D dept. : ..how Todd Bowles shook up jets' defense with big & small changes

[kelly]

Say this for Todd Bowles: He's not afraid to shake up the status quo.

The New York Jets' coach made a handful of significant moves during the run-up to Sunday's game, starting with the release of underachieving linebacker Quinton Coples. From there, he made personnel and schematic changes, including: Demoting an every-down mainstay and replacing the No. 6 overall pick with a former practice-squad player.

Five defensive wrinkles in the Jets' 38-20 win over the Miami Dolphins  :

1. A reduction in Demario Davis' playing time: For two-plus seasons, Davis has been an every-down linebacker, playing in the base defense and every sub package. On Sunday, he alternated series with Erin Henderson, resulting in a season-low play-time percentage -- 49 percent (35 of 72 snaps). Bowles said Henderson (season-high 39 percent) earned the playing time, but it's no secret that Davis has struggled at times. Davis took it well, saying, "When you have a lot of depth, you're able to do that."

2. More speed on the edge: Bowles made a comment last week about the lack of outside pass rushers on the roster. Guess what? Justin Houston isn't walking through the door anytime soon, so Bowles tried to solve the problem from within. Rookie Lorenzo Mauldin, their only natural edge rusher, was given an expanded role on passing downs. He played a season-high 53 percent of the snaps. Mike Catapano, a former Princeton standout promoted from the practice squad only two weeks ago, was used with Mauldin as a bookend rusher. That's what you call thinking outside the box.

3. More pine time for Leonard Williams: On passing downs, the Jets used Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson on the inside, with Catapano and Mauldin as the outside rushers. Williams was the odd-man out, as he played a season-low 49 percent. A lot of coaches wouldn't take a high first-round pick off the field, but Bowles wants people to know he runs a meritocracy. Williams has a bright future, but he's not making an impact as a pass rusher (only one-half sack). Instead of putting him in pass-rushing situations, Bowles limited Williams to the base defense.

4. Smaller lineup: The Jets played their dime package for approximately 20 plays, roughly three times their usual amount, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Seld0m-used Dexter McDougle was deployed as the sixth defensive back. (Interestingly, former No. 1 pick Dee Milliner didn't play a single snap on defense.) The desire to get more speed on the field probably factored into the decision. They used dime even when the Dolphins had only three receivers on the field, practically daring them to run. They ran only nine times and threw 58 passes, which probably explains why their offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor, was fired Monday.

5. Less blitzing: The Jets went into the game as the No. 1 blitzing defense in the league -- 50.1 percent of dropbacks. Everybody knows blitzing is the hallmark of a Bowles defense. The efficiency tailed off in recent weeks, so he decided to throw a curve. He broke with his tendencies, blitzing only 23 percent of the time (14 of 61 dropbacks).

>    http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/56607/how-todd-bowles-shook-up-jets-defense-with-big-and-small-changes

[kelly]

Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

The Jets set a franchise record by holding the Dolphins to 12 rushing yards -- yes, 12. The Jets made a change at outside linebacker. Demario Davis, an every-down player for the first 10 games, was used in a rotation with Erin Henderson. They alternated series. "You have to earn playing time around here," Todd Bowles said, "and Erin has done that."

>     http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

more re our coach..

~ ~ It's not a rivalry in the traditional sense, certainly not as intense as New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox or Michigan-Ohio State. But the New York Jets and New York Giants are rivals, no doubt. They play in the same metropolitan area, share the same stadium and compete for the same entertainment dollars and endorsement money.

Todd Bowles disagrees.

"No, I don’t think it’s a rivalry because you don’t play them as much," said the Jets' coach, who grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey. "They’re not in the same division. You only play them once every [four] years. The fact that we’re in the same city, same stadium makes it very interesting for the fan base but other than that, no."

