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Aside from the 20-yard touchdown run by L.T., the Jets really didn’t run the ball that well. Here is Dan’s breakdown of the offensive trenches in Denver . . .
Things got off to a bad start on the first running play, Ben Hartsock did a poor job of sustaining his block, and LB Mario Haggans got by him to stop LaDaianian Tomlinson for a loss of one on a right side run.
The Jets third possession ended with a pick by LB Jason Hunter. One factor that contributed to the rushed, poor throw by Mark Sanchez was NT Jamal Williams getting by Nick Mangold and into the quarterback’s face.
D’Brickashaw Ferguson did some good things. On the first play of the Jets second possession, he locked up DE Kevin Vickerson, and L.T. ran behind him for a gain of five. On the Jets fourth possession, it was his block on DE Ryan McBean, that cleared the way for a Tomlinson gain of six on the left side.
The best offensive line play of the whole game was probably Brick’s pancake of Vickerson on Tomlinson’s 20-yard touchdown run off left tackle. Another key block on this play, in the middle of the run, was by John Connor on S Renaldo Hill. Brick’s only bad play on note was when LB Mario Haggan got by him to stop L.T. for a loss of one on the Jets last possession of the game.
Late in the first quarter, the Jets attempted a sweep to the left side, and L.T. lost a yard on the play. Here is what happened – CB Champ Bailey pushed Tony Richardson back into Tomlinson rushing lane and the tailback tripped over the T-Rich’s legs. On the last play of the first quarter, T-Rich missed a block on Hunter, and the linebacker stopped L.T. for no gain up the middle. T-Rich had the key block, on DT Justin Bannan, on a Brad Smith seven-yard QB keeper to the left side in the third quarter.
On the first play of the Jets first possession of the second half, Brandon Moore had an outstanding block on DT Marcus Thomas, and Shonn Greene ran behind him for eight yards up the middle. Another nice block by Moore was on a gain of five by Greene late in the first half. Damien Woody also contributed a great deal on this play. This was on the first play of the Jets last possession of the first half.
Early in the fourth quarter, Matt Slauson led the way on a Greene gain of eight on the right side. This was the play that Greene’s helmet came off, but he kept on running. It looked like Slauson had a great block on the L.T. touchdown run late, but it’s possible that Denver let up on that play to get the ball back.
On Dustin Keller’s pass interference call in the second quarter, there was another issue on this play. Greene did a poor job of blitz pickup on Haggan, who got into the face of Mark Sanchez and the quarterback rushed his throw.
Neither sack was the fault of the offensive line. One was a coverage sack by LB D.J. Williams and the other was a failed bootleg (nobody bit) and Sanchez rolled right into the arms of DT Marcus Thomas.