Well, I gave this my best effort as a first-time experiment.
I watched the game closely and cobbled together my notes from Jets 7, Titans 3 in an attempt to offer an observation on everyone who played for Tennessee.
I watched the game a second time to fill in around the initial stuff. At 3:13 a.m. CT I’m as ready as I can be to post this and try to get to sleep.
Let me know what you think.
2 WR Mekale McKay – Did not play (hamstring).
3 K-P Jordan Gay – Punted twice with a long of 37 and an average and net average of just 34 yards. Hit the Titans second kickoff 5 yards deep into the end zone.
4 K Ryan Succop – Hit a 36-yard field goal for the Titans’ only points. Put opening kickoff just into the end zone.
5 QB Tyler Ferguson – Got in only for two snaps while Alex Tanney was evaluated for a concussion. Handed off to Derrick Henry on the first, completed a 5-yard pass to Taywan Taylor on the second.
6 P Brett Kern – Punted eight of the 10 times the Titans had to give the ball back, with a 45.1-yard average, a 39-yard net average and a long of 57 yards. Kern placed two inside the 20, giving the Jets one touchback.
8 QB Marcus Mariota – Played through the first quarter, which amounted to nine snaps. Rolled right and threw to Rishard Matthews on the Titans first snap for a 15-yard gain. Bounced up from a Leonard Williams sack without incident in his first game action since his Christmas Eve broken fibula. Hit two of three passes before donning a ball cap. One intended for Delanie Walker was behind him, and behind CB Buster Skrine who had a chance at a pick.
10 WR Tre McBride – Didn't get a lot of action when his turn came around, then was still in the game late. He was the target on the Titans’ last chance pass, a fourth-and-11 from the Tennessee 40-yard line with 44 seconds left. It sailed over his head.
11 QB Alex Tanney – Stood in strong despite taking a beating, including a jarring shot on his first snap (See Derrick Henry notes.) Tanney missed two snaps while he was checked out after that, but then played the rest of the game. He connected on just 11 of 27 passes for 132 yards while absorbing seven sacks. He threw an interception with the Titans in range of the end zone, and lost a fumble too.
12 WR Giovanni Pascascio – Did not play.
13 WR Taywan Taylor – Played a lot and did some damage, with the Titans long play, a 42-yard reception, and a 9-yard end around right after that. Was targeted a game-high nine times, and pulled in four catches for 56 yards. He let one chance go through his arms and while another would have been a tough one to hold on to, he had it in his hands when a DB Dexter McDougle punched it out.
14 KR-PR Eric Weems – Handled four punts with no difficulty, but didn’t make anything happen with them. Had one fair catch, a long return of 7 yards and a total of 15. Didn't feel like a guy you have to worry about.
15 WR Darius Jennings – Targeted twice but didn’t have a catch. Was open for a TD if Tanney had gotten to him earlier or found a way over S Ronald Martin, who intercepted the fourth-quarter 26-yard attempt.
16 QB Matt Cassel – Did not play (thumb).
17 WR Jonathan Krause – He caught just one of five targets for 14 yards. He coughed up a chance at a big play late in the third quarter when he made a diving catch over rookie CB Derrick Jones but lost it as he landed.
18 WR Rishard Matthews – The target on the Titans' first play of the game, when they deliberately had Marcus Mariota roll out. Pulled in an easy 15-yard gain.
20 CB D’Joun Smith – Was in the slot at least a bit when Jeremy Boykins and Tye Smith were playing as the outside corners when QB Bryce Petty came in the game for the Jets. WR Myles White had position on Smith for a fourth-quarter catch but somehow lost it.
21 S Da’Norris Searcy –Tackled Lucky Whitehead on the opening kickoff of the game. Played second-team safety starting in the third series, paired with Curtis Riley.
