Jets grades
Mark Sanchez looks on after he was knocked down in the first half of a game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. (Oct. 28, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
OFFENSE: D
The protection was shaky and Mark Sanchez looked awful. To be fair, he was harassed all afternoon by Miami's defense. But Sanchez (who was sacked four times) did himself no favors with a fumble and a red-zone interception. Former Dolphin Clyde Gates had a breakout day (seven catches for 82 yards), but the Jets' offense looked listless, aside from Chaz Schilens' 5-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter.
DEFENSE: C
The unit knocked out rookie Ryan Tannehill, thanks to Calvin Pace's first-quarter sack. But they had trouble getting pressure on backup quarterback Matt Moore when it counted. Antonio Cromartie said mental lapses were to blame on Matt Moore's 37- and 30-yard throws to receivers Marlon Moore and Jabar Gaffney, respectively.
SPECIAL TEAMS: F
The Dolphins caught the Jets asleep when they recovered an onside kick in the first quarter, but the biggest blow came later in the quarter when Robert Malone had his punt blocked by Jimmy Wilson and recovered in the end zone by Olivier Vernon for a touchdown. According to the Jets, they hadn't allowed a blocked punt to be returned for a touchdown since their 1986 playoff game against Kansas City. Adding insult to injury, Nick Folk's 35-yard field-goal attempt in the second quarter was blocked by Vernon.
COACHING: D
Tony Sparano said last week that he had a clear game plan in mind for his offense. But the offensive coordinator again made some head-scratching calls -- i.e., throwing it on third-and-1 from the Jets' 38 and electing to have Tim Tebow run up the middle on first down to start their second drive of the second quarter but failing to use the backup quarterback in any of the Jets' four red-zone opportunities.
