The New York Jets got a much-needed win against the Tennessee Titans, but when watching the film back, there was more left on the field than I previously thought. I think this is a good thing, as the team is still gaining chemistry and getting their feet under them. There is a lot of potential for this team to get better.
So, how did the film look?
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New York Jets Offensive Film vs. Titans
I love the “Pony” package (2 RBs) here with Braelon Allen and Breece Hall on the field. Breece gets sent in orbit motion, and it threatens the defense horizontally as Rodgers pump fakes to him. The screen is set up perfectly with the defense flowing to the other side. Alijah Vera-Tucker and Joe Tippmann seal the LB, and John Simpson gets enough of a block on the DB in space to give Allen the lane for the TD. Great design.
The Jets come out in an empty 3×2 formation on second down. There is so much to love about this play. It is rare to see this ball thrown to a running back on a go route, even if it’s man coverage. This is why Breece is so valuable. The strength at the catch point, the body control – outstanding. Rodgers hits the top of his drop and the ball is out. Great timing. Awesome stuff.
On third-and-15, the Jets run “Dagger” down the field (which I love). The protection holds up well as this is a longer developing play, especially with the down and distance. Rodgers gets hit in the face as he releases, but it’s a great ball that Mike Williams almost comes up with. This was my favorite throw from Rodgers the entire game. I love this rep just because of the potential it oozes. This is a play that they will hit for a big gain in the next few weeks. Williams just needs to shake off some rust.
Great run fake of counter, as the linebackers flow towards the LOS. It looks like they are trying to get a throw back across the field to Wilson, who sells vertical really well before breaking across the face of the safety. Wilson is open, but unfortunately, Allen Lazard ends up on a DE here, so Rodgers is quickly pressured and has to spoil the play. Really like this concept overall by Hackett, minus having a 7 man protection and somehow having a DE on a WR. It’s another showing of potential that is waiting to be unlocked.
I am unsure what made Rodgers not rip the corner route to Wilson here. He still looks slightly tentative at times, especially in this situation. It does not happen a lot, but there are a few other reps like this. He looks like he is about to release the ball when Wilson is open but just doesn’t throw it. I heard him get asked about this play, and he answered, “The timing was off, that’s all I will say.” Looks good timing-wise to me, but I’ll take No. 8’s word for it.
This is as good as it gets, man. 3rd & 1, fourth quarter, gotta have it situation. Rodgers IDs man coverage. Make no mistake, this is an ad-libbed route from Wilson. Wilson flips his hips to track the ball while it’s already in the air! Great ball from Rodgers, but outstanding ball tracking from G5 here in a must-convert.
2nd & 16, 5 minutes left, game on the line. Mike Williams gets his first contested catch opportunity as a Jet and cashes in. It can’t be overstated how important he will be to this offense when fully healthy. The DB seems to make contact with Williams before the ball gets there, but he is too strong at the catch point and hauls it in. It’s 70/30 with No. 18.
This is so damn cool, man. Rodgers sees the strength of the difference is to the left, so he flips the run to the right. On the end zone angle, you can see that he points behind his back to make sure Allen knows. It’s just an insane move to be this detailed and understand you have a rookie behind you who may not 100% know what is going on. This is top-tier execution. The Jets run outside zone to the right, and Allen gets skinny through the hole as Ruckert does a great job sealing the edge. Allen then shows some burst and flies by the safety for what ended up being the game-clinching TD.
New York Jets Defensive Film vs. Titans
Against a counter play by the Titans, Micheal Clemons jumps inside before the snap, making him an easy option to block down and out of the play. I am curious if this was a coaching move or just a move on his part. Either way, it’s awful, as he leaves the strength of the play’s gap open, putting more stress on the LBs. It is getting tiring watching this type of play from Clemons on film.
Great job by Jamien Sherwood here to stay patient. He has good eyes, shoots the gap, breaks down, and finishes the tackle. He’s extremely consistent as a tackler on film form-wise and finishing-wise overall. He’s a dog.
Sherwood again shows up, setting the edge perfectly. The Titans pull out a crack toss play with a lead blocker coming around the edge. Sherwood identifies, takes a good angle to the edge, and takes the block on with his inside shoulder while keeping his eyes up. Forcing the run to the edge, Sherwood then sheds the block and finishes with a tackle for a TFL. Helluva rep.
The Titans run a mesh concept, which works well as Sauce is picked, creating an explosive for the Titans. I imagine that Quincy Williams is in the wrong here as C.J. Mosley and Quincy both sprint to the RB here, leaving the middle of the field wide open. Maybe Quincy is supposed to be the hole player in Cover 1 here, which would help? Not sure, but tough rep to see them both sprinting after the RB like this.
Good job from the Jets defense here to take away the first read from Will Levis, who then tries to bail out of the pocket and is met and sacked by Will McDonald, who is playing as a spy here. I don’t love the idea of using McDonald as a spy in general, especially going forward without JJ, just because the Jets need all the pass rushing juice that they can get, but he does a good job here and the team gets a stop on third down.
Big-time win from McDonald to clinch the game for the Jets. At the bottom of the screen, Tyler Boyd actually ended up getting open against Isaiah Oliver, so the win was huge. We see tremendous strength, balance, and bend from McDonald, and a great finish to end the play. He just barely swipes the tackle’s hand off with his left arm which gets him free. Sweet rep.
Overall, there were a lot of encouraging plays on film from the Jets. Offensively, I think they have just been scratching the surface with what they can achieve. Defensively, with the injuries piling up and some weird breakdowns on film, it will be important for Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich to get that group together.
