Breakdown of Wayne Hunter’s Sacks Allowed

December 4, 2011; Landover, MD, USA; New York Jets tackle Wayne Hunter (78) blocks against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. The Jets won 34-19. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE

It’s been a right tackle Tuesday here at The Jet Press. Earlier today, I speculated on whether or not Wayne Hunter is injured (read it if you missed it by clicking here). Now we are going to take it a bit further.

We are going to take a look at the four sacks Wayne Hunter gave up Saturday night, including the one that was nullified by penalty, and see what really happened.

• Third and 3, 5:14 remaining in the first quarter.  Mark Sanchez is lined up in the shot gun, with two receivers to either side.  He has one running back with him, but on his left side, which is significant.  This means that Wayne Hunter is lined up one on one with Jason Pierre-Paul.  At the snap, JPP gives Hunter a small shoulder fake to the inside and then gets his right shoulder right under the pads of Hunter, pushes him out of the way easily, and closes on Mark for the sack.  A couple of things here, one, Mark should probably have moved his running back to the other side in order to give Hunter some help.  Secondly, it was the small fake that got Hunter off balance, and then he was overpowered rather easily.  There wasn’t much resistance, which makes you wonder if his back is still bothering him as I proffered earlier today.
• Second and 14, 10:50 remaining in the second quarter.  Mark Sanchez is again in the shotgun, with one back again to the left of Sanchez.  Three receivers start in a bunch formation on the right side, and Stephen Hill goes in motion from right to left.  Sanchez takes the snap, and Justin Tuck, runs right around the outside of Wayne Hunter’s right shoulder.  Mark appropriately steps up in the pocket, but still doesn’t get rid of the football, and is sacked by Osi Umenyiora.  On this one, although Wayne Hunter didn’t do much to help, he wasn’t at fault.  When Tuck went around him, Sanchez stepped up.  He has to get rid of the football, he had enough time to do so.  Coverage sacks come from the quarterback holding the ball too long, but this one is on Sanchez.  But it still didn’t look like Wayne had too much effort in him.

• First and 10, 6:01 remaining in the second quarter.  Mark Sanchez is in the gun, two receivers to the right and three to the left.  Dustin Keller moves in motion from the slot left to the outside on the left.  Wayne Hunter is again one on one, this time against Justin Tuck, and Tuck makes them pay.  Tuck didn’t even make a move on Hunter, he just ran past him, and right into Sanchez.  Frankly, looking at the replay, it looks like Hunter didn’t even touch him.  You have to wonder if his back is still bad, because even if he was going to get beaten, you at least have to touch the guy, right?  Secondly, Mark has to start recognizing this and changing his protections.  You see it all the time, the great quarterbacks change their protections in order to maximize the offensive line.  Even in the preseason, Mark needs to do this.
• Second and 3, 1:36 remaining in the second quarter.  Sanchez is once again in the gun, with a back to his left, two receivers left, and two receivers right.  Mark takes the snap, and Jason Pierre-Paul, one on one against Wayne Hunter, drives Hunter backwards for about five yards, right into Sanchez.  Then comes, the obvious end result, another sack on Mark Sanchez.  This to me was more evidence of a possible injury.  Hunter is giving JPP basically no resistance.  He is being pushed as easily as a blocking dummy gets pushed.  We have talked before about how Hunter was OK when he took over for Woody.  He couldn’t have turned into nothing this quickly, injury must be part of it.

In closing, there is more to this than Wayne Hunter.  Yes, Hunter looked bad, and might be hurt.  He should not be the starting right tackle for this team.  But, there are other parts to remember.  They need to give support to Hunter, and not leave him one on one against these guys.  Mark Sanchez also must adjust his protections.  When he looks over the defense and sees Hunter one on one, he has to at least move his back over.

If we are stuck with Hunter, he needs help.