Defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt made it a point of emphasis going into the season. He wanted his defense to minimize the big plays. On Sunday Buffalo's defense couldn't make that happen nearly enough in what quickly turned into a lopsided loss in Week 1.
On 63 plays run by the Jets' offense, Buffalo did not register a sack in the game. They also surrendered eight pass plays of 15 yards or more in the game including a 17 and 33-yard touchdown plays to Stephen Hill. The Jets averaged almost 10 yards per pass play (9.9).
"We've just got too many people running too wide open right now and we're not getting enough pressure on the passer and that's something we're going to address," said head coach Chan Gailey. "Dave (Wannstedt) and I have already had the conversation of how we're going to address that. We've got to change that so we understand where we are. We don't like it. It's ugly and that's my responsibility."
Mark Sanchez was rarely thrown off his rhythm in the pocket as he was allowed to survey his options for most of the afternoon.
"He definitely got the ball out on time," said Nick Barnett. "And if you get the ball out on time, it's hard to get to the quarterback. We've got to play a little more aggressive. We've got the talent and everything, but we've got to play aggressive on those guys, and make them pull that thing down just a second and then we can get to that quarterback."
"I haven't seen that in a while," said Mario Williams. "Getting the ball and getting it out on time. They definitely had real good timing as far as him and his receivers and his running backs."
With Sanchez's rhythm uninterrupted it allowed him to convert seven of nine third down opportunities in the first half and they weren't all third-and-shorts. There were three 3rd-and-6s, a 3rd-and-7, a 3rd-and-8 and a 3rd-and-9. And the two that weren't converted were so deep in Buffalo territory that the Jets took a pair of field goals on fourth down.
Buffalo's young cornerbacks were tested early and often. Stephon Gilmore and Aaron Williams combined for seven tackles, but neither had a pass break up.
"I got my eyes in the backfield," said Gilmore of the 33-yard touchdown play surrendered to Stephen Hill. "He got me with a double move, I should have known that they were in a certain formation and I've just got to make a play."
Gailey wasn't about to let the youth of his cornerbacks absolve them.
"No that's making an excuse for youth is what that's doing," said Gailey. "They've been out there. They've been there the whole preseason. We've not let anybody run that free and open before. We're better than that."
The Jets did not have a whole lot of extra protection calls to handle Buffalo's new and improved pass rush with Mario Williams and Mark Anderson.
"They chipped some," said Gailey. "They chipped some guys on the edges, but nothing major. Nothing we hadn't seen."
"They left tight ends in to chip, backs obviously chipping, and his timing was right on," said Kelsay of Sanchez. "They were getting rid of the ball fast. It makes it tough for the front four to rush."
The bottom line as Chan Gailey sees it his pass rush shouldn't be one of the areas of their game that needs to be corrected, but he's willing to let his patience last for more than just one game.
"Yes, it's too soon for that to be an issue," he said. "Let's let it go. It was awful (Sunday) I understand that, but don't kick the dirt on us yet."
