Inside the Film Room: Key Plays: New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Oct 13, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws a pass during the pre game warmups for their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s go back to Sunday, and briefly relive some moments from the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We are going to look at key plays and break them down. This week we are going to take a look at one play on offense, and one play on defense, and see what went wrong.

We will start with the offense, and we are going to take a look at the first two of Geno Smith’s interceptions:

Konrad Reuland is going to come in motion from left to right, as indicated by the green arrow. He will line himself up on the outside at the top of the screen. Reuland and Cumberland, both in green, will run routes deep down the right side. Take a look as we move forward and Pittsburgh disguises the coverage quite nicely.

Take a look at where we are. Geno Smith is ready to let the ball go, and it would appear, from his eyes, that he is making the correct read. Konrad Reuland is in the green circle, and it appears that he is one-on-one with the defender, while Jeff Cumberland, in the yellow circle, is being doubled.

However, the two guys covering Cumberland are going to break on the ball, leaving Cumberland to help out on Reuland, and we all saw what happened.

Interception, the Jets give up a costly one. However, this was one that will get better with experience. The Steelers disguised their coverage nicely, changing the look on a rookie quarterback.

On the next page, we are going to look at the Steelers’ only touchdown, and the troubling way that it occurred.

This is a simple breakdown, but a troubling one as well. Take a look in the circles, we have Antonio Brown, and Antonio Cromartie. They are matched up one on one down the field, and the subject of this play. Brown is going to make a double move on Cro, faking to the outside and then making his move to the inside and straight up the field. Surely, our number one corner can stay with a move like this right? Let’s take a look.

Here is the key point in the play. Antonio Brown right here, is making the one step to the outside, and then breaks hard to the inside. Unfortunately, Cromartie cannot get his hips to move, and Brown blows past him. Look at the separation he creates between himself and Cromartie:

Cromartie must be hurt more than he is letting on, because something is not right. His hips are moving slower than mine. Even when he gets beaten this badly, he still can use his speed to close, but here? He has given up a five yard cushion between himself and Brown. It becomes an easy pitch and catch for Big Ben to Brown:

Only touchdown of the game, and the Steelers win. Maybe Antonio should be resting, because he is getting beaten like a rented mule out there. It’s not good.

Lots of things the Jets need to improve on before they hit the field for the game against New England on Sunday.