September 13, 2010, New York Jets struggling offense in preseason sidebar for Scout.com

(Writer's Note: This story was published on August 28.) Scout.com > NY Jets
Jets' Offense Is Offensive Story URL: http://nyj.scout.com/2/996613.html
Dennis Gorman GreenAndWhiteReport.com	Aug 28, 2010
The Jets offense scored their first touchdown over the past 10 quarters in Friday night's 16-11 loss as the unit struggles to put up points. East Rutherford, NJ - The Jets have lamented the absence of Darrelle Revis throughout this Hard Knock summer. After their third unimpressive preseason showing, the organization may find that it misses its offense far more than its All-Pro corner. If Revis is the team’s shutdown corner, the offense is shutdown. After their somnambulant 16-11 preseason loss to Washington Friday night, the Jets offense has scored all of 34 points in three games. It is not coincidence that the Jets are 1-2 in the games-that-don’t-count portion of the 2010 season. Simply for an organization that boasts Super aspirations, the offense has to improve in three categories—the passing game, ball protection, and finishing drives with points—before September 13 Monday Night regular season opening game against Baltimore. “We’ve been hitting the breaks when we’ve gotten to the red zone,” Rex Ryan said after the eyesore. The Jets had three first half possessions in Washington’s half of the field and were only able to score three points. The lack of production falls, fairly or unfairly on Mark Sanchez. The second-year quarterback from USC finished the game 13-of-21 for 139 yards, a touchdown, an interception and was sacked twice for minus-eight yards. Veteran backup Mark Brunell was equally awful. Brunell, who played for most of the fourth quarter, was 1-of-3 passing for seven yards and lost 11 yards on two sacks. Sanchez’s lone interception ended a first drive that should have resulted in points for the Jets. DeAngelo Hall jumped in front of Dustin Keller at the Washington six-yard line and took the Sanchez pass back to the Redskins’ 41-yard line. Four possessions later, with the ball on their 43-yard line and trailing the Redskins 6-5, Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes for a 23 yard completion. However the big-play receiver was stripped of the ball by Philip Buchanon and the fumble was recovered at the Redskins’ 34-yard line by backup linebacker Perry Riley. In all, the Jets committed four turnovers (three lost fumbles and an interception), a distasteful fact that was not lost Ryan or wide receiver David Clowney. “What was critical was the four turnovers,” said Ryan. “There's no excuses now, this is the third pre-season game. We've had mini-camp, training camp and our time in L.A. with our quarterback and receivers there,” Clowney said. “Now training camp and games. No excuses anymore. We had, what, four turnovers? Unacceptable in my book,” The turnovers and passing game woes overshadowed a strong performance by the running game. Six Jets combined to pound Washington for 161 yards on 32 carries, led by LaDainian Tomlinson (86 yards) and Shonn Greene (56 yards). You can follow us on Twitter @DenisGorman http://nyj.scout.com/2/996613.html