SANTA CLARA, Calif – The Jets are among the most talented teams in the NFL. Pro Bowlers and all-pros litter their roster on both sides of the ball. There isn’t a glaring weakness at any level. They’re that good – no, great on paper.
And that means absolutely nothing.
The Jets took that roster of who’s who across the country and got stomped by the Christian McCaffrey-less 49ers on Monday Night Football, 32-19, – a jarring wake-up call by just about every measure.
No team is talented enough to rely on talent alone. So if the Jets want to accomplish what they believe they can this year, they best patch themselves up quickly.
“You realize all of a sudden you’re not there,” said receiver Garrett Wilson. “We’re not there yet. They whooped our ass today.”
There is no reason to panic yet – as long as this loss is just that: A wake-up call.
Aaron Rodgers, who completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his first full game as the team’s starter, called it an excuse. He’s right. It is, but a valid one. Rust was inevitable for this team.
The Jets have three new starters on their offensive line (Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson). They have two others on offense who ended last season on the injured reserve (Alijah Vera-Tucker, Rodgers). Receivers Mike Williams and Malachi Corley are new, too. The defense isn’t, but none tackled a single player in training camp.
The Jets out-repped themselves this summer compared to coach Robert Saleh’s previous three, but no amount of practice plays can replace game snaps. You hoped for more against the 49ers. Step back, though, and you realize it was always a long shot.
That doesn’t make aspects of Monday’s game less alarming. The defense was pitiful. The 49ers had 401 yards of offense, including 180 on the ground. Jordan Mason, filling in for McCaffrey, had 147 and a pair of touchdowns on 28 carries (5.3 yards per). The 49ers had six drives of eight-plus plays,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/no-reason-jets-panic-yet-053000756.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-09-10 05:30:00
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