Aaron Rodgers’ renowned cadence may have thrown the Jets off.
Gang Green committed four offensive pre-snap penalties in Sunday’s ugly 10-9 loss to the Broncos and coach Robert Saleh said it is something they have to take a look at.
“We’ve got to figure it out, whether or not we’re good enough or ready to handle all the cadence,” Saleh said after the offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time this year. “Cadence had not been an issue all [training] camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously, today it took a major step back.”
Rodgers didn’t hide his feelings on the idea of dialing back his cadence.
“That’s one way to do it,” he said. “The other way is to hold them accountable.”
Adjustments certainly are in order after this performance.
The Jets were whistled for 15 penalties, 13 of which were accepted.
They were sloppy, self-inflicted mistakes killing drives.
Perhaps the biggest one was left guard John Simpson’s false start on 4th-and-goal from the Broncos’ 1-yard line early in the second quarter.
Instead of a potential touchdown, the Jets had to settle for a field goal.
“That was a play that could’ve won the game,” said Simpson, who committed two penalties. “I’ve got to get better.”
Late in the third quarter, receiver Allen Lazard caught a 12-yard pass.
After the play, he celebrated by signaling a first down with each hand while on the turf, and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Instead of the Jets having the ball at the Broncos 18, it was moved back to the 33.
They settled for a field goal.
“I guess that’s just a new thing with the NFL. Usually, they give warnings with unsportsmanlike conducts and stuff like that,” Lazard said. “Guys around the league do that every single week. It’s been a thing for a while now. They never made it a point of emphasis in the offseason or anything. They kind of just threw it out there. Obviously, I regret doing that. I guess you can’t signal first down anymore.”
Over the season’s first three weeks, the Jets had averaged six accepted penalties for 62 yards.
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It was a major problem in this surprising loss.
“I know Allen had one on the celebration, but just a lot of pre-snap penalties, which is unacceptable,” Saleh said. “That’s the stuff that we have to get cleaned up. You’re always going to have in-play penalties, those are going to happen, but the pre-snap and post-snap penalties, those are the ones that are unacceptable.”