Years ago, back in the 1980s, Jets-Giants had more juice because they used to play each other in charity basketball games during the offseason. Every so often, you'd read about a chippy game between the two teams. Those times are long gone. These days, you're lucky if the players interact on Twitter, let alone a basketball court.Still, I say it's a rivalry. They're neighbors, chasing the same prize, and they've experienced enough spats over the years to keep it interesting.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is new in these parts, but he received a quick history lesson from teammate Nick Mangold, who arrived in 2006. They talked on Monday."I’m sure, just throughout the week, I’ll get a better sense from the guys that have been around and been in that type of game," Fitzpatrick said. "[There’s] already plenty of chatter around the community with different people that I know that are either Jets or Giants fans. It’s going to be a great atmosphere, that I’m looking forward to."

What did Mangold tell him ?

Mangold said he talked logistics. Because the Jets are the away team, he told Fitzpatrick they will have to park in a different stadium lot than usual. He also said to expect most of the Jets' fans to be tucked away in the upper deck, just as they would in a traditional road game."It's different having another team in your hometown," Mangold said. "It's something, until you experience it, you don't really understand it."

>    http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/56628/should-we-call-jets-giants-a-rivalry-todd-bowles-says-no

[rex-n-effect]

As much as I hated the string of losses in the middle of the season, for the long term it seemed to be an important step for Bowles. Before it seemed like he was getting increasingly conservative and falling back on what the team was rather than what it should be and that allowed the team to slip back into bad habits and keep putting players on the field who weren't performing. Once he was freed from trying to string together wins and start coaching with a plan to win he seems in control of the team and the team is respecting his leadership.

[kelly]

more re our " D "...

Sunday’s 38-20 win over the Miami Dolphins was led in part by superb contributions from the New York Jets defense.

S Calvin Pryor delivered a crushing blow early in the first quarter on Dolphins wideout Rishard Matthews, who left the game. That blast sent shock waves throughout MetLife Stadium.“People are saying that,” said Pryor about that hit setting a tone for the game. “I would hope so. I think it’s trying to bring that energy to our defense and trying to be a leader out there.”

For the first time this season, the secondary lined up without All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis, who was out after sustaining a concussion last week against the Texans.But with the depth and talent in the Jets backfield, head coach Todd Bowles’ theory of the next man up gave CB Marcus Williams the opportunity to start. Williams would give the Jets offense a spark by intercepting a Ryan Tannehill pass intended for WR Kenny Stills early in the first quarter.Williams left the game at the end of his interception return with a knee injury, but with his team-leading fifth interception on the season, Ryan Fitzpatrick and the offense would strike first on a 12-play, 72-yard drive for a touchdown.

The Jets defense led the way for 10 points off of turnovers against the 'Fins during the game.“We played more basic on defense,” said Bowles. “We know we have good football players. We don’t have to help them too much. They know how to play together.”The Jets held the Dolphins to 0-for-6 on third-down conversions in the first half and 4-for-15 in the game as well as holding the 'Fins rushing attack to 12 yards on nine attempts."We brought some pressure at times and stopped the run early in the down,” said Pryor. “That’s what creates long third downs and that’s what we wanted. Coach called a game today for us to go out there and stop what they were doing.”

“We knew coming in that they were a good rush defense team,” said Tannehill. "I thought we’d get more than 12, but we knew it was a good rush defense team and they did a good job.”Along with canceling the Dolphins running game, the Jets' defensive front took Tannehill to the turf on two occasions. Muhammad Wilkerson notched his eighth sack of the season in the second quarter, and late in the fourth quarter Sheldon Richardson executed a strip sack, with rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin grabbing the first fumble recovery of his pro career.

“We played Jets football today,” said Richardson. “That’s something we try to do every game. Usually when we stop the run, we have games like this. We were able to cause turnovers. I finally caused one. Just great team ball.”With the win over the Dolphins, the Jets move to 6-5, right in the AFC playoff hunt as December rolls around.“Everything we want is right in front of us,” said Pryor. “We just have to keep winning, control our own destiny, and hopefully something good happens.”

