Once-Mighty Jets Have Fallen to Injuries : Misery Has Company as New York’s Defense Is Brought to Its Knees

The New York Jets had a nice little season going until a rash of injuries turned a once-proud defensive line into mush.

There’s some talk now of the Jets not winning another game this season.

That’s serious stuff for a team that’s 10-2 and still leading the AFC East. But the Jets are reeling. Really.

Apparently, more than a few people witnessed last Monday night’s 45-3 loss to Miami, a game in which Dolphin running back Lorenzo Hampton, of all people, rushed for 148 yards against the NFL’s best defense against the run. Well, it used to be the best.

Ah, but did you take a close look at the Jets’ defensive line? Did you notice that run busters Joe Klecko, Mark Gastineau and Marty Lyons had been replaced by three guys named Ben, Tom, and Barry?

No, these aren’t the same Jets that once graced the playing fields of New Jersey.

Out of today’s game against the Rams are:

--Defensive end, Gastineau. Injury: knee. The flamboyant one has just two sacks this season and the Jets will be lucky to get him back for the playoffs.

--Defensive end, Lyons. Injury: shoulder. The steady veteran can’t raise his right arm to shield his eyes from all the trouble. The Rams will see Lyons today on the sidelines--in a sling. He may be back by the end of the regular season.

--Nose tackle, Klecko. Injury: knee. The great All-Pro will be in uniform today but is very doubtful. Could play in a goal-line stand, perhaps.

--Inside linebacker, Lance Mehl. Injury: knee. He called the Jets’ defensive signals and made the Pro Bowl for the first time last year. But he’s out for the season.

“It’s not so much the injuries,” Jet Coach Joe Walton said. “It’s the injuries to one position. Usually, you can replace one offensive lineman or one linebacker or one defensive back. But when you start losing three and four guys at one position, it becomes difficult.”

For the Jets, it has become difficult.

The Jet defensive line was one of the best. The big names there have been replaced by some not-ready-for-prime-time-players.

If you’re a Ram offensive lineman, the thought of facing Ben Rudolph, Tom Baldwin and Barry Bennett is a lot more appealing than the line of Gastineau, Klecko and Lyons.

Also, there are developing trends.

Hampton, he of the lowly Miami running game, became the first back to run for more than 100 yards against the Jets this season. In fact, no one else had come close. Craig James of the New England Patriots was next with 63 yards.

Do the Rams know how to work a schedule or what?

“We just assume we’re going to see them at their very best,” Ram Coach John Robinson said.

Coaches, of course, are bound to certain material.

In truth, this is not a bad way to introduce rookie quarterback Jim Everett to his first road opponent.

It’s also not a bad way or day to throw Eric Dickerson at a defense.

The Jets now seem vulnerable at every defensive position. They already are the NFL’s worst team against the pass. Miami quarterback Dan Marino completed 29 of 36 passes for 288 yards and 4 touchdowns last Monday night.

You can understand why some in New York are concerned.

Then again, some coaches aren’t easily moved.

“They had a lousy game,” Robinson said. “They’re much better than that. We’ve all had them. Philadelphia (a 34-20 loss), I thought was ours.”

Still, it appears that the injuries on the Jet defense might have affected the team’s powerful offense.

New York, for instance, scored 51 points against the Dolphins in their first meeting. Monday night, the Jets could only manage a field goal against the same, porous Dolphin defense.

Al Toon, the Jets’ sensational wide receiver, said now is not the time to blame the defense.

“We’ve brought some of the problems on ourselves,” he said. “You can’t blame the other side of the ball for a loss.”

Nonetheless, this could be the break that the Rams need. Robinson figures his team will have to win three of its last four games and finish 11-5 to win the NFC West.

After today’s game, the Rams close the season with Dallas, Miami and San Francisco.

The 49ers, who trail the Rams by a half-game, finish with the New York Giants, the Jets, New England and the Rams.

Ram Notes

Ram fullback Barry Redden missed practice all week with the flu. He is expected to start. If Redden can’t finish, he’ll be replaced by either Charles White or Tim Tyrrell. . . . Jet quarterback Ken O’Brien leads the NFL with a rating of 104.8 . . . New York’s loss to Miami last Monday night snapped its nine-game winning streak, the longest in the NFL this season. . . . Ram running back Eric Dickerson leads the NFL in rushing with 1,416 yards. He had 1,452 yards after 12 games in 1984, the season he broke the NFL single-season record with 2,105 yards. Dickerson has had eight 100-yard rushing games this season. The Rams are 7-1 in games that Dickerson has rushed for 100 yards or more . . . Dickerson also leads all Ram receivers with 23 catches for 191 yards.