Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis couldn’t believe his ears after the game.
Granted, the Jets lost to the Dolphins 10-6 and all losses are team losses, blah, blah, blah. But the Jets’ defense held the Dolphins to 131 yards of total offense, a total of six first downs (one in the second half) and just five completions. The defense produced five sacks and three fumble recoveries.
But . . .
“According to Rex we played [bleepy],” Ellis told The Post of Rex Ryan’s words to the defense after the game. “He said we weren’t good enough. I guess we needed a shutout. I guess that’s what he was talking about.”
The criticism did not sit well with the defensive players, likely explaining why most of them bolted from the locker room before reporters were allowed in. Linebacker Bart Scott, the so-called leader of the group, had someone bring him his clothes from his locker.
“It’s frustrating to hear that because we played a solid game,” Ellis said. “I guess he just expects so much out of the defense that there should have been zero points on the board, not 10.”
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Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine this week said safety Brodney Pool was “underachieving” this season.
Pool, who two weeks ago lost his starting job to Eric Smith, responded yesterday with perhaps his best game as a Jet, forcing a fumble, recording a sack and then recovering a fumble.
Pool’s forced fumble came on a Ronnie Brown run and was recovered by Jason Taylor, the former Dolphin.
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Ryan, as promised, put his offense on the field first when the Jets won the coin toss. The offense responded by going three-and-out.
The team’s first-quarter offensive woes continued when they again failed to score in the first quarter. The Jets have just two first-quarter touchdowns all season and have managed only three field goals in the past nine opening quarters.
It was the 14th time in 32 games under Ryan the Jets have won the coin toss. Before yesterday, Ryan always had deferred and taken the ball to start the second half.
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Right tackle Damien Woody, who has been playing through a sprained MCL in his right knee, came out of the game early in the second quarter and was replaced by Wayne Hunter. Woody said he is going to have an MRI exam today.
Defensive lineman Trevor Pryce suffered a hip injury in the third quarter and didn’t return. Smith suffered a possible concussion and did not return.
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The Jets raved about the performance of Dolphins punter Brandon Fields, who averaged an incredible 56.4 yards gross and 49.6 yards net on 10 punts.
“I tip my hat to their punter; he was a big difference in the game,” Ryan said.
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Kicker Nick Folk made both field-goal tries (from 35 and 42 yards) after having missed six of his previous 11 field goals.
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The ugliness of the fishbowl post-game interview area at the stadium, where fans can watch, reared its ugly head. When Ryan walked to the podium, angry fans chanted “Schotty must go,” referring to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.