I'm guessing Derrick Henry did not find he most dangerous man here and was supposed to. #Titans pic.twitter.com/Q4cNgk4XeL
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 13, 2017
22 RB Derrick Henry – Featured early as expected with eight carries for 29 yards. He was also targeted twice with one catch for no yards. But he ran into a group of linemen who had things covered when it appeared he should have picked up blitzing linebacker Julian Stanford, who ran through the line untouched and leveled QB Alex Tanney on his first snap. That forced Tanney to the sideline for a concussion test. In a meaningful game, if that had been Mariota, the consequences could have been dire. [Sunday note: Mike Mulatkey said the error was Jalston Fowler's, not Henry's.]
23 CB Brice McCain – Was the nickel corner for the first team and combined with LeShaun Sims in zone coverage to allow a pretty easy 5-yard McCown-to-Charone Peake touchdown pass to complete the game’s first drive.
24 CB Kalan Reed – One of the stars of the game for the Titans. Very active while seeing time both at corner and at safety, where the Titans are clearly hoping to diversify his portfolio. Credited by game statisticians with a team-high six tackles. The best was a dead sprint to WR Marcus Wilson, who caught a quick screen on the right and got knocked backwards by the speedster. Rushed on a third-quarter third-and-6 and got picked up by RB Marcus Murphy.
25 CB-PR Adoree’ Jackson – Fielded two punts. On the first he moved left and spun, managing 7 yards. Closed super fast on RB Romar Morris for a first-quarter tackle after a 4-yard gain. Gave up a 14-yard catch to Chris Harper on a good throw from Hackenberg that converted a third-and-4 late in the first quarter. Hit WR Jalin Marshall as he bobbled a second-quarter pass, ensuring he couldn’t gather it.
26 CB Logan Ryan – Not a great first showing. He played pretty tight coverage against a good route from Marshall that went for a 15-yard gain. Ryan was a victim on a 53-yard pass from McCown to Robby Anderson that set up New York’s opening drive touchdown.
28 RB Khalfani Muhammad – Worked behind not just Henry and David Fluellen, but also Akeem Judd. Had one carry for 3 yards and two catches for 11 more. Helped Tanney on a nice 15-yard scramble late as he threw a block on LB Spencer Paysinger.
29 RB DeMarco Murray – Did not play. He is expected to return to practice after a nearly two-week layoff on Monday.
30 CB Demontre Hurst – Did not play (groin).
31 FS Kevin Byard – Looked really good after an early, failed arm tackle. Dropped running back Elijah McGuire for a loss on couple early plays. Was with Ryan on the big pass completion but wasn’t the primary guy and got the receiver out of bounds. In short stint he had four tackles, two for a loss
32 RB David Fluellen – Did some nice work picking up blitzers, including on a play where Tanney was sacked by the back of his jersey by Jordan Jenkins, who reached around T Steven Moore to get there. Had another good block, on S Ronald Martin on the left edge, giving Tanney time to hit WR Taywan Taylor for 42 yards, the Titans long play of the game. Picked up S Doug Middleton on the left on the play where Tanney took a shot for WR Darius Jennings that was intercepted by S Ronald Martin.
33 CB Tye Smith – Tracked rookie WR ArDarius Stewart on a third-quarter pass, and Stewart effectively stiff-armed the good hitter, though Smith still guided the receiver out of bounds short of a first down. Later, Smith put a good lick on WR Marquess Wilson. Missed two chances to tackle return man Frankie Hammond on fourth-quarter punt returns.
35 DB Curtis Riley – Played as a second-team safety. Blitzed once. Was closing in on FB Anthony Firkser when he dropped a pass, perhaps because he heard footsteps.
36 CB LeShaun Sims – On a second-and-17 in the first quarter, Christian Hackenberg threw to Robby Anderson on the left. Sims closed on him, grabbed a leg and would not be shaken off. A 9-yard gain left the Jets in a third-and-long they couldn’t convert. Sims was later flagged for holding on a Jets punt.
37 SS Johnathan Cyprien – Blitzed a few times from the right side, and the plays wound up being runs away from him. Came off the goal line to try to close down FB Julian Howsare and in tandem with Sims may have prompted Howsare to drop it just before the Jets got their TD.
