The New York Jets have a secondary problem.
No, you haven't stumbled upon an article from last year, when John Idzik left Rex Ryan with an empty cupboard in the back end of his defense. But it's a different year with familiar problems for the Jets, who have allowed an average of 29 points per game and 1,240 yards in their last three games. In Sunday's narrow win over the Jaguars, New York allowed seven plays of 25 yards or more. It was a "chunk play" massacre for Todd Bowles' unit.
This is not what the Jets expected when they handed out $150 million in contracts to Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine with the hope of turning a team weakness into a strength.
First things first: No. 24 is not the culprit. Revis Island remains a deeply unfriendly place for opposing No. 1 wideouts, regardless of what "comedian" Darren Woodson might say, to use a Revis descriptor. The biggest concern for Jets coaches has to be Cromartie, who has been picked on for six touchdowns in eight games.
On Sunday, Cromartie bit on a double move from Allen Hurns and got beat on a long touchdown. In the old days, Cromartie could make up for his mistakes with elite athleticism. It's unclear if he still has that special gear at age 31.
ProFootballFocus.com ranks Cromartie 101st out of 111 cornerbacks this season. Skrine, who has struggled in coverage at nickel corner, isn't much better at No. 99. Safety has been a place of unrest with Calvin Pryor sidelined with a high-ankle sprain. Backup Dion Bailey suffered the same injury on Sunday. Will Marcus Williams get another shot? Highly unlikely, after the cornerback missed six tackles in his safety audition against the Raiders in Week 8. (Williams bounced back with two interceptions against the Jags.).
The Jets' front seven did its job on Sunday, sacking Blake Bortles six times. Now the back end of the defense needs to hold up its end of the bargain. If not, Rex Ryan will walk out of MetLife Stadium as the happiest man in America on Thursday night.