New York Jets All-22 film vs. Buffalo Bills: What changes did Todd Downing make?
This is a great tendency breaker from Jets play caller Todd Downing in his debut. Downing runs play action with John Simpson pulling, which brings up the LB. The LB still gets some depth but Aaron Rodgers has elite eyes, pulling the LB away from Garrett Wilson’s crossing route. Mike Williams is clearing out; good spacing on this concept. I’ve been begging for Garrett to get opportunities on routes that maximize his skillset. It is on full display here, as Wilson makes an unreal juke and gets around 15 yards of YAC.
This is 100% the first time I’ve seen this play on film. Great job by Downing of integrating this. Awesome pass-off in pass protection between Joe Tippman and Tyron Smith, too.
You must be multiple in the NFL, so it is important for the Jets to show runs and passes out of similar looks. Similar to the play-action to Wilson earlier, the Jets pull a guard, this time being Alijah Vera-Tucker. This time, they hand the ball off, running power away from a run blitz, and it goes for a big gain. Tyler Conklin has a good block on an EDGE, and Hall throws a great stiff arm to reach the second level. Again, it is important to see the Jets running similar looks with different plays out of them. Unpredictability.
The Jets deploy 11 personnel, and it’s another great play call from Downing. Wilson goes in motion at the snap with Simpson pulling again to create misdirection. It works, as Breece Hall has a ton of space on the swing screen, and Jeremy Ruckert/Allen Lazard/Tippman all do a helluva job blocking out in space.
I don’t know if I’m being overly critical, but man, it sure feels like this should have been 6. Right at the 49-yard line, Hall should have put his leg in the ground and exploded upfield. Instead, Hall sort of slips and falls forward into Damar Hamlin. It is still a good play, but Hall needs to think homer there with the space available to him.
Rodgers makes a play stepping up in the pocket; great improvisation. Also, I love how Wilson gets in Rodgers’s vision, understanding he is stepping up in the pocket. Great ball on the run from Rodgers, and great body control from Wilson for the TD. Super impressive rep. It is an encouraging sign to see these two on the same page.
Horrible outside leverage from the slot by Ashtyn Davis. But why are the backers not getting depth? This is as bad of a defensive call and rep I’ve seen. The Jets basically rush two as Will McDonald and Micheal Clemons both loop and then sag off to spy? It’s man coverage across the board. Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood also get no depth, and both are staring at the QB basically right next to each other. Bad rep by Davis, yes, but what on earth is this call? Why not have Williams or Sherwood get depth into the end zone? It’s third and goal! I don’t understand this at all.
Buffalo is facing a 3rd & Goal from the 12-yard line. The Jets are in man coverage with two guys keeping their eyes on Allen. Quinnen Williams gets pushed up the field on his rush, and somehow, someway, Allen makes Clemons look invisible; I have zero idea what that tackle attempt is or how he let Allen get away. Outside of the pocket, you know what Allen does. Not much you can do at that point.
The Jets run a crack toss, and you can’t ask for better blocking here. Great job by Lazard, Williams, and Smith. Hall hits the hole and has just one defender to beat. I have no idea what he is doing here. He has the entire middle of the field to work with, but allows the defender the easy route of cutting him off along the sideline. At least threaten the middle of the field or make a move. The Jets scored zero points after this. It’s frustrating beyond words.
Love the concept here. It’s a duo FB dive with Braelon Allen as the FB. Good double teams at the point of attack from Morgan Moses/Alijah Vera-Tucker and Joe Tippman/John Simpson. Smith has literally zero reason to hold here, as he is not involved with the play at all. I cannot express how frustrating this is. It leads to a missed 32-yard field goal.
Another play call I love. 3rd & 12 in the red zone is always super difficult. The Bills are in quarters and the MOF is open for Wilson’s spot and go route. It’s a perfect ball from Rodgers and a difficult catch to make for Wilson but one that he has to come down with. I understand he gets sandwiched but it’s a play you want your WR1 to make. Tough play but good idea and attempt.
Crack toss here on the final Jets drive. It fails due to a horrible missed block from Smith. It looks like he runs too fast and is out of control, and thus can’t throttle down to make the block. It could have at least been a first down run for Breece, who would be one-on-one with the safety, and maybe more than a first down, but instead, it is a 2-yard gain. Hall could be criticized for his vision here but I believe he is working off Smith’s block.
This is a super tough break for the Jets. If Williams does not slip, this is a 50/50 ball that he could make a play on. If he runs the route correctly, I think Rodgers throws it closer to the sideline and there is an opening there for a completion. He doesn’t, Rodgers under throws it, and Williams slips, which allows the DB to make a play for the INT.
The Jets should not have been in this situation in the first place, but this miscommunication sealed the game. Too many times, the Jets have suffered from miscommunications or self-inflicted mistakes in massive moments. That is a good reason why this team is 2-4 and not 4-2/5-1.
Game clinching play here. Allen keeps it on a misdirection. Micheal Clemons shuffles twice the opposite way and it’s enough for him to lose the edge. Tony Adams does not help by scraping too far over the top with the motion.
There are no more excuses for Clemons to be playing. He is a net negative every single week on film. I have no idea what the Jets see in him. This is an opportunity for Jeff Ulbrich to display some accountability.