38d CB Manny Abad – The game book says he played. I couldn’t find him. It might have been on special teams. [Note: The league's official snap report showed he played one snap on defense.]
38o RB Akeem Judd – Played as the third running back after Henry and Fluellen and ahead of Khalfani Muhammad. Judd broke through a great alley for a 40-yard run. With two sides walled off he came up against safety Ronald Martin, leaned to his right and got the defender to do the same, then darted left away from Martin. He stiff-armed another defender while completing a great run. Finished with five carries for 53 yards. He also had a 4-yard catch.
39 CB Jeremy Boykins – Broke up a little flip pass for Wilson on a third-quarter third-and-2.
40 RB Brandon Ratcliff – The game book says he played. I couldn’t find him. Perhaps it was on special teams.
41 S Brynden Trawick – Was in position to make a big play on a Jets’ third-and-one near the end of the first half as he burst into the backfield. But a blocker shielded him just enough he couldn’t reach RB Morris, who managed a 2-yard gain to convert. Later dropped Hackenberg for an 11-yard sack.
42 S Denzel Johnson – Saw time as early as the third quarter. Hackenberg hit WR Marquess Wilson over Johnson on a first-and-10 play-action pass for a 14-yard gain.
44 OLB Josh Carraway – Missed a chance to tackle Hammond on a fourth-quarter punt return. Showed nice speed as he took down Morris in the backfield for a 1-yard loss a bit later.
45 FB Jalston Fowler – Did not take a good angle on a 38-yard kickoff return by the Hammond in the third quarter, diving for him unsuccessfully. [Sunday note: Fowler botched a blitz pickup on Alex Tanney's first snap, resulting in a brutal sack and hit that briefly forced the QB out of the game.]
46 FB Joe Bacci – Contributed to a great blocking effort that set Judd free for his 40-yard romp. Bacci combined with TE Jerome Cunningham and OL Dennis Kelly and Josue Matias on an excellent effort.
48 LS Beau Brinkley – Made a special teams tackle and got himself in the mix on a few other coverage plays.
50 LB Nate Palmer – Worked as a second-unit inside linebacker. Combined with CB Adoree Jackson and DL Mehdi Abdesmad on a stop of Morris after a 1-yard gain on a second-quarter second-and-7. Had a twice-tipped ball in his hands for a pick that he dropped. (See Austin Johnson notes.)
52 OLB Aaron Wallace – Showed off range and speed with a solid game. He was good in pursuit all night. Ranked second on the team with five tackles, per press-box statisticians, with two for a loss. Split one of the Titans’ two sacks with Mehdi Abdesmad. Shot a gap on a second-quarter second-and-10 to take down Morris for a 2-yard loss. He did good pass rush work in the third quarter on a play that allowed Brynden Trawick to get a sack.
53 LB Darren Bates – Put a big fourth-quarter hit on RB Morris after DE Cameron Robbins provided some help.
54 ILB Avery Williamson – On a play undone by a holding call against the Jets, he and Ryan both missed tackle chances on McGuire.
55 ILB Jayon Brown – Really showed up and played in space the way the Titans think he can. Made four tackles, one for a loss. Closed on Firkser and got the rookie fullback down after an 11-yard gain that was a first-down reception. His best play in response to a big Titans' team need was on a second quarter third-and-12 when Hackenberg threw right to TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Brown closed, wrapped him up and took him down 5 yards short of a first down, forcing a 55-yard field goal attempt that went wide left. Brown did similar work against RB Morris on a third-and-4, getting the Titans off the field by tackling him after a catch for no gain.
56 OLB Kourtnei Brown – Joined a pass rush including big numbers on a third-down third-and-6, and disappeared into a crowd as did the other rushers. Credited with one tackle.
57 LB Justin Staples – Combined with Reed to stuff RB Jordan Todman for a 1-yard loss on a third-quarter first-and-10. On the next play, when Hackenberg fumbled the snap, Staples recovered at the Titans 40-yard line.
