1. They are very stout at the run - a 'conventional run' that is. 2. Our 2 OLBs are converted DEs. In other words, the 3-4 Jets is running is very close to indeed 5-2 with 2 mobile DEs and 3 DTs. 3. This poses a problem - an offense with multiple quick WRs (I didn't say fast - I said quick; they are different) will expose them - Matt Cassel did last week. True, not many teams come with 4 capable receiving options like Patriots do, but one of the playoff-bound team has such a potential - and that is Indianapolis Colts. 4. Remember what I said in #1? If any team tries to set up the run in the conventional way, chances are that they will get buried deep in a nick of a second. Now, what would happen if the opposing offense sets up the short, quick pass to set up the run? I still don't think this D has an answer for that. Our OLBs are slow, and it's a tall task to ask them to cover athletic TEs and RBs. If they have to cover slot receiver, expect the LBs to blow coverage. After setting up the pass like that, the offense calls the draw on a multiple WR set. Can we defend that? 5. I am bringing this out, because I see a real danger from the multiple WR set . Be it Pats or Colts - it will be a hard match up for this Defense. What's ironic is that, Colts match up really well on Pats - they emphasize on the speed, even at times at the cost of the size. This neutralizes the advantages multiple WR set brings. 6. I don't know how deep we will go in the post season, if we do get there. No matter what happens, what we need to get on the next draft is very clear: backup NT, and a slew of LBs, and maybe WR. QB... now that I think of it, maybe we don't need to draft a QB. Hell, Matt Cassel is playing like Tom Brady these days. If OL, running game and WRs provide enough of a cushion, any QB can learn to be effective.
Good post, and I agree with everything you've said. The key to the Jets succeeding is not having our linebackers out in man coverage. I understand that you'll need to drop them into zones since you're not going to rush the whole front 7 on every play... but there should be 5 coming constantly, 6 a lot as well... For the LBs that are in coverage, it should be zone... if a TE gets away from the zone, have a safety pick them up. Our LBs simply can't cover anyone man to man.
These are the problems of most 3-4 defenses. One thing that really helps this is that when our offense drives, it makes it a road trip. Our offense eats clock, which keeps our D fresh. This helps try to maximize player performance...which in turn allows mistakes like this to not bite us in the ass. If our offense gets stopped, our D can get picked apart. We've seen that even in the big wins. Even today the only times they really did anything offensively are when their D managed to stop our offense. Why? Because a big key to all this is to keep the front 3 guys fresh. That means they'll play with more energy, meaning they generate pressure more often. This allows alot more guys to drop back in coverage, forcing the teams to be perfect in the passing game. We don't give up the big passing play...another key to making them complete short passes...quickly...to do much. We've just got play like we've been playing basically...all 3 phases have to keep playing like they've been playing to make us official. Then our weaknesses hopefully can be upgraded before they can get picked apart. That Law signing is going to be ridiculously huge IMO. Despite his asshole persona, this guy knows football and is willing to cooperate and even teach. Hopefully it helps with our secondary.
There is one way to hurt "spread" offense teams. Blitz the QB and play bump and run coverage. I was rooting for San Diego this evening hoping Indy does not make the playoffs for the reason the OP states.
Honestly the Colts have been playing extremely well the last month but they aren't killing teams like they have in the past. The good news for us is that they still have to go to Tennessee and the Steelers and Ravens still need to play. Us being the #2 seed behind the Titans isn't a bad thing but I don't want to see the Colts or Pats in that 1st playoff game although I feel a whole lot better with the Colts coming to Jersey than the Pats.
im going to be rooting for the colts to lose from here on out. don't want them to make it in as a wildcard
