Secondary Aptitude Test- Passing Marks – Week 1 (Bengals)

[JetNation]

The 2017 NFL Draft for the Jets were marked with even more commitment to the defense, as they doubled down on safeties in the first two rounds.  So why did a team filled with so many holes throughout the roster focus on one position?  It’s because they had one of the worst secondaries in the league last year.  Throughout the off-season, we will break down the Jets’ secondary and their ineptitude in defending the pass.   It goes without saying that not all the plays were bad, so we will show some of the few good plays first.

Passing Marks:

1)

3rd & 6

On this play, the Jets come out in press man coverage, with a single high safety in Pryor, with Gilchrist moving back as the ball is about to be snapped.  This is the defense that most of the personnel on the team has been drafted for.  Rex Ryan was infamous for being aggressive on third downs, and constructed a team that is more suited for press man coverage, and Todd Bowles followed a similar mantra thereafter.  All the receivers are well covered, forcing Andy Dalton to move up into the pocket and take a sack.  One thing of note here is Darrelle Revis, who is on press coverage with AJ Green.  Notice how Green is well covered on this play, and not an option for Dalton.

2)

2nd & 15

The Jets are again in press coverage to begin this play, but Marcus Williams moves backwards before the ball is snapped.  The Bengals are trying to set up a screen pass on this play (as you can see the lack of effort from the three receivers to the right of the play), but defensive lineman Lawrence Thomas makes a nice play to break it up.  Once again, the Jets succeed with press man coverage, and a single high safety.

3)

3rd & 15

This is actually a great play, and design by the Jets.  Revis is again playing press man coverage on AJ Green and covers him extremely well on this play.  However, the pass is going away from that side, and towards the right side of the line.  The Jets show very good adjustment here because they show man coverage, but switch to zone near the end, which is why this pass is intercepted.  When Dalton throws this ball, he is presuming man coverage, for which this is a great throw.  The ball is already in the air prior to the receiver making the break towards the outside, but Marcus Williams is switching on this play, and intercepts this pass.  If the Jets were in man coverage, this most likely would be a completed pass.

4)

2nd & 20

The Jets get a sack on this play, and for the most part the secondary does their job.  Revis is actually caught out of position for this play, as there is a quick opening for a pass as he reacts to the route, but Dalton is not looking towards the receiver.  The rest of the crew holds their ground, forcing Dalton to move up in the pocket and get sacked.  The target for the Bengals is the deep in route through the middle, but Darron Lee is blocking the passing lane on this play with a safety over the top.  Dalton tries to buy time by moving up, but it doesn’t end in success.

5)

1st & Goal

The Jets do a good job of getting the sack here, and preventing a TD.  Revis is the only CB on this play to not show press coverage (although another CB rolls into zone coverage once the play goes in motion) and the Bengals are clearly going to target the right side of the field on this play.  The Bengals correctly surmise that the right side of the field will have Green vs. Revis (playing back) and a receiver cutting across the middle with a safety having to make a choice.  The safety doubles Green on this play briefly, causing Dalton to wait for the play to develop.  However, Leonard Williams gets the sack before Dalton could pull the trigger.  It’s a good thing, because Revis gets beat by Green once the safety moves on and Green has an easy TD ahead of him if there is more time on this play.

6)

3rd & 19

The Jets show press man coverage again, with tiered safeties, and stop the Bengals on this third down.  Notice Revis covering AJ Green again, and how playing press coverage helps him stay right with Green.   The Bengals go to a check down play and Darron Lee makes a good read, and great tackle in open space.

7)

2nd & 18

The defense comes out again in press coverage, except one corner, and get the job done.  Again, notice Revis playing press coverage on Green and succeeding.   The only CB not playing press coverage seems to be Buster Skrine, who promptly gets beat to the out route but Dalton is not looking towards him.

8)

2nd & 4

The Jets show press man coverage with a single high safety on this play, and they bring the pressure with Williams.  Again, notice how the defense holds up with press coverage.

Conclusion:

The Jets did show some good tendencies at times, but this is not a roster that was good at playing zone coverage.  They excelled better at press man coverage.  Revis does a much better job on the receiver when he is in press coverage, and it’s a complete mystery as to why he abandons it during this game, and in the subsequent games.   While this does paint a decent picture of the defense, you may not feel the same after the next article, which deals with the failures.

 

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[T0mShane]

Like the effort, but the team quit. I'd love a series of film study-type articles that tracks the number of time Wilkerson straight up quit on a play and Darron Lee straight up got buried on a play. 