>    http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Defense-Rises-to-the-Occasion/3efdfad0-01e6-45af-8a76-05c0cef1ab4d

[kelly]

Jets' Rush Defense Record: 8 Things to Know

It used to be a big deal when a team set a record for fewest rushing yards allowed in a game. It hearkened back to the hardscrabble, cloud-of-dust days of the sport. No longer, now that the passing game is king in the NFL.But coaches and players alike still tout the importance of the run game, and run defense, in winning football. Unless they're kidding us all, it does matter that the Jets, whatever the reasons, held the Dolphins to a franchise-record 12 rushing yards in their 38-20 win Sunday.

"Twelve yards says we were able to stop the run and we were effective as a defense," LB Demario Davis said. "That's a big thing for us every week, to be able to stop the run. We were able to do it, and the scoreboard kind of showed it, too."In honor of days gone by and big games ahead, here are eight things to know about the Green & White's defensive rushing record:

1. The History

The Jets set a high bar in this record entry early on, holding the Raiders to 17 yards on 17 carries at Shea Stadium in a 35-13 Saturday night win in 1964. Twenty-two-years later, another era of defense limited the Patriots to 17 yards on 10 carries in a 31-24 conquest at old Sullivan Stadium in 1986. The record wasn't threatened for another 29 years.

2. All of a Sudden...

The Jets actually set the record again earlier this year in the 30-23 loss at New England, when Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots decided to run only nine times and gained 16 yards. Meanwhile, Brady threw 54 times, completing 34 for 355 yards. (Very close to Ryan Tannehill's 33-for-58 for 351 Sunday).

3. Attempts and Average

The nine carries by the Patriots and Dolphins this year established the franchise record for fewest attempts in a game by an opponent. And Miami's 1.33 yards per carry is the third-lowest in a game against the Jets, topped by the 1.00 by the Raiders in that '64 game and a 1.27 the next year at the Boston Patriots.

4. Rushing First Downs

The Jets also tied a franchise and NFL record by allowing no rushing first downs by the Dolphins. a goose egg allowed by the Jets only four times before, most recently vs. Indianapolis in 2012. Even the Pats this year had three rush first downs, two on Brady keepers.

Randy Lange @rlangejets

One historic feature on historic day as Jets beat Dolphins 38-20: They set franchise record in allowing MIA 12 yards on 9 rushes.

5. "Long" Runs

Sunday's game matched a distinction held by only one other Jets defense, in that 2012 Colts game. For the second time in franchise history, opponents did not execute a running play longer than 5 yards. The Dolphins' long run Sunday was a 5-yarder by rookie Jay Ajayi on third-and-25 late in the opening period.

6. No TD Runs

The Jets also don't like to yield rushing touchdowns — it's one of the tenets of Todd Bowles' defense. For the ninth game this season, they held an opponent without a rush TD. The franchise record is 10 games, achieved several times, most recently in 2008.

7. The Audience

A number of the men who played in the games mentioned in this piece were in attendance at MetLife Sunday, for the confluence of the Jets' Ring of Honor, Super Bowl III and Homecoming observances. This fact wasn't lost on one of the players who helped make Sunday's record possible. "That's definitely an honor to be a part of this defense in our stadium today that set that record," S Calvin Pryor said. "And hopefully more great things are to come."

8. Blueprint for the Future?

No doubt the Dolphins' "cooperation" was needed in setting this mark, as was the Patriots' five weeks ago. But their why-bother approach could mean this record might just be lowered again in coming weeks. Such as perhaps by the Giants this Sunday? They have Eli Manning throwing to sure targets such as Odell Beckham, Rueben Randle and Shane Vereen. They also have a rushing offense that is 28th in yards/game and 27th in yards/carry.

>     http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangefb/Jets-Rush-Defense-Record-8-Things-to-Know/2195ce16-378c-4f92-b448-68317226845a

[JohnnyLV]

As much as I hated the string of losses in the middle of the season, for the long term it seemed to be an important step for Bowles. Before it seemed like he was getting increasingly conservative and falling back on what the team was rather than what it should be and that allowed the team to slip back into bad habits and keep putting players on the field who weren't performing. Once he was freed from trying to string together wins and start coaching with a plan to win he seems in control of the team and the team is respecting his leadership.

aagree 100%...took toover lonLondon quite honestlyrics but a good positive sign...he needs to continue down this path