Alvin Camara and the Saints crossed planes was understandable. The Eagles’ higher rush attack was expected.
But Duke Johnson? Dolphins and their dreary land game? It was unexpected, even in defense against the rank 30 Gang Green Chain.
“It’s disappointing,” coach Robert Saleh said after the Jets lost 31-24 to Miami Gardens, Florida. “There are a lot of missed interferences in running games. It’s clearly not good enough.
Johnson had more Sunday lunge yards (a career record of 107 in 22 pregnancies) than he collected in the last two years combined (81). It was also the first fast 100-yard performance of his seven-year career. The Dolphins came in with the league’s 31st lunge attack (79.2 yards per game). They averaged 3.3 yards per load.
In front of the planes, Miami seemed unstoppable. The dolphins lunge for 4.4 yards per load. They ran for 183, to make up for a lower performance by quarterback Tua Tagovayulwa, who threw two interceptions. The 28-year-old Johnson became the Dolphins’ first 100-yard runner this season. There were holes where you could drive a truck. There were some missed interventions. There were failed missions. Over the past three weeks, the Jets have allowed 190.3 yards per game and allowed six quick landings.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” quarterback CJ Mosley said. “Now the racing game is what we like. We just have to try to understand. It doesn’t keep happening that we can’t stop it and we can’t keep trying to improve.
“As the play went on they started moving the ball and they started doing better than us. At the end of the day, that’s what happened. Missed tackles – I know I have a few tackles there.
The craziest worst performance came late in the fourth quarter, after Brandin Echols shot six pickers on the Jets even at 24. He passed to DeVante Parker who took the win with 3:37 to go.
“It doesn’t mean we don’t have answers, but we just need to do a better job schematically,” Saleh said. “We have to do a better job in combat.”
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