He’s 6-foot-5. He caught the game-winning touchdown in one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history. And he can’t make a play to save his life.
When the Jets let Braylon Edwards go in the offseason they thought they’d found the perfect replacement in Burress. He was exactly the tall, rangy receiver Mark Sanchez needed in the red zone. So far this season he has two catches inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
“It just seems like we’re missing just a little bit,” head coach Rex Ryan said yesterday. “But I’m encouraged by the fact that, hey, we’ll keep working, and I think as the season goes along, you’re going to see better and better chemistry and having the ball thrown to Plax more as the season goes on.”
The Jets targeted Burress four times in the team’s 24-6 win over the Dolphins. He had one catch for 16 yards and a glaring drop on a would-be first down.
Burress was away from the game for two years in prison, of course, and much of the reason for his absence in the offense has been blamed on that.
“It takes a while to get a feel for the guy,” Ryan said. “The chemistry is there, it’s just a matter of fine-tuning just a little bit more and I think we’re gonna be just fine.”
Rex touts team’s resilience
If you listened to the pundits — not to mention some of the players — Monday’s game against Miami was a must win.
The Dolphins are far from a elite team, but the win was important nonetheless.
“This is a resilient team and a resilient bunch of guys,” Ryan said. “The season is far from over. We responded the way I thought we would.”
Now, however, the team turns to much tougher foes. They will face a gauntlet of San Diego, at Buffalo and New England over the next four weeks.
Follow Metro New York sports editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.