58 OLB Erik Walden – Swallowed up Morris after a 2-yard gain on a second-and-6 in the first quarter for his lone tackle.
59 ILB Wesley Woodyard – On a Jets’ first-quarter first-and-16, Hackenberg passed short to the right to McGuire. Woodyard shed the block of guard Brian Winters and went to make a tackle for a 1-yard loss. It was his lone tackle.
60 C Ben Jones – Turned DL Steve McLendon to the right as Quentin Spain and Taylor Lewan did similar work on their men to spring a second-and-5 conversion run by Henry. Leonard Williams’ sack of Mariota came as he got between Jones and Spain.
61 C Mark Spelman – Called for a fourth-quarter hold that turned a first-and-5 into a first-and-15
62 G-C Corey Levin – Working in conjunction with Tim Lelito and Tyler Marz, he helped wall off the left side of a great ally for Judd’s big 40-yard run.
64 RG Josh Kline – Before the first-team line was done for the night, he played some center as Marz took over Kline’s right guard spot.
66 G-T Josue Matias – Made the best of several great blocks that set up Judd’s great 40-yard run. Matias pulled from the left to the right and took care of rookie LB Connor Harris. Seemed overpower by DL Claude Pelon on a fourth-quarter sack of Tanney, the Jets eighth and final QB takedown.
67 LG Quinton Spain – Williams' sack of Mariota came when the Jets lineman went inside Spain and found a lane, though it wasn’t entirely clear if he was Spain’s man to pick up.
68 G-C Tim Lelito – Working in conjunction with Levin and Tyler Marz, he helped wall off the left side of a great alley for Judd’s big 40-yard run. DL Anthony Johnson got inside him in the fourth quarter and delivered another hit on Tanney as he threw incomplete.
69o T Tyler Marz – Was first second-teamer in, playing right guard with the first line when Josh Kline slid to center and Ben Jones came out. Working with Levin and Lelito, he helped wall off the left side of a great lane for Judd’s big 40-yard run. Got beat quickly on a third-and-9 in the fourth quarter but Tanney felt it and took off for a running first down.
69d DE Jimmy Staten – Got third-quarter snaps when the Titans brought in a fresh wave of rushers during a series. Made a tackle.
70d NT DeAngelo Brown – Got third-quarter snaps when the Titans brought in a fresh wave of rushers during a series.
70o T Steven Moore –Tanney was sacked by the back of his jersey in the third quarter by Jordan Jenkins, who reached around Moore to get there. LB Josh Martin used a nice combination of power and speed to get outside Moore for a 9-yard sack of Tanney.
71 T Dennis Kelly – Got snaps at tackle as well as at tight end to help out. Flagged for holding in the third quarter, putting the Titans in a first-and-20. With TE Jerome Cunningham, OL Josue Matias and FB Joe Bacci, Kelly helped block up the right side for Judd’s big 40-yard run. DL Johnson got around Kelly to strip Tanney for a fumble the Jets recovered in the fourth quarter.
73 T Brad Seaton – Saw some action at right tackle late in the game.
75 NT Antwaun Woods – Mike Mularkey has raved about his work in camp, and rewarded him with the start. He played the first series, with Sylvester Williams only entering after that.
76o T Jonah Pirsig – Did not play.
76d DE Cameron Robbins – The most active of the late-game defensive linemen. Credited with two tackles and stood out with high-motor and good production in his chances.
77 LT Taylor Lewan – On a third-and-22 during the Titans first series, Mariota ran for 6 yards. Lewan handled outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins on the play, standing him up and smartly sensing as Mariota was starting to head toward the left side that letting Jenkins lean inside and peek that way would benefit things. By the time Jenkins moved to go back outside, the QB was gone. Jenkins could have been called for illegal hands to the face. He wasn’t, but Lewan didn’t react to it. Later, ILB Bruce Carter chased Tanney who decided it best to get down. Carter went into the backfield between Spain, who was occupied, and Lewan, who was looking left toward no real danger.
