CAN’T STOP ’EM: Jaguars tight end Allen Reisner gets away from the tackle of linebacker DeMario Davis for a touchdown during the Jets’ 37-13 preseason victory over Jacksonville on Saturday. (AP)
If Saturday night is any indication, Rex Ryan might not want to watch the Jets defense either this season.
Ryan’s beloved defense looked terrible Saturday night in the Jets’ 37-13 victory over the Jaguars. With all the attention focused on who will play quarterback, other positions on this team are getting less scrutiny. The defense has almost been treated like a given, but Saturday showed that unit has plenty of work to do.
“I don’t understand it,” Ryan said of the defense’s lack of intensity. “Clearly, our focus has been good in practice and things like that. It just seemed like, for whatever reason, it wasn’t there [tonight]. Poor tackling was a great indication of it. I was a little upset with some of the mistakes we made.”
Blaine Gabbert led the Jaguars offense right through the Jets on the first two drives, resulting in 10 points. Take that in for a minute — Blaine Gabbert, one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, carved up Ryan’s defense. Yes, it’s only preseason, but the Jets showed some worrisome signs.
The Jaguars used a hurry-up offense that kept the Jets on their heels and had them looking confused in coverage.
“We just couldn’t get off the field,” linebacker Calvin Pace said. “I thought we played better toward halftime, but if that was a [regular-season] game, that will get you beat. Again, this is a learning experience. Like I said, you live and you learn and you go get better. It’s never as good as you think it is, it’s never as bad. So, just keep it moving and try to get better.”
The Jaguars moved the ball 80 yards in seven plays on their first drive, ending with a Gabbert touchdown to tight end Allen Reisner. The entire series the Jets struggled in coverage and looked off balance when the Jaguars hurried to the line.
Then, there was the tackling. The Jaguars threw a few short passes to running backs and wideouts that resulted in big gains because the Jets simply could not tackle.
Linebacker David Harris played one of the worst games of his pro career, missing tackles, running behind in coverage and getting flagged for a late hit. But Harris was not the lone culprit. Pace, Quinton Coples and even Antonio Cromartie all missed tackles.
“We’ve just got to be better,” Pace said. “Our tackling was horrible. We’ve got to get back to the drawing board on Monday and get ready for the Giants [on Saturday].”
Rookie cornerback Dee Milliner had a rough night, and that has to be a major concern for Ryan. The Jets threw Milliner into the fire as soon as he reported for training camp, putting him in with the starters. He did not look ready against the Jaguars.
Ace Sanders caught a 35-yard pass against Millner on the first offensive snap for Jacksonville. Then Justin Blackmon repeatedly used the cushion Milliner gave him to get open.
“I didn’t like the way we competed and challenged on the outside — not so much Cromartie, but from Dee,” Ryan said. “When we call on him, I want him to get up there. Let’s go. Let’s play. We were off [the line of scrimmage] a little too much.”
You can bet Milliner and the rest of the Jets defenders will get an earful from Ryan this week. Eli Manning is waiting for them this weekend.