If we thought the Jets look ugly last week, we may have to think again. The Jets got completely embarrassed today by the Dallas Cowboys. Bill Parcells' team came to New York prepared with a pretty simple game plan - just run the ball. The Cowboys gained 202 yards on the ground, as they defeated the Jets 17-6.
For the fourth week in a row the Jets attempted to establish the running game, and for the fourth week in a row they miserably failed. This time RB Curtis Martin carried the ball 21 times for just 64 yards (his Dallas counterpart Troy Hambrick gained 127 on 24 carries). Martin's longest run was just 9 yards, the run that Martin ended with a fumble inside the Cowboys 20 when the Jets were trying to take the lead late in the second quarter. Dallas recovered the fumble, drove 80 yards in just 1:31 and extended the lead to 14-3.
QB Vinny Testaverde had another decent game, completing 21 of 29 passes for 219 yards, 0 INT, 0 TD, but once again he was unable to deliver the ball to the end zone. WR Santana Moss made 5 catches for 65 yards, including a 38-yard deep pass, but his first quarter fumble led to the Cowboys first touchdown of the game. WR Curtis Conway continued to struggle. This time he dropped the ball on a crucial third down in the 4th quarter, and the Jets once again had to settle for a field goal.
The Jets defense had yet another pathetic game. They were unable to apply any pressure on QB Quincy Carter and they made Troy Hambrick look like Emmitt Smith in his prime. It's hard to understand how some people still continue to defend Herman Edwards and his clueless coaching staff. Here's a comparison between rushing yards allowed in the first four games last year and the first four games this year:
| 2002 | 2003 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| at Buffalo | 142 yards | at Washington | 160 yards |
| vs. New England | 163 yards | vs. Miami | 187 yards |
| at Miami | 211 yards | at New England | 147 yards |
| at Jacksonville | 233 yards | vs. Dallas | 202 yards |
Is there much of a difference? I don't think so. Good coaches do not have the same problems 2 seasons in a row, which is not the case in New York. Once again this team is unprepared and the coaches do not seem to know how to make this team go in the right direction. Yes, they will use Pennington's injury as an excuse why this team plain sucks, but even with Chad behind the center we would not see much of a difference. Pennington cannot stop the run, he cannot cover WRs, he cannot teach players how not to commit stupid penalties, and he doesn't catch balls, he only throws them.
Before this season started we were assured by this coaching stuff that the losses of Morton, Thomas and Coles would not be much of a factor. Well, Coles' replacement Curtis Conway has dropped every crucial pass he could. Morton's replacement Michael Bates has committed every stupid penalty he could. Thomas' replacement Brent Smith can't open any holes whatsoever. Other teams sign the likes of Lawyer Milloy, Takeo Spikes and David Boston, while the Jets go after such free agent "gems" as Khary Campbell and Tyrone Carter.
Woody, please do us all a favor and fire these clowns!