Why Rex Ryan and the Jets Run

For those who appreciate the technical side of the game, Andy Barall shared some thoughts on the Jets’ running game, and the brilliance of Dallas’s DeMarcus Ware, in a comment on an earlier post. It’s worth its own post here:

The Jets are a zone running team. They prefer the outside zone, to the 6 and 7 holes (6 to the right and 7 to the left). The aiming point for the running back is either the inside leg of the tight end to the strong side or the outside leg of the offensive tackle to the weak side.

In a zone scheme, the backs are usually coached to get to the break point quickly and make a decision. After that, it’s one cut and go. The Jets stress patience. They tell their backs “slow to and fast through”– slow to the aiming point but, after making the decision, fast through the hole.

On Sunday night, the Jets ran one tackle trap in the fourth quarter. All the rest were zone runs. One reason it’s tough running the outside zone against the Cowboys is their two outside linebacker/defensive ends, Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware, do a great job of holding the point of attack and turning the play back inside.

Ware is not just a great pass rusher. When he’s over the tight end, I believe he’s the only player who can line up in a loose 9-technique (a full body outside the tight end) and still effectively cover the C-gap (between the tackle and the tight end). When the play comes at him, he drives the tight end into the backfield so the runner can’t turn the corner. When the back cuts inside of him, Ware just falls off the tight end and makes the play.

On Sunday, Dallas’s interior defensive line and inside linebackers maintained their gap integrity and the Jets’ offensive line got little movement up front. As a result, the running backs didn’t have a cutback lane. Over all, the Cowboy defense played well, especially considering the injuries to their secondary.

The Jets are not a high-scoring team. Last year, their 34 offensive touchdowns tied them with the Bengals for 20th in the league. They want to play a certain way. Fifteen runs by Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson and 49 drop-backs by Mark Sanchez is not it.

Rex Ryan believes that rushing attempts are more important than rushing yards. They shoot for at least 31 rushing attempts per game. Those runs combined with the pass completions will keep the chains and the clock moving, and keep the defense off the field. That, when you include excellent special teams, gives the Jets the best chance for victory.

Winning can mask many deficiencies. The coaches, however, aren’t fooled. Ryan knows that for the Jets to get  where they want to go, they’re going to have to play a whole lot better than they did on Sunday night, on offense and on defense.

Extra point Walt Bennett, a regular Fifth Down commenter and Jets fan, differed: “I highly doubt that Rex cares more about rushing attempts than rushing yards. He cares about having a running game that dictates what the opposing defense does, but as he eloquently explained last week in a press conference, the Detroit game last year taught him to not be too set in his ways, to do what it takes to win the game.” As always, share your thoughts in the comments.