You raise a good point, if we tank, we're not improving the existing roster. I am already kinda mad that McCown is starting and Petty is getting nothing. Because we need to improve the core, if we add a few pieces through the draft, they can't play with a rotten core. We have to remember we can't have our cake and eat it to, we can't spend the season tanking and expect improvement from core players. On the other hand, we certainly need additional pieces so draft picks are very important. I think it's complicated to get the best outcome. I'm inclined to believe that even with a high level of effort and moderate improvement we won't win more than 5 games. That would be the best outcome imo, players actively trying their best, but still not getting 6-8 wins. That way we get new blood and a core that's had an honest season's work so we can charge right out of the gate next season.
They were running a 3-3-5 all game. Which is a popular base set in the college game. Brooks played great. Jamal Adams was the best player on the field but Brooks was a close second for most of the game. Another move Bowles did that was smart was replacing Juston Burris at corner with Darryl Roberts.Yeah, they liked Burris in camp and have high hopes and all that. That's nice. but he was a liability out there in weeks 1 & 2. Roberts was much better
Looked like a lot of 34 base with McClendon on the nose flanked by Mo and Leo. Several times DL was able to penetrate into the backfield tho, so they may have been shooting gaps? Ealy made some plays as well from the edge but am not sure whether his hand was in the ground or not
Base was nickel. Claiborne and Skrine been getting the bulk of time as the top corners the first two games. Burris time was limited as he was "demoted" to ST role. Roberts benefitted from this move as he played the 2nd most snaps out of the corners. (Skrine was tops). Brooks played almost half the snaps as the 3rd safety, behind Maye who played all snaps and Adams had 86% of snaps. Mo's shoulder limited him to around 60% of snaps. The Jets basically used a 3-3-5 Nickel defense yesterday. Big Cat and Ealy played the most of the DL with Mo in 3rd. McClendon didn't get much PT so they did use a bit of 2-"4"-5 (and that 4 is because the Jets did use a mix of 2 LB's rushing in Bass/Donahue/Jenkins as the OLB mostly rushing the passer...Martin got hurt so his PT was limited). Lee basically played the same amount of snaps in the middle but did split out as a LB that covered the flats in zone a few times as well. Bass came in and did great as a pass rusher in limited time so I expect his role to increase as he becomes more familiar here. Donahue was pretty solid so I expect he will be in a rotation with Martin, Bass as rush type "specialists"
Time will tell about the 6-8 wins. We shall see. And players certainly fail to "actively try their best" for various self-centered reasons. BUT... in the history of sport, no athlete has ever failed to give full effort solely because the team he plays for might somehow benefit in the future from his slacking off. No athlete has ever said, "If I take it easy today, my team may be better off in three years. So let me just chill." Never happened even once. So you don't have to worry about that part.
McClendon only played 12 snaps so they played some 2-4-5...and I say two because depending on your definition of what Ealy is, who is a LB who can put hand in the ground...he can be a 3-3-5 lol....it's mostly irrelevant because the Jets mostly rushed 4 at times with Big Cat and Wilk playing more as 4-3 DT's most of the game. Ealy got time as a pass rusher off the edge, Donahue did, Jenkins and Bass did as well.
Yeah, good point. ''The tape never lies'', it's not good for their careers to provide people with a full season's worth of crap tape. That's another reason why tanking is improbable to happen.
Thanks! Was this unusual for the Jets, or have they played these sets regularly and just now are finally getting the hang of it?
