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Normally the Jets line up in a 3-4 alignment with 2 tight man CBs, 2 deep S's and the other 4 defenders in various configurations designed to confuse the QB reads and offensive line assignments. They rely on the CBs to effectively take the wide receivers out of the game, the 2 S's to minimize any big plays, and a wide variety of overload blitzes, designed to make the QB get rid of the ball quickly.
It interesting that the key to the Jets Blitz package is not necessarily to get to the QB, as they are almost as pathetic in getting sacks as the Pats are, BUT to create the IMPRESSION of pressure. To get the QB thinking that he has to get rid of the ball to the hot read quickly. In other words make him think he's under pressure even when he isn't. And generally its very effective. The Jets have a great reputation for creating pressure on the QB, even though its been a mirage for over a year
The Pats have had various degrees of success against that strategy, usually doing better the 2nd game of the year. In the playoff game last season, the Jets played a lot of tight 5 man underneath zones to "funnel" the Pats receivers inside and crowd the short to medium routes the Pats liked best. Revis took Branch out of the game. Welker had no room in the middle, Tate wasn't a factor, and the Pats decided that running the ball wasn't an option. That strategy surprised the Pats and they didn't adjust well. Brady was impatient all game, and ultimately missed a lot of open guys, even when he had time, because he was being frustrated in not getting the open routes he usually had.
Well OK, fool me once.....etc. And Rex knows it as well. So what does he do THIS year against an offense that is running the ball better than last year. The 2 (or 1) TEs have progressed as serious threats. Welker is other worldly, and Chad is a much better threat than Tate.
Well if I were Rex here's what I would do.
1.I would stay true to my basic philosophy. I want to design my schemes to confuse the OL and not give Brady any easy pre snap reads. So I will not do any one thing consistently
2. Since the Pats passing game is the best in the league, I will focus my plan to stop the pass. I want to see if the Pats have the patience to run the ball consistently from all formations. Having the Pats run the ball, even if they are marginally successful, takes time off the clock, limits the number of possession the Pats have, and keeps them from doing what they do best. I believe we can stop the Pats run game well enough to make them want to do what the really want to do, and that is pass the ball. I would count on that the Pats first instinct will be to PASS the ball in any key situation regardless of down and distance.
3. Formation wise I want to show them on non obvious passing downs a lot of nine men in the box looks. I want to create that image that they have to get the ball off quickly, while making it seem there isn't much room to run the ball. BUT i will rarely come with more than 5 men. You don't have to all out blitz much., you just have to make them THINK you will
4. So in my 8-9 men in the box alignments I will selectively overload blitz to one side or the other to create issues of blocking assignments, while keeping 6-7 men back in tight 4-5 under zone/man combinations to take away the bubble screens and quick passes to hot receivers.
5. In obvious passing downs, I will use the amoeba approach, and have just 2 down linemen set, and everyone else milling about, again with the object of giving Brady any pre snap reads, and confusing the OL assignments. From this I can run all the same overload blitzes from my package
6. So when Brady gets to the LOS I want him thinking is it coming from the left? Is it coming from the right? Are they all coming or will I be throwing into max coverage? I want Brady "guessing" at the LOS, unsure of what's coming. Even the best sometimes guess wrong, and even one or two TO's would be enough
Bottom line - Take away the outside receivers with my CBs, funnel everything else into a very crowded middle of the field, And while getting to the QB is important, creating the IMPRESSION of pressure is even more important.
Now that I've put it down, I have to say I wouldn't mind seeing the Pats run some of that stuff against Sanchez, who wouldn't handle that kind of confusion nearly as well as Brady will.
Let me know how you think the Pats would attack what I expect to see the Jets run.
It interesting that the key to the Jets Blitz package is not necessarily to get to the QB, as they are almost as pathetic in getting sacks as the Pats are, BUT to create the IMPRESSION of pressure. To get the QB thinking that he has to get rid of the ball to the hot read quickly. In other words make him think he's under pressure even when he isn't. And generally its very effective. The Jets have a great reputation for creating pressure on the QB, even though its been a mirage for over a year
The Pats have had various degrees of success against that strategy, usually doing better the 2nd game of the year. In the playoff game last season, the Jets played a lot of tight 5 man underneath zones to "funnel" the Pats receivers inside and crowd the short to medium routes the Pats liked best. Revis took Branch out of the game. Welker had no room in the middle, Tate wasn't a factor, and the Pats decided that running the ball wasn't an option. That strategy surprised the Pats and they didn't adjust well. Brady was impatient all game, and ultimately missed a lot of open guys, even when he had time, because he was being frustrated in not getting the open routes he usually had.
Well OK, fool me once.....etc. And Rex knows it as well. So what does he do THIS year against an offense that is running the ball better than last year. The 2 (or 1) TEs have progressed as serious threats. Welker is other worldly, and Chad is a much better threat than Tate.
Well if I were Rex here's what I would do.
1.I would stay true to my basic philosophy. I want to design my schemes to confuse the OL and not give Brady any easy pre snap reads. So I will not do any one thing consistently
2. Since the Pats passing game is the best in the league, I will focus my plan to stop the pass. I want to see if the Pats have the patience to run the ball consistently from all formations. Having the Pats run the ball, even if they are marginally successful, takes time off the clock, limits the number of possession the Pats have, and keeps them from doing what they do best. I believe we can stop the Pats run game well enough to make them want to do what the really want to do, and that is pass the ball. I would count on that the Pats first instinct will be to PASS the ball in any key situation regardless of down and distance.
3. Formation wise I want to show them on non obvious passing downs a lot of nine men in the box looks. I want to create that image that they have to get the ball off quickly, while making it seem there isn't much room to run the ball. BUT i will rarely come with more than 5 men. You don't have to all out blitz much., you just have to make them THINK you will
4. So in my 8-9 men in the box alignments I will selectively overload blitz to one side or the other to create issues of blocking assignments, while keeping 6-7 men back in tight 4-5 under zone/man combinations to take away the bubble screens and quick passes to hot receivers.
5. In obvious passing downs, I will use the amoeba approach, and have just 2 down linemen set, and everyone else milling about, again with the object of giving Brady any pre snap reads, and confusing the OL assignments. From this I can run all the same overload blitzes from my package
6. So when Brady gets to the LOS I want him thinking is it coming from the left? Is it coming from the right? Are they all coming or will I be throwing into max coverage? I want Brady "guessing" at the LOS, unsure of what's coming. Even the best sometimes guess wrong, and even one or two TO's would be enough
Bottom line - Take away the outside receivers with my CBs, funnel everything else into a very crowded middle of the field, And while getting to the QB is important, creating the IMPRESSION of pressure is even more important.
Now that I've put it down, I have to say I wouldn't mind seeing the Pats run some of that stuff against Sanchez, who wouldn't handle that kind of confusion nearly as well as Brady will.
Let me know how you think the Pats would attack what I expect to see the Jets run.
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