Okay, this wasn't the biggest issue of the day, and it was overshadowed by the Jets getting a great win, of course, but it bugged me to see Ivory getting carries at the end of Sunday's game with the Jets up by three touchdowns and less than five minutes on the clock. We've all seen Ivory's production decrease as the punishment has taken its toll on him, he's just not the same guy he was earlier in the year and he invites big hits with his running style. So, after causing and recovering a fumble, and with the ball at the Miami 35-yard line, did we really need to give him four straight carries? That's four play's worth of extra punishment he didn't need in a game that was over. Give Bohanon four carries if you want to run down the clock a little bit. Anyone agree?
100% That was my one real criticism of the game. Up big, get that guy out of there. No reason to continue to wear down the Fins defense, it was over. Ridley should have gotten all the carries in the 4th quarter. _
They were so desperate for a win that they wanted to close the game out in a definitive fashion. I think that's why the starters were still in the game even though it was already over.
Yeah, I can see that. It's a valid point. I just wondered if Ivory was the guy to close it out, given his struggles. Personally, I would have liked to see him chilling on the sidelines. Like I said, not the biggest issue of the day! It just reminded me of a day way back in the Herm Edwards era. The Jets were home and hosed and running down the clock to end the game. How did they choose to do that? With six straight carries for Curtis Martin. Even if they'd used another back and he'd fumbled the ball away, the game was over, and Martin was the heart of the franchise at the time.
I disagree. Ivory had done nothing all game. Not like he is Peterson or something. He and the O-line actually needed the work.
Done nothing? Did you see the 30 yard TD run where he broke 6-7 tackles and refused to go down? Did you see how he was often hit in the backfield or as soon as he got to the LOS? Ivory doesn't need the work, and I don't think it would matter if the Jets could have given the OL another 300 snaps. Winters and Giacomini are simply not that good, and Ferguson is not a good run blocker.
Good point, but I wouldn't have put Bohanon in. As far as I'm concerned, he's a wasted roster spot. I'd have put Powell or Ridley in.
The game went off the air by the 4th in Wisconsin, but I kept up on my phone, and I had went out with my Mother, and I checked and saw Ivory have a rush, and thought REALLY? We're winning by 3 scores. Rest him!
There's a reason why Bohanon doesn't get the ball, he sucks and there's a good chance he turns the ball over. In which case you would have gone after Bowles again I guess for being so conservative and resting his starters, for not being "cut throat" enough so on and so on. I mean if you want to run the clock down at least do it with Ridley, why would you even bring up Bohanon? Why have faith in him?
I agree 100%. The way Ivory runs, every snap can potentially cause any injury. Ditto for Fitzpatrick. They didn't have to be out there unless Bowles did that on purpose to psyche them up. Still though, even if we put in Geno and Powell out there, everyone would have felt pumped because it was convincing victory.
It's not about having faith in him, it's about me not really giving a damn if he took a few hits. I really didn't want anyone to have to risk anything at that stage of the game, but if it had to be a back, Bohanon was the one I was least interested in protecting. If I had any faith in him, it would be to take a few hand-offs and burn some time off the clock. We were three TDs up, so what if he fumbled?
It wouldn't have lost us the game, but you know exactly that had he turned the ball over at that point people would have gone after Bowles regardless.
I agree, to a point. But Ivory isn't going to crash 60mph into a defender when we're up by 30pts, late in the game. His late game TD is about all he's going to do. Pull out of a jersey tackle and scamper. And Fitz should never leave the pocket up by 30. We preach killer instinct which means keeping the pedal to the metal (opposite of taking out your stars for backups). I think back to the Gronk breaking his arm blocking for an extra point try up by 27 with under 5 minutes. The Gronk? Really? One of your BEST offensive players blocking on the line for an extra point? But there it was. Belicheck putting his best 11 on the field, no matter what. 1st time, every time. That being said, I'd do the opposite and sit my gravy guys for 2nd stingers (eager to get snaps) every chance I got. Pull Ivory for Riddley. Pull Cro for Milliner. Get your stars out of there and get your guys you're trying to evaluate in there. EVERYONE is happy (except TGG if we end up losing the game!). Maybe the coaching staffs head's are so full of game time crap they really can't handle transitioning their line up to one that never really practiced the week before. Who knows.