Well against the Raiders, it seems as if the Jets were still running more 3-4 personnel. Pennel was operating as the 3-4 NT and split time with McClendon. Now that may have been due to Lynch but the Raiders do like to spread it out a lot too. A big difference may have been benching Burris and giving his snaps to Brooks in essence. Burris played half the snaps (34) against the Raiders and performed badly on Crabtree, against the Dolphins, the Jets decided to not only give Roberts the bulk of snaps at corner, they also gave Brooks half snaps as a 3rd safety in their nickel set. So more times then not, it was Roberts, Skrine, Claiborne, Adams, and Maye with Brooks coming in as the 3rd safety. Adams and Maye are more than capable of playing in the box as a "LB" of sorts and they were effective. The Jets seemingly got rid of their 3-4 type personnel as well. McClendon snaps decline a bit again and the Jets decided to put an extra rush LB on the field. The "front" line was basically Mo, Big Cat, Ealy, Lee, and Davis. The bigs up front split the snaps between the two "DT" spots and instead the Jets used Bass, Donahue, Martin, Jenkins as pass rush or as the outside LB's. The times they brought 4 guys, it was a mix of the 3 primary linemen, and any 1-2 of the OLB's...Bass was effective, I thought Donahue was solid. Jenkins is usually more of a "Calvin Pace" type edge setting LB and Martin is still splitting his PT as ST ace and part time OLB. Demario was EXCELLENT, knifing through the Fins offensive line and stopping runs before they started. He was everywhere. Even Lee was a bit more effective out there but even they moved him around at times to cover the flats as an "OLB". It worked so we may see more of the same against the Jags I'm sure...
Again, thanks for the breakdown! This seems more like what was advertised about Bowles when he came here: really good at mixing things up and going with hybrid formations. Has he done this before with the Jets? Do you think it worked mainly because Miami sucks? In any case, it seems much more effective than a 3-4 and I hope they can continue developing it.
Per PFF, showing how Adams is playing all over the field: With Adams' ability to play, and make plays, from virtually all over the field, the Jets are using ... all over the field. In Sunday's 20-6 victory over the Dolphins , according to PFF, Adams spent 21 snaps at linebacker, 17 as an edge defender, 16 at safety, and three as a cornerback It gives the Jets some funky looks but still be every effective and fast....This maybe the fastest Jet defense ever.
Jets/Dolphins notation of hell just because. TED GINN, JR. My friend, almost a more rabid fan than me, I took him to the game and he looks at me and goes, "Ted Ginn, Jr. Pfffft." By the end of the game, I was trying to find a way to eat my own face, but the logistics, it just didn't work out.
All good stuff Mo. Nowadays it's really not important pigeon holing players into specific positions in specific schemes like back in the day, like fans like to do. It's really about how good players are more than anything, how versatile they are, and everybody playing together. It will be interesting to see who emerges as the best field general and leader. But Adams and Maye are already vying. Lee still looks a little confused at times, I'd like to see him more aware of things and am hoping he can catch on like Adams and Maye
Adams looks like everything they wanted Darron Lee to be. Versatility and the ability to play in the box one play and line up on the slot receiver the next play. He had damn good coverage on Julius Thomas last week. This will be a good test for him in the box against a good running team. I can't imagine we get away with the 3-3-5 type of look against Fournette. Although Miami seems like they have a better line on paper, they weren't interested in playing last week. The Jags strike me as a team that Marrone will have jacked up and ready to ball every week. They also have good veteran leadership on that defense so that helps. Cutler sucks that mentality right out of a team.
Will be a good test, and interesting to see how TB plans against them, and Fournette. I don't necessarily think Bowles will use the same approach. I hope Wilk is better, and we get a good showing tomorrow. Roberts played well too. Maybe some other newer guy can make some plays..like a LB...
Yeah, it's unrealistic to expect that players are going to participate in a tank. The lifespan of an average NFL career is too short for players to willingly throw a season. Not to mention the injury risk for a guy half-assing it against a guy going 100%. I mean, look at how often Mo has been injured recently *rimshot* I think the idea behind tanking a season is that the GM puts such a crap roster together that a horrific season is pretty much unavoidable. That's the message that we sent when we cut the veterans we did over the off-season. As it turns out, pretty much none of then are producing currently so maybe they deserved to get the axe. As the season progresses I've become more interested in seeing the young guys who actually are on the roster perform well, in favor of watching them all flame out on the promise of a QB savior rescuing us next year. We need to find an answer at QB, but you'd like to see evidence that the rest of the team is coming together as well.