78 RT Jack Conklin – On a pitch play to Henry heading right, Conklin pulled around the tight end, got up a head of steam and mauled linebacker Corey Lemonier as the lead blocker.
79 G Jake Simonich – The game book says he played. It could have been on special teams. I was up late looking for him on offense. I didn’t see him. [Note: When the snap report came out in the morning, it showed he played one special teams snap.]
80 WR KeVonn Mabon – Targeted once on a pass Tanney sailed over his head on the right sideline.
81 TE Jonnu Smith – He was probably open on the right side when Tanney converted the Titans' first, first down with a throw to Harry Douglas. Smith was not targeted and it was Phillip Supernaw who worked with the first team as the second tight end. Smith made a good block on the same play referenced in the Jack Conklin entry.
82 TE Delanie Walker – He was animated after the Titans drew a delay of game call that turned a third-and-16 into a third-and-21 that seemed to result from Taylor’s motion before the snap.
83 WR Harry Douglas – Keyed a second-quarter series with a 19-yard reception on third-and-11 and a 16-yard catch on the ensuing first down. Later converted a third-and-2 with a 14-yard reception. A nice showing for a veteran competing to preserve a roster spot.
84 WR Corey Davis – Did not play (hamstring).
85 TE Tim Semisch – With 3:46 left in the game, he lined up on the line on the right and ran a route.
86 TE Jerome Cunningham – With OL Dennis Kelly and Josue Matias and FB Joe Bacci, Cunningham helped seal off the right side and create a big hole for Judd’s big 40-yard run.
87 WR Eric Decker – Called for offensive pass interference on a first-quarter third-and-3 when Mariota hit Walker for a 10-yard gain. Decker created some traffic and was called for effectively setting a pick that blocked a defensive back in pursuit. Decker was not targeted.
88 TE Jace Amaro – Missed a chance at a fourth-quarter punt return tackle. Made one 2-yard catch.
89 TE Phillip Supernaw – He rolled right with Mariota on the first play, realized he wasn’t going to be the option with Rishard Matthews behind him and effectively ensured ILB Demario Davis couldn’t pursue Mariota.
90 DE DaQuan Jones – He lined up over the center as the nose tackle on Jurrell Casey’s first-series sack.
91 OLB Derrick Morgan – From the defensive left on a Jets’ first-quarter third-and-8, Morgan beat right tackle Brent Qvale and collapsed the pocket in a hurry. Hackenberg felt it coming and took off the other direction, but managed just a 1-yard gain before running out of bounds.
92 DE Mehdi Abdesmad – Had an early chance to tackle RB Todman in the middle of the fourth quarter but missed, leaving CB Reed to clean up. Two plays later he split a hard-earned sack with Wallace and was fired up about it as it got the defense off the field.
93 OLB Kevin Dodd – Played into the third quarter. Chased guys on short pass plays to the outside a few times and moved well. One of them was on rookie TE Jordan Leggett, who Dodd tackled after an 8-yard gain, 2-yards short of a first down.
94 DL Austin Johnson – Batted a third-down pass in the second quarter that Jets guard Dakota Dozier got his hands on but ultimately should have been picked off by Palmer, who dropped it.
95 DL Angelo Blackson – Made a nice tackle of RB Jordan Todman in the third quarter after a 3-yard gain on a second-and-21.
96 NT Sylvester Williams – Didn’t play until the second series, as Antwaun Woods was rewarded for his great camp effort so far with the start.
97 DL Karl Klug – Did not play (ankle). Expected back in action on Monday.
98 OLB Brian Orakpo – After the penalty for unnecessary roughness that accompanied Jurrell Casey’s early sack, Orakpo rushed from the right. But Seferian-Jenkins steered him right while the ball came out quick on a three-step drop, aimed to the other side.
99 DL Jurrell Casey – Out of the game after the first defensive series. He sacked Josh McCown on third down and the Titans should have been off the field after just three plays. But Casey was unreasonably flagged for unnecessary roughness.
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