Clock Management Woes Put Aaron Glenn and the Jets Under Pressure After Loss to Dolphins

The pressure on New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn is growing, and his handling of the clock is a major reason why. A 28-25 loss to the previously winless Miami Dolphins dropped the Jets to 2-5 and added another low point to a difficult stretch.

The game had several problems, including early defensive struggles against an offense considered one of the league's worst and poor play-calling at the goal line with a chance to tie. But the most persistent issue in Glenn's 24-game tenure has been his management of time and timeouts in two-minute situations. Over the last two seasons, the Jets have been outscored 107-6 in the final two minutes of the first half.

Glenn said the team practices two-minute drills throughout the week. "So it's not like we're not trying to get that done," he said, adding that the team must improve its execution and that he must improve how the coaching staff manufactures those situations. He acknowledged the frustration felt by fans, players and coaches alike.

The sequence that drew the most criticism came in the second quarter. With Miami leading 14-7, the Dolphins took over at their own 9-yard line with 8:44 left and put together a 15-play, 91-yard drive that lasted 8:38 and ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Malik Willis. Glenn still had all three timeouts. Geno Smith took a knee with 6 seconds left in the half, and Jets fans booed loudly as the team left the field.

Glenn said he held back his timeouts because he expected the defense to get a stop and return the ball to the offense. He later said he should have used them. On Monday he explained that the concern was Miami could negate the timeouts by earning first downs and then run out the clock, which is what happened.

There were bright spots. Rookie first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. caught five passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, becoming the third player in NFL history with at least five receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in two of his first three career games, joining Don Looney (1940) and Bobby Johnson (1984). Tight end Mason Taylor had a season-high five catches for 62 yards and his first two-touchdown game, including a toe-tapping 2-point conversion catch that made it a three-point game.

Other issues remain. Star receiver Garrett Wilson did not get his first official target until the third quarter and finished with two catches for 26 yards on three targets. He showed frustration in a sideline outburst that Glenn called "overblown." Offensive coordinator Frank Reich also drew questions for his calls on first-and-goal from the 1 in the fourth quarter with the Jets trailing 21-14. Andrew Beck, who had no carries this season, lost a yard, Braelon Allen lost another, and Smith was sacked for a 12-yard loss, forcing a field goal.

Injuries and roster moves added to the concerns. Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat left with a knee injury, while running back Breece Hall and left guard Dylan Parham have each missed four straight games. Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. was a surprise healthy inactive, and Glenn would only say the matter would stay in-house.

Glenn's record as Jets coach is 5-19, including 0-8 against AFC East opponents. His seat is warming, and the situation could grow more tense Sunday at home against Las Vegas, which has lost four straight. Glenn said he knows "it's going to get noisy," but that the team is focused on "who we have in this building" and on improving.