Hardly anyone would disagree that the Jets have a very talented play-making defense... yet, they have given up huge games week in and week out. Why is this exciting? The reason we continue to give away yards is because the defensive scheme has been to run a closed prevent-defense, where 3-4 guys rush at any given time and the rest of the players drop into coverage. This can be corrected by taking a more aggressive approach to attacking offenses, and I believe they will as it gets colder. The pro to running the defense as they do now is that, barring a blown coverage, we prevent the home run strike with the defense. The con to the current defense is that we give away yardage, specifically in the passing game, like we have plenty to spare. The pro to running a more aggressive defense is that we would force teams to make faster decisions, pressure them into doing something, and overall increase the chances of making mistakes which we can capitalize on. The con would be that it opens up the chance of a home run strike more... but you know what, I don't think that chance is as great as Calvin Pace getting burned by the tight end every 3rd and 12 for 1st down yardage. As the winter gets colder, teams are going to focus on running more. The defense is going to need to compensate by keeping more guys up and sending more players in more often. We've already seen that when our guys go in there, they make plays. Things happen... good things for the Jets. Sure, every once in a while our defense will get scorched on a blitz, but the amount of good things that happens far outweigh the occasional mishap. What this means for the remainder of the season, and more specifically the playoffs (Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs!) is that we will be a very very difficult team to move the ball on, much harder than it is now. We've been giving yards away, but it has been because of the scheme, not the talent of the players. I truly believe that when push comes to shove, we're going to have to get more aggressive and this will put our guys in a position to make the plays to win football games. If this comes true, I believe the Jets have some very fun football ahead of them in the next few months. I hope this comes true!
I think the team brought in Law to help shore up the secondary. Hopefully he will show them enough to loosen up a bit with more single coverage and more aggressive pass rushing attack. I think the coaching staff has been nervous to expose a rookie corner to being on an island in situations where he could give up a big one. I know I'll feel alot better if Law proves to be good enough to make Lowery the nickle back for the rest of the season. That would be an improvement at two positions.
We need to figure out better coverage schemes for tight ends. Pace cant stay with these guys in man. ANd yes absolutely we need to start blitzing more. You can give up big plays by blitzing but you can also give up big plays by not getting enough pressure. At least the blitz allows us to maybe force a mistake/turnover.
Lowery was on an island for most of the first half on Thursday. They kept hitting him on comeback routes until he started jumping them and then they just went up top for 6. Law took over that role in the second half.
blitzes work best when the O 'never sees it coming', like in a corner blitz. as stated by edge72, we're not 'known' as a huge blitzing team, so the element of surprise is on our side. like mangini said after the ne game where we hardly never blitzed, the d-scheme was to keep the secondary intacked, foregoing the 'rob peter to pay paul' blitzing scheme. i think edge72 is onto something with ty law. there's nothing bigger to support a blitz mentality team then strong m2m corners. lowery (plus fill a name a safety) are liabilities that greatly hindered an agressive blitzing defense. what to do? get ty law. anchor the corner spots. BLITZ! give law another week or 3 to get his sea legs under him and look out. 2 lock down corners plus rhodes over the top equals a free man every play to double someone, run support, BLITZ! very sweet.
The law pick up makes me a little less worried about the secondary , But what gives with the defense curling up into a ball in the second half? If I see Pace chasing after a wide receiver again , I'm going to puke.
the prevent only works if you are up by 3 possessions and 9 minutes left in the game. The D has to learn to give the ball back to the offense and let them run the clock out, not the other way around. The numbers are great, but I still see some finesse football, not enough people being punched in the mouth. No team is afraid to do anything against the Jets, even with the rushing D. Teams still will find the weakness. Like Law said to the team - the psychological battle has to be won. That is something the Jets, and their fans don't do well - win the psychological battle. Its time to change all this.
