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New York Jets: Offensive coordinator John Morton cost team a Week 7 victory

By Michael Pallas

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 22: Quarterback Josh McCown #15 of the New York Jets passes during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 22: Quarterback Josh McCown #15 of the New York Jets passes during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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There’s one man to blame for the loss by the New York Jets in Miami on Sunday, and it’s not Josh McCown. John Morton had a terrible fourth quarter.

Let’s go back to Super Bowl Sunday, which was an even bigger stage. The Atlanta Falcons led the Patriots 28-3, and an epic collapse/comeback was about to ensue. Many people point to one person for that epic 25-point collapse. Many will say Kyle Shanahan didn’t call enough runs.

Considering that Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins was the first time in 22 years the New York Jets entered the fourth quarter with a 14+ point lead and didn’t win, the same can be said about offensive coordinator John Morton.

Morton actually had a terrible fourth quarter in which Josh McCown probably shouldn’t have needed to pass the ball much. However, the Jets did pass the ball in the fourth quarter. They had a 14-point lead, and did so almost twice as much (including three consecutive pass plays). Say what you will about the ill-timed pass that was an interception, but McCown shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place.

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The Jets drive that led to the Dolphins game-tying drive ended in a Jets three-and-out. McCown inexplicably dropped back to pass on all three plays. The first of the three drop backs was an incomplete pass, which stops the clock. The result of the drive was three plays for -10 yards and only 1:37 off the clock. That led to a Dolphins drive starting at the Miami 46-yard line, and the defense let up a touchdown.

Of course, the second blunder after two offensive drives only took 2:34 off the clock was the debacle at the end of the game. There’s no reason to run a play designed to go toward the sideline when Miami would clearly deploy a defense to stop that.

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They should’ve had two plays called in the huddle and changed to a run when it was clear Miami would only be rushing three. If they didn’t gain enough yards, just let the clock run out and go to overtime. You can pin the result on McCown as he threw the interception. However, it’s on Morton for putting him in a position he should’ve never been in.

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