Inside the Jets vs. Colts Film Room: Offense

Oct 14, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) hands the balls off to running back Shonn Greene (23) against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Jets won 35-9. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

It’s Wednesday, and that means it is time to take a look at the film from last week’s game. This afternoon we will look at the defense with the great JETSerious, but first, we take a look at the offense. It was a fine performance in all aspects of the game, and the offense was no different. We’ll talk about a few things, and then break down a couple of plays. Let’s get to it.

MARK SANCHEZ

The box score does not indicate a great day from Mark Sanchez. 11-18 for 82 yards is obviously nothing that is going to jump off the page as a memorable performance. However, Mark Sanchez had a good day on Sunday. Yeah, a lot of people think that I am a Mark Sanchez apologist, but when you look at the tape, he did an excellent job. You don’t need a lot from your quarterback when your running game is putting up over 250 yards.

Mark Sanchez made the throws that he needed to make. The TD pass to Stephen Hill was a prime example. Mark had a small window to make that throw, and the throw was right on the money. The second TD pass, to the newer Hill, Jason, was a perfect throw on the slant. But more importantly than specific throws is this…Mark was decisive with the football. One of our biggest problems with Mark is when he has to think, he makes terrible decisions. On Sunday, he was decisive, made his reads, and delivered the football. 11-18 is the stat line of an efficient performance, and he did not turn the football over. Kudos to Mark on that.

Jan 16, 2011; Foxboro, MA, USA; New York Jets offensive tackle D

OFFENSIVE LINE

The offensive line played the most complete game that they have all season. They looked good all over the place. Including, someone who needs special mention, is Dustin Keller. Dustin Keller may not have been a huge factor in the passing game, but believe me, he was a big factor in the running game. Dustin did an excellent job taking his guy out in the running game. But back to the running game in just a minute.

Mark Sanchez nearly had a clean uniform for the entire game. The line gave Mark a clean pocket, and did it consistently. Sanchez had a clean look down the field almost every time he dropped back, and it gave him the chance to perform as efficiently as he did. Excellent work.

Even more significant, was how well the offensive line performed in what I want to talk about next….

THE RUNNING GAME

The offensive line opened holes that you could drive a truck through. Shonn Greene ran down hill, and with a purpose. Give a lot of credit to the line, as they were wonderful. Turn the page, and we will break down a couple of plays to show you what I mean.

First we are going to take a look at Shonn Greene’s longest run of the day, his 21 yard scamper:

Shonn Greene is the running back indicated in the black circle. But watch the key guys on this place, Konrad Reuland #87, and Brandon Moore #65, who are indicated in the green circles. Moore is going to pull, or leave his guard position and lead through the hole and seal to his right, indicated by the black line. Reuland, after going in motion, is going to come through the hole and seal to his left, creating a huge hole for Shonn Greene. Let’s go forward.

You see Reuland and Moore up in the hole? Again circled in green, Moore is set to take out his guy head on. indicated by the black line. Reuland is to the other side, ready to block down to his left. That will create a hole for Greene to run through, indicated by his black line. Take a look at the hole that they create.

Do you see the lane that is created? Look at the black lines. Reuland, Moore, and the rest of the offensive line has taken care of the Colts so well, that nobody can touch Shonn Greene. The hole is so wide, that Greene has no choice but to get to the second level with ease. And the result?

21 yards later, and that’s another Jets, FIRST DOWN!

An excellent run by Shonn Greene, but it was fueled, no doubt, by the excellent job up front. I have said it before and I will say it again, the offensive line is the key to just about everything.

Turn the page, and we will take a look at Joe McKnight’s 61 yard run.

Joe McKnight is lined up directly behind Mark Sanchez, indicated by the black circle. As indicated by the black line, Joe is going to take the handoff and start to the right side of the line, and then cut to the backside through the hole. He will make someone miss, as you will see in the next picture, and that is all McKnight. But watch the key lineman this time, Pro Bowl tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, indicated in the green circle. He is going to come all the way over and make a block on the back side that will open the hole.

The first part is a great move by Joe McKnight. The cornerback is indicated in green, coming in to try to make the stop on McKnight in the backfield. McKnight makes his cut to the backside, making this guy miss. But take a look at the matchup in the green circle, which springs the run forward. D’Brickashaw Ferguson has come to the hole, and he is taking on the linebacker(#50) in the hole. You will see in the next screen that Ferguson gets enough of the linebacker to push him out of the hole, setting Joe McKnight loose.

Again, take a look at the hole that the offensive line has created. One side is sealed off by the left side of the Jets line, as indicated by the red line. But, the key block is made by Ferguson, in the green circle. You see how he has gotten enough of #50, the linebacker, to push him out of the way. That seals off the other side of the lane, as indicated by the green line. That is all that Joe McKnight needs with his speed.

McKnight gets to the second level, turns on the afterburners, and it is off to the races. Joe is not stopped until he has picked up 61 yards.

This is the best the offensive line has looked, especially in the run game, so far in 2012. Yes, it is only one game, and as I said yesterday, the Jets better not get over confident. But, this is definitely what Rex Ryan and Tony Sparano had in mind when they talked about “Ground and Pound”. We can only hope that it continues.