about it," Ryan said. "There is some truth to it on starting fast. Maybe I'm not sending the right message by not taking the ball. We'll find out if that works, and if it does and we get off to a fast start, we'll do it the next week as well."
Ryan has never won the toss and taken the ball first during his two-year tenure with the Jets, so it was a bit of welcome news for those on offense, knowing they could actually hit the field before the defense for once.
"We need to get going as an offense, man," wideout Jerricho Cotchery said. "We need to get going early on in games. The defense, they've started fast pretty much for a while now and we've been inconsistent. I can't remember the last time we've started fast. But we have to start fast as an offense and anytime we do that with the type of defense that we have, you are putting a lot of pressure on the opposing team.
"So I agree with that wholeheartedly."
As does Mark Sanchez.
"Great, great," the quarterback said. "That's a changeup, but we'll take it."
However, not every member of the offense thinks Ryan should veer from his usual script.
"I usually like to get the ball second," wideout Braylon Edwards said. "I like to kick off. But I mean, if that's what Rex wants, then that's what we are going to do. We'll take the ball and we'll try to get a spark on offense first and foremost, and then use that spark to spark our defense.
"So, I don't want to say that puts a task on us, but it lets us know what type of game it's going to be. He wants us to step our game up, and our game play will spark the rest of the team."
More Jets
