A lot can be anticipated when the Jets and Dolphins square off, and aside from the final score, this game exemplified such expected themes that included turnovers, sacks and constant exchange in momentum.
“Most Dolphins-Jets games, there’s going to be that give-and-take,” head coach Eric Mangini said.
The quarterbacks were the ones often providing both give and take; as in giving interceptions to the opposing defense and taking plenty of hits and sacks throughout the day. Dolphins QB John Beck was sacked three times by the Green and White, but the rookie was picked off three times and lost two fumbles, recovered by Jets LBs David Harris and Victor Hobson, both of which led to points on the board.
Even in the lopsided winning effort, Jets QB Kellen Clemens wasn’t out of the fire, as he threw one interception and was sacked six times.
On one play, Clemens was sacked by cornerback Will Allen and fellow corner Michael Lehan returned the loose ball 43 yards for Miami’s only touchdown of the afternoon.
Mangini insists that part of that play can be pegged to Clemens’ inexperience and growing chemistry with his offensive line.
“I think there's still some work to be done in continuing to get rid of the football or understanding exactly where his drop spot is," Mangini said at his news conference this afternoon. "That's so important to the offensive line. They need to know that if you're supposed to be at 8 [yards],you're going to be at 8, because that really affects how they block the person that they're on.”
But Clemens can’t be entirely blamed for the blindside smackdown.
“That was a well-designed blitz. It would have been hard for any offense to pick up,” Mangini said. “I think that was a function of executing the blitz well and disguising it well. Sometimes you hit like that and just hope it doesn’t have that impact on the game where the ball goes up and someone picks it up and goes in for six.
“There’s always going to be, in each game, one or two plays where they’ll get you on something. Sometimes you’re going to get hit with the ones that you’re not ready for and that happens every week to all levels of quarterbacks.”
While Clemens struggled to get rid of the football in times of distress, Mangini acknowledged his first-year starter's ability to spread the wealth with his powerful arm.
“I like him spreading the ball around — eight different guys catching the football. I think that’s important,” said Mangini. “It puts pressure on the defense, letting them know that everyone’s alive, that it's not just one or two guys, it’s going to be the open guy based on the defense and the route.”
Another aspect of the game Mangini was pleased with was the lengthy drives Clemens piloted throughout the day. The Jets' time of possession was 35:00 compared to Miami’s 25:00, which included touchdown drives that lasted 6:02 (on the game's opening possession), 4:02, 4:52 and 7:34.
The Jets ate up the clock in the second half, with Clemens throwing the ball just seven times in the final two quarters.
“That changes everything,” Mangini said of the Jets offense controlling the clock. “It gives the defense a chance to rest, it’s a significant amount of time off the clock, and when you punctuate that time with a touchdown, that has an effect for our team and usually has an effect on your opponent.”
Clemens and his teammates have been given off until Wednesday, but the quarterback said after the game that the extra rest the Jets offense gave the defense paid off.
“Our defense played well today,” Clemens said. “They were involved in turnovers and our average starting field position was great. There were a lot of times where we got the ball in Miami territory, and as an offense you love that short field.”
