Content available exclusively for subscribers
While their defense is much better . . .
than last year, the Jets still have some work to do on their run defense.
It hasn’t been that good recently.
Even in the win against Chicago, David Montgomery ran 14 times for 79 yards.
And then against Minnesota, the Vikings ran 29 times for 128 yards.
When there are issues, they usually aren’t on the second or third level, but in the trenches at the point of attack.
You know that old expression – “You live by the sword, you die by the sword?”
Well that kind of applies to the Jets defensive line.
In this scheme, they look for smaller, quicker defensive tackles, than a 3-4 set, so the DTs can get up field fast and create havoc.
That has worked a lot this year. For instance, Quinnen Williams has nine sacks this year in just 12 games, a great total for an interior pass rusher.
However, if the uniquely talented Williams doesn’t beat a guard or center into a gap off the snap, sometimes, he’s locked up, and because he’s undersized, it’s a challenge to shed the block, from an interior lineman who might outweigh him by 30-40 pounds.
Like late in the third quarter of the Bears game, when guard Cody Whitehair pancaked Williams on a 14-yard gain by Montgomery up the middle.
In the first quarter of the Jets-Minnesota game, on a Dalvin Cook 21-yard run up the middle, center Garrett Bradbury locked up Quinnen Williams to open the initial hole.
Look, I’m not looking to attack a Pro Bowl level player, just pointing out the Jets’ approach, going smaller and quicker, especially at DT, can cut both ways.
So much was made this week, and rightfully so, at how much the Jets struggled offensively in the red zone at Minnesota, having to settle for a lot of field goals.
Well a big part of red zone success is being able to run the football down there, because it’s harder to pass in that area with the field being so condensed and cover guys having less area to defend.
Well, the Vikings were very good in the red zone in this game. Why? They ran the ball well down there, with four- and 14-yard TD runs in the second quarter.
So the Jets’ running game was poor in the red zone in Minnesota, and the Vikings thrived, and that was probably a factor in the outcome of the game.
And on those two TD runs, the Jets’ run defensive line got pushed around.
On Dalvin Cook’s four-yard TD run, you could argue the Jets’ defensive line configuration was a little misguided. The two ends were rookies Jermaine Johnson and Michael Clemons. Nothing against those players who have done some good things at times this year, but perhaps you shouldn’t play them both at the same time, especially on the four-yard line. It probably would be better to match each youngster with a veteran at end, not go with two rookies together. Neither did a great job on the play.
On both TD runs, DT Nathan Shepherd did a poor job shedding blocks. On the four-yard TD, he was taken out by center Garrett Bradbury, and on the 14-yard TD by Alexander Mattison, guard Ezra Cleveland locked up Shepherd. Also on the Mattison run, Williams was taken out by Bradbury. Both Shepherd and Williams being handled up the middle opened up a gaping hole for Mattison to run through.
So yes, the Jets’ defense is better this year, especially their pass rush and secondary play, but the run defense on their line is hit-or-miss.
And if you can’t run in the red zone, and you can’t stop the run in the red zone, it’s tough to win that way.
December 8, 2022
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Friday.
