Jets-Dolphins gameday preview
Jets tight end Chris Herndon celebrates his touchdown catch against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 21, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/Al Bello
They started building chemistry when they were roommates in training camp, and it’s carried over to the football field.
Sam Darnold has thrown four touchdown passes the last three weeks, and three of them have been to Chris Herndon. The rookie tight end has caught one in each of the last three games, and will be shooting for four-in-four in his homecoming.
Herndon played four years for the University of Miami. He was looking forward to going back to Miami and returning healthy. The former Hurricane’s season ended early last year because of an MCL injury.
"I don’t take any of this for granted,” Herndon said. “Just this time last year I was dealing with being injured. Just being able to play in a professional league alone is an honor.”
The Jets selected Herndon in the fourth round and are high on his potential. The 6-4, 253-pound Herndon is a good run blocker, pass protector, and he’s showing he can be a playmaker.
“First of all, he’s a great route runner,” Darnold said. “But also he’s a great run blocker which helps in the passing game. It sets up play action. Whenever you have a versatile tight end like him it always helps the offense.”
Herndon should get more opportunities based on his production and injuries on offense. Tight end Neal Sterling is out with a concussion, and receivers Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa are questionable with ankle injuries.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 25: Brock Osweiler #8 of the Miami Dolphins looks for a receiver against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on October 25, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/Bob Levey
“I just come in and give my all to this team every day,” Herndon said. “Whatever they ask of me, I try to do my best to answer to it.”
The Jets are a young team, building with Darnold and their defense. But Herndon could be someone worth watching at a position that the Jets have been searching for a weapon.
He’s caught 12 passes for 161 yards and three scores. In the last three weeks, he has seven receptions for 114 yards and became the first Jets rookie tight end with a touchdown in three straight games.
“I just think the offense slowed down for him,” Todd Bowles said. “I think from a mental standpoint he's playing faster because he can see everything that's coming, and his abilities are starting to take over without even thinking.”
WANTED: TAKEAWAYS
The Jets have 15 takeaways — five fewer than all of last season. But it’s a number the Jets have been stuck on for two games now, and they desperately want to change that.
“It’s extremely important because it helps the offense and it gives us a shorter field,” Bowles said. “We’ve struggled a little bit of late [offensively]. Part of it is because we haven’t gotten the takeaway.”
They often come in bunches, which has been the case for the Jets this season. They had five interceptions in their opening-night win at Detroit, four takeaways in their Week 6 victory over the Colts and three in a loss in Jacksonville.
The Jets hope their drought ends at two games against a team that’s prone to giving up the football.
The Dolphins are tied for seventh-most giveaways in the NFL this year with 13. The Jets are actually worse. They’ve given the football away 16 times through eight games. Darnold has been picked off 10 times, tied for the most in the league.
BROCK'S BALL
With Ryan Tannehill slowed by a shoulder injury, Brock Osweiler is starting his fourth straight game at quarterback for the Dolphins.
Osweiler is 71-for-112 for 860 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in his three starts. He led the Dolphins to an overtime win at Chicago before they dropped their last two.
The well-traveled Osweiler, who is playing for his third team in three years, said he’s not concerned with changing people’s opinions. He said he’s focused on doing everything he can to keep the starting job and win games.
“Your mentality in this league is when you get your opportunity to play, you never give that guy his job back,” Osweiler said. “That needs to be the mentality. And if that’s not your mentality, then you’re just in the wrong business. That’s nothing personal against anybody.”
PARKER'S PLACE
Wide receiver DeVante Parker could be a focal point in Miami’s offense again just a few weeks after his role and future with the Dolphins were in question.
His agent ripped coach Adam Gase, and said he was not being truthful about Parker’s quad injury. Parker ended up missing five games — his agent said he was healthy for three of them – and, and there was speculation he could be traded before Tuesday’s deadline.
But with injuries to Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills, Parker caught six passes for a career-high 134 yards last week. Stills may return this week, but the Jets are preparing for Parker to be heavily involved.
“This guy is hungry and wants the ball,” defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to feed it to him again.”
THE X FACTORS
Focus and discipline. The Jets showed little of either last week, when they committed five drive-crippling false starts. Bowles called it “a concentration issue.” Jermaine Kearse said, “It comes down to mental toughness, and focus and discipline.” Darnold talked a lot about “staying in manageable down distances.” The Jets need to do that in this crucial game or they’ll be kicking themselves again.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2-10: The Jets road record since the start of last season. Only the Browns (0-12) are worse.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
