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The Jets work in the trenches was good, for the most part. Let’s take a closer look . . .
Mark Sanchez’s first pass was an incompletion to LaDainian Tomlinson. One reason for the unsuccessful pass was a QB pressure by DE Brian Schaefering, who got by D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
But after that, Brick settled down, and had a pretty good game. Here are some examples –
Right around the two minute warning in the first half, Shonn Greene ran behind Brick for a gain of nine on the left side. Ferguson locked up DE Derreck Robinson, opening up the hole for Green. Late in the third quarter, Brad Smith ran behind Ferguson off left tackle for a gain of 16. In the middle of the overtime session, Brick paved the way for a Greene gain of six off left tackle.
The Jets second possession of the game ended when Sanchez threw a pass to Keller for no gain. One reason this play was fell apart was Brick was late coming over to a blitzing David Bowens who pressured the quarterback into a bad throw.
LT’s first run went for nine yards behind Brandon Moore on the right side who neutralized linebacker Scott Fujita, opening a big hole.
Nick Mangold had a solid game. Early in the second quarter, Mangold had a tremendous block on NT Ahtyba Rubin, and Green ran behind him for a gain of seven. Early second, Mangold had another great block on Rubin on a gain of seven by Green up middle. On Sanchez’s touchdown run at the end of the second quarter up the middle, Mangold had a great block on Rubin.
Matt Slauson played well before having to leave the game in the second half when his injured knee lost it’s flexibility. He was replaced by Rob Turner. On the Jets first drive of the second half, Slauson had nice blocks on a pair of six yard gains up the middle, one by L.T. and the other by Greene. He also had a false start on that drive.
LB Chris Gocong beat Damien Woody for a QB pressure in the middle of the fourth quarter.
Sanchez was sacked by LB Marcus Bernard in the fourth quarter. There were several blitzers on this page, and the pocket fell apart due to the chaos. But kudos to L.T. He picked up a blitzing defender who was coming so hard at Sanchez, he was about to level the QB, and LT, at the last minute, chipped the defender, possibly preventing an injury.
Braylon Edwards held S Mike Adams bringing back a 25-yard run by Brad Smith in the fourth quarter.
Keller had a false start in overtime.
On a Greene run on the left side for nine yards in overtime, the runner keyed the run by missing Bowens miss in the left flat early in the run.
Sanchez helped his blockers on several occasions with his nifty footwork that helped him avoid the pass rush and by time. He also didn’t take advantage of airtight protection on several plays by not finding any receivers.