The Jets (0-3) will start either Tyrod Taylor for a second consecutive game or Justin Fields will return to the starting lineup when they visit the Dolphins (0-3) Monday night. Fields remains in concussion protocol after being a gameday inactive for the Jets' 29-27 loss to the Buccaneers last Sunday.
"Justin came in as our starter and he's been our starter, so listen, Tyrod was the backup," HC Aaron Glenn told reporters Monday. "So, I want to make sure I know exactly where Justin is at. I don't want to say anything until I know that Justin is cleared. So once Justin is cleared, I will let you know exactly where we're going."
With Taylor at the controls in Tampa, the Jets started the game with two scoring drives resulting in a pair of Nick Folk field goals. But their ensuing six drives ended on a turnover on downs, a punt, a strip-sack that led to a Tampa FG, a punt, a Jamel Dean pick-6 and a turnover on downs.
Down 23-6, Taylor and the offense refound their mojo in the fourth quarter as the Jets mounted a furious rally. Taylor hit on 12-of-15 in the final frame for 117 yards including TD passes to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.
"We did a lot of stuff on the ball in the second half," Taylor said. "We put a little bit more stress on the defense. We talked about being aggressive this game. Obviously, in the first half, we started off pretty good with two scoring drives, but that stalled toward the second quarter. We talked at halftime about sticking true to our gameplan, which is still getting back to the aggressiveness. We felt like we had a chance to take advantage of some of the NASCAR – it's what we call some of the on-the-ball stuff. That's what we got to in the second half."
The Jets had only three possessions in the second half, finishing the latter with Taylor TDs after turning the ball over at the Tampa 47 on downs on their first drive.
"I think [OC] Tanner [Engstrand] did a really good job – we talked about that at halftime as far as some of the calls that we do that he liked," Glenn said. "We wanted to make sure we get those in and we got them in at a more rapid pace. Just like any quarterback, once those guys get into a rhythm, they start to see the game a lot quicker, and things really slow down for them, and I thought that's what happened to him in the second half. The thing that we have to do – how quickly can we start that process of us being able to move the ball and make those plays. We have to do a better job – that's one of the things that I was talking about how we [have] to go to work next week and make sure that we correct those things and making sure we start a little bit faster."
Wilson, who had 10+ catches for the second time, continues to be the most consistent performer on offense. After catching 11 balls for 145 yards with 1 TD in games against the Steelers and the Bills, he finished with 84 yards on his 10 receptions from Taylor in Week 3.
Sill, Wilson lamented not coming back to the ball on Dean's INT that turned a tight 13-6 contest into a 20-6 Tampa cushion at halftime.
"The best way I can put it, man, is that he is just collected," Wilson said of Taylor. "No matter what the situation is, he's going to rally the troops, and we all know who we are up against and know what we are trying to do. It was good to be out there with Tyrod, and we have had reps throughout his tenure here together. In that first half, I [have] to better for him. I have to make some plays for him and keep that pick six from happening – go attack the ball – things that we will fix this week."
The Jets would love to regain the balance they exhibited against the Steelers in Week 1. After Breece Hall amassed 107 yards on the ground in Week 1, he was limited to 50 yards on 19 carries the past two games (2.6 per/ attempt). Taylor (8-48) and Fields (5-49) were the Jets' leading rushers against the Bucs and Bills, respectively. They also need to improve their third-down conversion rate that has slipped down to 28%.
Glenn was asked Monday about offensive tempo, and he emphasized the entire operation.
"I will say there's different versions of tempo for us and that could be tempo of guys getting out of the huddle really fast and getting lined up. That's one version of tempo that we talk about quite a bit," he said. "There's another version… let's get out the huddle, like let's rush to the ball, let's make the defense show us exactly what they're going to be in so we can be able to make our adjustments and be able to make the plays we want."
The Jets will face a Dolphins defense that ranks last in scoring (32.3 pts/g), 31st on third down (52.63%) and 29th in yards allowed/play (6.10). With either Fields or Taylor in command, the Jets want to find their rhythm early and then sustain it for 60 minutes. If they play fast on their back-end trip to Florida, the Dolphins could be swimming against a strong current.
"Well, it shortens the call sheet a little bit defensively," DT Harrison Phillips said of facing offenses who favor tempo. "A lot of times, in more exotic looks or blitzes, there needs to be a lot more communication that goes on. And so, typically, a defense's menu shortens. As one of the fatter people out there on defense, you get winded pretty quickly and your legs get a little bit heavier. When there's no substitutions, you're not able to get fresh bodies in there, and that is definitely a way to try to slow down a rush or get guys out of their gaps."
