New York Jets: Safeties Key to Victory Against the Buffalo Bills

Oct 26, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) points to the crowd as New York Jets wide receiver Saalim Hakim (15) tacklesat MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Remember the above scene, the last time the Jets took on the Buffalo Bills? This was the end the 84 yard hookup from Kyle Orton to Sammy Watkins, en route to his three reception for 157 yard game. If it wasn’t for the speed of Saalim Hakim, this one would have gone for almost 90 yards and a touchdown.

How do the Jets stop Watkins and the Bills this time around? Well, the safeties are going to be a key to victory, staring with a good game plan. Let’s go back to this play just a bit to talk about what I mean.

This was a very risky defense to play with Sammy Watkins on the outside. Take a look at the Jets alignment. There are eight guys in the box, as indicated. There are actually three safeties in the game, Jaiquawn Jarrett, Calvin Pryor, and Dawan Landry. However, Jarrett and Pryor are set up to overload the right side of the Bills line, coming on a blitz.

That leaves Dawan Landry to cover the slot receiver, and Darrin Walls one on one against Sammy Watkins. We know how that turned out. Bad idea by the Jets staff.

It’s interesting to hear Rex Ryan, during his press conference yesterday, say how happy he is that Walls will be ready for this one, and he had difficulty stopping Watkins. The Jets need the help of the safeties to get the job done, Rex Ryan just needs to put them in position.

Let’s look at the famous “Cover 2” defense, and then we can talk about how it would help the New York Jets win this game on Monday night.

The principle is very simple, the cornerbacks crowd the line of scrimmage and play physical with their counterpart wide receiver. The defense leaves both safeties back deep. That way, the corner can attempt to alter his opponent’s route, and doesn’t have to worry about getting beat as much, since the safety help is there behind him.

So, let’s apply this to the game on Sunday.

Aug 4, 2014; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets cornerback Darrin Walls (30) walks out to the field prior to the start of training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Darrin Walls is not a great cover corner. The Jets don’t have cover corners that even resemble the corners of years past. He plays too deep, and even when doing so, Watkins got by him with relative ease. He needs help. The safeties can provide that help.

Jaiquawn Jarrett proved to all of us two weeks ago that he can make a play on the football. Two interceptions make that abundantly clear. Allow him deep, and he can provide the help needed to stop Watkins . Jarrett is not the only capable safety on the Jets roster either. This will allow Walls, or whoever else is playing corner to use their physicality. And that will give them a fighting chance.

If they don’t, Watkins and the rest of his team will take it to the New York Jets.