Jets Q&A: Run defense continues to struggle vs. Dolphins
Duke Johnson of the Dolphins runs with the ball against Bryce Hall of the Jets in the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Credit: Getty Images/Cliff Hawkins
How bad is the Jets’ run defense?
It’s been awful, and it was another bad performance Sunday.
The Dolphins don’t have a Pro Bowl back. Most of their backfield was on the COVID-19 list for much of the week. Yet the Dolphins, with Duke Johnson leading the way, gashed the Jets’ defense for a season-high 183 rushing yards.
"It is disappointing," Robert Saleh said. "There was a lot of missed tackles in the run game. It’s clearly not good enough."
Johnson, who had carried the ball four times all season, rushed for 107 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns. Myles Gaskin, who was on the COVID list until Friday, had a 30-yard run that set up the game-winning touchdown.
The Jets’ lack of a run defense has been an issue all season. They have given up more than 100 yards in all but two games. Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich haven’t been able to correct the problem.
"It’s not good enough," Saleh said. "Not that we don’t have answers, but we have to do a better job from a schematic standpoint. We got to do a better job tackling."
What did Brandin Echols see on his first career interception and pick-6?
He credited fellow rookie cornerback Michael Carter II for reading what the Dolphins were trying to do before the snap. Carter let the back end know, and
Echols, a sixth-round pick from Kentucky, trusted Carter.
Tua Tagovailoa tried to pass to tight end Hunter Long and Echols stepped in front of it, intercepted the pass and returned it 20 yards as the Jets tied the score at 24-24.
"It was exciting," Echols said. "But coming to the sideline, I knew we had to go back out there and try to do it again. My mindset once I got it, I was happy, excited. But I knew I had to flip the switch and change my mindset and go back out there and try to make a play."
The defense couldn’t. Miami scored the winning touchdown on the next series.
What happened to Quinnen Williams?
He aggravated the shoulder injury that he suffered last week. Williams said on Monday that he would try to play through it, but he got hurt in the third quarter, left the game and never returned.
How is Saleh treating these remaining games?
He’s challenged the Jets to look at the end of the season as if it’s their playoffs. The Jets came out with that kind of fire and intensity Sunday, but it didn’t last.
"He posed a challenge of us to take the mindset of these last four games, treat it like playoff mentality," cornerback Bryce Hall said. "That’s our mindset. That’s our heart. I feel like we’re still engaged. [Although] we had this tough loss, I really feel and can sense the vibe and energy of this team, we’re on the climb."
