1. Doing a pretty Schotty job
Under criticism all year, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer must be faulted for the inability of the team to establish the run and effectively move the ball down the field.
The offense is middling and boasts just a 33 percent success rate on third down — ninth worst in the league. Schottenheimer can’t be faulted for what happened last game, however, when the Jets had several bad drops that could have extended drives.
The inability of the Jets to sustain drives and convert third downs is a big reason why they’re No. 26 in time of possession.
2. Discord in the wide receiver ranks
The trade that sent veteran wide receiver Derrick Mason to Houston last week is an interesting move, perhaps designed to shake things up in the locker room.
Mason complained about the offense two weeks ago and had failed to be the impact player the Jets had hoped for when he signed a free agent deal in August.
How will the Jets respond if they go down early or if there is a setback in the game? Will they splinter or find their backbone?
3. Brandon Marshall a marked man
Dolphins Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall pulled no punches this week, saying he was going to play like “a maniac” on Monday night.
Marshall went so far as to say he was going to get thrown out by the second quarter and might punch Jets players Antonio Cromartie or Bart Scott.
The Jets could send Marshall a message with aggressive play to bait him into a dumb move. Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano said Marshall was trying to rally his team.