[win4ever]

6 hours ago, T0mShane said:

Like the effort, but the team quit. I'd love a series of film study-type articles that tracks the number of time Wilkerson straight up quit on a play and Darron Lee straight up got buried on a play. 

It's much harder to do one for just the LBs and DL because I'm not sure what the assignment is based on the play.  For DBs, the formation and play tell you what the roles are and mostly in what coverage they are in.  However, for say someone like Lee, he's chasing down a RB, but he goes to the outside, the RB cuts back in and goes for 20 yards, who's fault is it?  Does Lee have outside contain? Or Did Lee just over-run the play?  So a lot of plays are open for debating, which kinda makes the article pointless.  If we knew the play calls, then it'd be great.  

One thing I have to say about Lee, I don't think I've ever seen a LB in position to make a play, whiff so much while being so close.  It's like Kyle Wilson reincarnated because he'd be right next to the guy, and the receiver catches the ball anyway.  

[Jetdawgg]

Great job bro. Thanks

[AFJF]

11 hours ago, T0mShane said:

Like the effort, but the team quit. I'd love a series of film study-type articles that tracks the number of time Wilkerson straight up quit on a play and Darron Lee straight up got buried on a play. 

I'd like to see number of receptions made by an opposing receiver with no defensive player within five yards.  It happened a lot late in the season and was confirmation that the team had given up and wasn't interested in playing.

[SickJetFan]

4 hours ago, AFJF said:

I'd like to see number of receptions made by an opposing receiver with no defensive player within five yards.  It happened a lot late in the season and was confirmation that the team had given up and wasn't interested in playing.

i would personally rather see analysis on the games where they still had a chance to make playoffs.  That is where you will separate the real JAGS from the rest.

[win4ever]

11 hours ago, Jetdawgg said:

Great job bro. Thanks

Thanks

9 hours ago, AFJF said:

I'd like to see number of receptions made by an opposing receiver with no defensive player within five yards.  It happened a lot late in the season and was confirmation that the team had given up and wasn't interested in playing.

It gets bad after awhile , especially when it's clear that Revis gave up.  

5 hours ago, SickJetFan said:

i would personally rather see analysis on the games where they still had a chance to make playoffs.  That is where you will separate the real JAGS from the rest.

To be honest, I'm not sure we had too many people this side of the coach and Fitz that thought we had a chance after the KC game and Fitz was still in there.  After a journeyman QB throws one of the worst games in football history, to have your coach not even question the starting QB, pretty sure most people knew it was over.  

Right after that announcement, I started watching out for NCAA QBs.  

[AFJF]

26 minutes ago, win4ever said:

Thanks

It gets bad after awhile , especially when it's clear that Revis gave up.  

To be honest, I'm not sure we had too many people this side of the coach and Fitz that thought we had a chance after the KC game and Fitz was still in there.  After a journeyman QB throws one of the worst games in football history, to have your coach not even question the starting QB, pretty sure most people knew it was over.  

Right after that announcement, I started watching out for NCAA QBs.  

I know....sadly I had a great view from my seats at MetLife that showed a bunch of dudes who were ready for the offseason about six weeks early.

[win4ever]

29 minutes ago, AFJF said:

I know....sadly I had a great view from my seats at MetLife that showed a bunch of dudes who were ready for the offseason about six weeks early.

Yeah too many guys were worried about the offseason by then.  I think that was the biggest reason why Marshall is gone, because he clearly threw in the towel despite his quotes.  He wasn't even trying by the time Petty got in there.  

[SickJetFan]

1 hour ago, win4ever said:

Thanks

It gets bad after awhile , especially when it's clear that Revis gave up.  

To be honest, I'm not sure we had too many people this side of the coach and Fitz that thought we had a chance after the KC game and Fitz was still in there.  After a journeyman QB throws one of the worst games in football history, to have your coach not even question the starting QB, pretty sure most people knew it was over.  

Right after that announcement, I started watching out for NCAA QBs.  

nah i dont think they all gave up until 6th week or so and even then it was only the premadonas the rest know they being watched on tape for the next season, next team, etc..

fans gave up for sure.

[win4ever]

36 minutes ago, SickJetFan said:

nah i dont think they all gave up until 6th week or so and even then it was only the premadonas the rest know they being watched on tape for the next season, next team, etc..

fans gave up for sure.

I don't think the young guys did, but I think the veterans knew the season was starting to end.  The fans surely gave up, but the team faced some good defenses in that time so it's hard to tell.  I think the problem was that morale was gone, because it was clear Fitz didn't have the same luck this season but the coach stuck by him.  I think the young guys like Anderson, Enunwa were trying harder because they sensed an opportunity.