QuickFix: Saucy Nuggets from the Jets' loss to the Dolphins

We're going to continue today's analysis with some things you might not have noticed from yesterday's loss to the Dolphins:

In case you missed it

Many fans have already said they made the business decision to either not watch the game or switch it off at half-time. Reading a book, watching a movie or doing the laundry was probably more entertaining anyway.

However, as a public service, we thought we'd share all the good Jets plays from the game, so you didn't miss anything if you opted to do that.

First off, let's start with Foley Fatukasi blowing up a run on 3rd-and-goal to force a field goal:

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And that's the end of the list.

More inside-out logic

Gregg Williams is doing his best to try and scheme around a defensive unit that is clear overmatched at a couple of positions, but it's obviously not working.

You have to have sympathy for his plight because the linebacker position has been the Spinal Tap drummer of this year's team. James Burgess is clearly struggling with the responsibility of relaying the defensive signals, which he again did all game.

That led directly to the Dolphins' first touchdown as a blown coverage saw Darryl Roberts pass the receiver off to Jamal Adams but Adams went to pick up an underneath route instead, leaving the receiver wide open.

Faced with the danger of mistakes like this, Williams tried playing man to man, but then switched to a zone when his cornerbacks were obviously overmatched. However, Ryan Fitzpatrick picked apart the zone, with Mike Gesicki having by far the biggest game of his career so had to revert.

The trouble is that Williams arguably doesn't set up his outside corners to succeed. He seems to insist on them either playing outside technique or inside technique and they seem to be tipping their pitches.

One play in particular illustrates this perfectly. Roberts clearly sets up to the inside and immediately turns his shoulder pads perpendicular to the line of scrimmage.

This has the effect of forcing quarterbacks to throw outside the numbers and maybe you can exploit some bad throws from time to time, especially if you get pressure. And this is a zero blitz, so pressure is inevitable. Sure enough, Brandon Copeland comes free to get in Ryan Fitzpatrick's face.

But if Fitzpatrick has watched any Jets film this year, he'll know that when the Jets' corners play inside technique, they never get their heads turned around and it's a low-risk, high-reward throw to just lob it out there.

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Some have even suggested that Williams coaches his players not to look back for the ball when playing this technique, which seems crazy, but also entirely plausible if you've been watching closely all year. The theory is that you don't need to see the ball because you can read the receiver's reaction to time up making a play on the ball. But this obviously isn't true because Roberts tackles the receiver about a second too early and the Dolphins are gifted another third down conversion.

The other side to this problem is that if the Jets set their cornerback up with outside leverage, Miami killed them over and over again with quick slants. And anyone who's watched any film on the Dolphins this year should know that's the one play above all others that is a primary staple in their offense.

Once again, this seems like overthinking on the Jets' part. Like they don't trust their talent, so they have to come up with some kind of loophole to make their defense work, only the loophole can easily be exploited if you've prepared for them.

Who knows, maybe the personnel is just that bad, but really it seems like the Jets are making life tougher than it needs to be for themselves.

Running for his life?

Adam Gase obviously wants Sam Darnold to stay in the pocket. He extended a couple of plays and they rolled him out a few times, but generally speaking, he's mostly hanging in there despite the pressure and trying to move around within the pocket to create passing lanes and extend plays.

There's one aspect the Jets have completely abandoned this season and that's the option of Darnold taking off and running.

Last year, Darnold had 44 carries for 138 yards. This year? 11 carries for zero yards.

He hasn't even been taking off with his head up and looking downfield, which was something he proved to be adept at last year.

Considering all the times players like Ryan Tannehill (note: playing Gase's system) and Josh Allen have eluded pressure and taken off to extend guys, forcing a defender to account for them, it's amazing the Jets haven't used this option. It's almost as if Darnold either has been told not to do this or is afraid to do so.

It's not like we want him to turn into Vince Young overnight, but there has to be times where he can take what the defense gives him and pick up positive yardage instead of taking a sack or making a risky pass.

SHEESH V: THREESH

Onesh:

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Twosh:

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Threesh:

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SHEESH.

Much more analysis to come later today and over the next few days. Please let us know who you'd like to see us feature in more detail in 3-on-D and 3-on-O.