Same Old Jets
Vinny Testarverde didn't play too well in last night's loss, but he didn't lose the game. Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett's playcalling did.
Even when the Jets had the ball late in the fourth quarter with a chance to win, Hackett refused to let Vinny throw the ball downfield, instead predictably running into a stacked Redskins defensive line. Throughout the game, Testaverde was relegated to throwing short screen passes to running backs, or short passes to his receivers. The Jets repeatedly called seven yard patterns on 3rd and long.
Last night's Jets resembled the team that got off to a terrible start last season, and nothing like the offensive machine led by Chad Pennington. Had Pennington played last night, the Jets probably would have won, but even without him, they should have.
This is not to excuse the Jets defense, which could not stop the run (or anything in the first half), and allowed the Redskins to gain 24 years on a 3rd and 8 quarterback scamper in the game's key play. Yet ultimately the Jets offense needs to score more than 13 points, or the team will lose their games by much more than a field goal, and it will be a long season.
posted on 9/05/2003
