Scouting the Opposition: Jets - Week 4

[Cyrus]

The Jets have gotten off to a surprising start, but they're not without their faults. How real is their defense and can Geno Smith keep making the big play?

Sitting in the hypothetical film room here are the major takeaways and where the Titans may want to win.

Jets Offense:

Jets Wide Receivers - Vertical Routes: Over the past three games the greatest take-away from the Jets offense is the vertical nature of their passing attack. Against the Bills, every touchdown scoring drive had at least a forty yard plus explosive pass play. Two of the three touchdowns came on long touchdowns passes of 51 yards (Hill) and 69 yards (Holmes). The Jets have been dependent on big plays to generate points.

Schematically, the Jets have simplified their passing attack by using a combination of vertical routes (Go, Seam, Corner, Deep Post) to stretch defenses and get simple one on one matchups with their wide receivers. Despite the low-percentage nature of these types of plays, quarterback Geno Smith has been consistently pulling the trigger and testing defensive backs. Stephen Hill in particular has been a consistent target due his mismatch size and speed.

Where the Titans can win: Eliminate the big play. This is more of a match-up play for the Titans and against competent secondaries the Jets have struggled to generate touchdowns. The Patriots had success playing a variety of Man-Free and Cover 3 coverages against the Jets due to the ability of their corners to stay with the Jets receiver on vertical routes. The Titans will likely be in the same position this week, but may consider using Man-2 coverages or 3-Safety packages with George Wilson roaming in coverage.

Geno Smith - Decision Making: Smith has demonstrated some poise in big-moments through the first three weeks, but he's still a rookie who's taken chances with the ball and can still be fooled by coverages. The vertical nature of their offense has simplified decision making but chances on contested routes has lead to multiple turnovers (6 Interceptions through 3 games).

Where the Titans can win: The Jets offensive line has been very effective in pass protection so it's unlikely the Titans will be able to generate a great deal of pressure consistently. The Titans have the ability to win matchups on the inside of the line but might be better served dropping 6-7 defenders into coverage consistently and forcing Smith to find windows or take chances down the field. Kiko Alonso was able to steal a slant pass by Geno Smith on a quick play and the Titans may be able to bait Smith into similar decisions on Sunday. Mixing coverage types will be an ideal plan and we may see a good deal of Fire Zone, but the Titans may be best served trying to generate coverage sacks.

Jets Defense:

Jets Secondary - Personnel: The Jets have a fearsome front seven, but with Revis and some veteran defensive backs elsewhere, they've struggled to stop coordinated passing attacks. Dee Milliner and Kyle Wilson have struggled greatly without some drops by Patriots receivers, their play might have lead to the Jets being been blown out Week 2. Despite their ability to generate pressure, the coverage has not held up their side of the bargain in nickel defense and has allowed opposing offenses to generate separation and big plays due to mental errors.

Where the Titans can win: Target matchups. The Titans will need to pass protect against a high quality defensive line, but will have a number of opportunities in the Jets secondary. The Jets nickel defender routinely gave up separation against Edelman underneath and their outside corners allowed themselves to be beat vertically in Cover 3 and Man-Free.

This would be an ideal game for the Titans to play 11 personnel (3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB) to get the Jets into their nickel and target Wright in the slot. Hunter may prove to be a valuable match-up player as well due to his size/speed and may present big plays if matched up against Milliner.

Additionally, it may be beneficial for the Titans to play with tempo to establish rhythm and to exacerbate mental errors in the Jets secondary. The Jets struggled to be assignment and technique sound when teams played with tempo and given the Titans success in the past with the hurry-up it could prove to be a successful means of generating offense and slowing the Jets pass rush.

Jets Secondary - Scheme: The Jets don't have many weaknesses on defense and are highly effective against the run, but the Patriots have presented a template for attacking them schematically. Despite a replacement level cast of receivers, New England utilized a number of basic pass combinations to create separation. Of note, short and intermediate horizontal breaking routes were particularly effective in conjunction with vertical stems. (Think: Curl/Flat principles and Fade/Go). The Jets play a great deal of Cover 3 and Man Free and due to their personnel they've been unable to hide some scheme vulnerabilities.

Where the Titans can win: Utilize 11 Personnel and target Wright in the slot on horizontal breaking routes with Washington/Hunter running vertical stems. If healthy, Delanie Walker can present a similar threat from multiple alignments with Wright running vertical routes from the slot. The goal here is to generate quick hitting plays on 3 and 5 step drops while testing outside corners with vertical routes. The Titans won't be able to abandon the run, but the path of least resistance is through the Jets secondary.

Click here to view the article

[dannynj]

So basically dink and dunk and throw where ever Cromartie isn't

Edited September 25, 2013 by dannynj

[Cyrus]

So basically dink and dunk and throw where ever Cromartie isn't

 

Not necessarily. Dink and dunk seems to indicate that they would just throw underneath soft coverage. The Jets will run a lot of man-coverage and the Titans will need to win matchups on particular routes. Cromartie gave up some plays when the Patriots played with tempo too. 

[bizzyeddie]

would like to see the offense play with more tempo...not necessarily no huddle but just faster to the huddle and to the line.

keep pressure on the defense.

