Put The Cookbook Away And Study The Sport More

Put The Cookbook Away And Study The Sport More

- Todd Bowles

After New England’s recent loss to Miami, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked if the Patriots were looking past the Dolphins with Pittsburgh on the schedule next.

“Give me a break,” Belichick replied. “Any questions about the game or not?” He was right to shoot down this nonsense. Football is a very complicated sport with so much going on in a given game. The media often wants simple answers to complicated questions.

For example, earlier in the season, Jets players and coaches were asked why they couldn’t close out games.

How do you answer a question like that? Every close loss is for different reasons.

Former Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was once asked why he throws so many interceptions, and he replied, “Every interception has a different story.”

Well, every loss has a different story. To ask players or coaches why they can’t close out close games is looking for a cookbook answer to a complicated question.

For instance, why did the Jets lose a close game to Carolina? Here are a few reasons:

• Josh McCown’s fumble was returned for a touchdown by linebacker Luke Kuechly in the fourth quarter.

• Austin Seferian-Jenkins dropped a touchdown in the first quarter.

• On third-and-11 right before the two minute warning, Cam Newton threw an incompletion, but defensive tackle Mike Pennell was called for roughing the passer.