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The Jets Front Seven didn’t have one of their better games against the run. They were facing a patchwork offensive line, and Rashad Mendenhall ran for 100 yards. Let’s take a closer look.
I thought the Jets go pushed around a little too bit against the run. An example was on the second drive, when RB Isaac Redman gain seven yards on a play where Bryan Thomas was pancaked by right tackle Flozell Adams.
On Rashad Mendenhall’s 21-yard run off right tackle, Jason Taylor was pancaked, clearly a nice gap on the right side.
On Mendenhall’s two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, DT Marcus Dixon, making his Jets debut, was dominated by LG Chris Kemoeatu. He was playing because Trevor Pryce was out with a hip injury. I personally think Matt Kroul would have been the better candidate for backup nose tackle. This is a tough game to make your debut on the goalline.
The Jets backup defensive line was part of the problem against the run in this game. On the last play of the first quarter, Mendenhall ran for nine yards off right tackle. The key block on this play was WR Hines Ward on Vernon Gholston. I understand that Ward is a very good blocking receiver, but he’s 50 pounds lighter than Gholston, and shouldn’t be able dominate a defensive end to this degree.
Sione Pouha had three tackles, and I think we saw for ourselves how good Pittsburgh’s rookie center Markice Pouncey really is. Pouha is having a terrific season, and the UF product might have won this battle.
One nice drive for the defensive line was late in the third quarter. On second down, Pouha stopped Mendenhall after just a gain of one. Then on the next play, Shaun Ellis had a pressure on Ben Roethlisberger causing an incompletion to WR Antonio Brown.
Let’s look a little more at the linebackers now.
Bart Scott ended the first drive by stopping RB Mewelde Moore for no gain on a pass. Thomas helped rush this throw by getting close to Big Ben. On the first play of an early fourth quarter drive, Mendenhall got by Scott and Ellis on the right side for a gain of 11.
The Steeler starting tight end Heath Miller was out with a concussion, so Matt Spaeth (rhymes with faith) got the start. And just like in the Houston game when Owen Daniels was out, a backup tight end was able to make some hay against the Jets.
Spaeth was wide open on the Steelers first offensive play, but Roethlisberger was off-target.
Spaeth caught a nine-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. David Harris’ coverage on this play wasn’t terrible, but the 6-7 Spaeth is built like a basketball forward, and he basically boxed out the 6-2 Harris for the ball, right on the goal line.
On the second play of a late first half possession, Spaeth beat Scott over the middle for a gain of 13.
Early in the second quarter, Thomas beat LT Jon Scott for a sack.
Taylor was called for being off-sides late in the first half. Taylor made a great play late in the fourth quarter, tackling Moore in the end zone for a safety. He showed his veteran saavy on this play. He moved from outside linebacker to three technique tackle right before the snap, and when Kemoeatu pulled to the right, Taylor scooted into the gap created, and tackled Moore in the end zone.
Josh Mauga was again a force on kick and punt returns. He stopped Brown in his tracks on his first punt return, and leveled the same player on a late first half kickoff return.