 

and what keeps teams from doing what Peyton does...he gets the team lined up and then makes the calls.  it forces the defense to line up and keeps them from making substitutions.

he's not forced to rush cause he still has plenty of time on the play clock.

it a slow version of a no-huddle and I would think that even young QBs could do it with a little practice.

just curious on that.

[TitansWycheck89]

@RichCimini: Geno Smith average time in pocket: 3.32 seconds, second-highest in league, per @PFF. #Jets

Titans have to find a way to get to him.

[Cyrus]

@RichCimini: Geno Smith average time in pocket: 3.32 seconds, second-highest in league, per @PFF. #Jets

Titans have to find a way to get to him.

 

The pass protection has been good, especially against the Bills which is why you saw so many downfield shots. I don't think the Titans should attempt to rush 6 or more guys though. The Titans need to trust that they can win one on one matchups and force Geno to throw into coverage. 

[Cyrus]

I'd have no problem sending Brown, Fokou or Ayers on occasion however.  Why make it easy on the rookie and hardly ever blitz?  Come at him from any angle and keep him thinking.  Then even when you don't come he still is thinkning about it. 

 

I'm all for them rushing 5 or adding late pressure with Brown if the running back stays in to pass protect. I just don't think that the best avenue is to add as much pressure as possible to force him into mistakes.

[scine09]

For years the Titans decided not to blitz young QB's and they paid for it (Philip Rivers, Patrick Ramsey and Mark Sanchez are 3 QB's that come to mind who as rookies threw all over the Titans). Gregg Williams was not with the team when this happened nor was Jerry Gray. IMO the best way to beat a young QB is blitz the hell out of them. Geno Smith in his first 3 starts has held on to the ball too long. If you start hitting Smith and sacking him or forcing him to get rid of the ball before he wants to he is nowhere near seasoned enough to take advantage and it will result in turnovers. If the Titans decide to go the Jim Schwartz route and sit back thinking that by covering receivers and not pressuring the QB with more than 4 people they'll be able to make the QB throw to the wrong people they will lose. If Smith is able to beat the blitz then more power to him. But I want to see him on his ass the entire game and rushing throws. That to me is the biggest key to victory.

[CMJ]

If Geno torches us, God help this board.

[TeamRamrod]

I was thinking Kendall and Akeem would have big games this Sunday.

[Number9]

For years the Titans decided not to blitz young QB's and they paid for it (Philip Rivers, Patrick Ramsey and Mark Sanchez are 3 QB's that come to mind who as rookies threw all over the Titans). Gregg Williams was not with the team when this happened nor was Jerry Gray. IMO the best way to beat a young QB is blitz the hell out of them. Geno Smith in his first 3 starts has held on to the ball too long. If you start hitting Smith and sacking him or forcing him to get rid of the ball before he wants to he is nowhere near seasoned enough to take advantage and it will result in turnovers. If the Titans decide to go the Jim Schwartz route and sit back thinking that by covering receivers and not pressuring the QB with more than 4 people they'll be able to make the QB throw to the wrong people they will lose. If Smith is able to beat the blitz then more power to him. But I want to see him on his ass the entire game and rushing throws. That to me is the biggest key to victory.

You forgot to mention Tim Couch and Ryan Leaf.

[WVTITAN]

The Titans will run the ball and pass if they need to.  The game plan they will use is simple; Run the ball and force turnovers, be mistake free and pass late if needed.  That is what they will do.  What they should IMO is run enough to set up play action and some some screens to spread the D early.

[scine09]

You forgot to mention Tim Couch and Ryan Leaf.

Ryan Leaf did nothing that game. Wasn't the final 13-7?

 

Tim Couch torched the Titans but not as a rookie or even 2nd year QB. I remember him torching the Titans in his 3rd and 4th seasons.

[JLocker10]

The Titans will run the ball and pass if they need to.  The game plan they will use is simple; Run the ball and force turnovers, be mistake free and pass late if needed.  That is what they will do.  What they should IMO is run enough to set up play action and some some screens to spread the D early.

i think we'll have to throw and throw a lot on early downs. their DL is too good imo. Wilkerson is on his way to the Pro Bowl. I really liked Richardson before the draft and he's been excellent. Their NT has been unmovable. Doug Martin only had 65 yards on 24 carries. Ridley 16 carries 40 yards. CJ Spiller only had 9 yards on 10 carries. We're going to have a tough time moving them.

 

I'm confident we'll win, but it'll probably be an ugly win. A 16-13 type game

[WVTITAN]

i think we'll have to throw and throw a lot on early downs. their DL is too good imo. Wilkerson is on his way to the Pro Bowl. I really liked Richardson before the draft and he's been excellent. Their NT has been unmovable. Doug Martin only had 65 yards on 24 carries. Ridley 16 carries 40 yards. CJ Spiller only had 9 yards on 10 carries. We're going to have a tough time moving them.

 

I'm confident we'll win, but it'll probably be an ugly win. A 16-13 type game

We agree, Titans will win.  Less than 40 points scored total. Truth be told the Titans should blow them out but the game plan won't make it so.