Game Observations (CHI)

[KRL]

I'm not going to lie after CHI scored on their first two drives and was up
10-7, I was nervous.  Was Trevor Siemian and an inferior/injured team going
to derail the Jets playoff hopes?  Thankfully the defense stabilized and Mike
White ran the offense to perfection as the Jets ran away from CHI 31-10.
Let's take a look:

Special Teams

- Greg Zuerlein was 4/4 on XP and only 1/2 on FGs (missing a 53 yarder).  But
he made a game changing 57 yarder at the end of the first half to put the team
up 17-10.  In a rainy downpour I expected a shank but Zuerlein came through.
And with the weather getting worse it didn't feel like CHI would be able to
score a TD in the second half.

- Compared to last week Braden Mann barely saw the field as he only had to punt
twice all game (59 yd avg).  He wasn't wearing gloves on Zuerlein's first FG attempt
and couldn't handle a low FG snap.  But he made the "fashion" adjustment and was
solid the rest of the game.

- Solid punt return game by Braxton Berrios (19 yd avg) as his 22 yarder put the
team at midfield.  Which ultimatley led to Elijah Moore's TD that put the team up
24-10.

Defense

- As stated earlier I was nervous as CHI scored on their first two drives.  It seemed
like the defense was a step slow (too much turkey?) as they tried to decipher what
Siemian was doing.  But good adjustments and execution allowed them to pitch a shut
out over the final 44 minutes of the game.  It was nowhere as dominant as last week's
effort but even so they gave up only 10 points.

- Ahmad Gardner (3 Tkls) and DJ Reed (6 Tkls) had their "worst" game of the year.  
Usually they've given up nothing and taken the ball away but today they had plays
that led to scores.  As Gardner was called for a pass interference penalty (his
first?) which led to a CHI FG.  And Reed gave up a TD as the CHI receiver (Pringle)
pulled the pass out of his hands.  After those "blips" they recovered and shut down
CHI receivers over the last three quarters.

- CJ Mosley had the best defensive "stat" day with 10 Tkls, Pass Defensed, QB Hit and
an INT.  But he was exploited early in the game on a couple of RB crossing routes.

- Bryce Huff in his limited reps as a "designated pass rusher" showed up again with a
Sack, TFL and a QB Hit.

Offense

- I'll credit this observation to Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network.  He's said in the
past "that the Shanahan offense has completions baked into it".  And today we saw those
completions flow easily as Mike White ran the offense to perfection (Mike LaFleur sure
got smart in a week).  Granted, CHI was a poorly rated defense but how enjoyable was it
to see a "two handed" offense move up and down the field?

- Excellent game by the OLine as health finally smiles its face on them with Max Mitchell
returning to RT.  They kept Mike White clean in the pocket (one sack) and opened up holes
in the running game (32 rushes / 158 yards).

- And for the first time in quite a while there were multiple skill players that stood out:

 * Garrett Wilson with 5 catches for 95 yards and 2 TDs.
 * Elijah Moore finally showed up with 2 catches for 64 yards and a TD.      
 * Tyler Conklin with 3 catches for 50 yards.    
 * With Michael Carter going out with an injury, Zonovan Knight and Ty Johnson shined.  Knight
   had 14 rushes for 69 yards and 3 catches for 34 yards.  Very impressed with his combination
   of speed and power (which we haven't seen yet from James Robinson).  While Johnson took 
   advantage of his increased reps as he had 5 rushes for 62 yards and a TD.

QB

- There's nothing to say except Mike White, Mike White, Mike White.  He ran the offense to
perfection as he was 22/28 for 315 yards and 3 TDs.  He was quick with his decisions, scanned
the field for receivers and was willing to hit his "checkdown" when nothing was available.
Extremely impressive was the fact that his 22 completions went to 10 receivers never allowing
the defense to focus on a specifc player.  White also showed two traits I didn't know he had
as he played in a rainy downpour.  First was his hand size, with a slick ball he was able to
grip and spin it with no wobble on his passes.  Second is his arm strength, on balls into the
middle of the field he was able to get it into tight windows.  Particularly impressive was the
second TD to Wilson, as White got it through the hands of a LB into Wilson's hands.  You 
couldn't have asked for a better debut, but the challenges will get tougher can he continue
to have a high completion % and not turn the ball over.  Let's hope so. 

 

I'm just now reviewing the tape if I see anything else I'll post it

[Bronx]

16 minutes ago, KRL said:

Elijah Moore finally showed up with 2 catches for 64 yards and a TD.      

Elijah finally had a QB that showed up.

[bostonmajet]

Mike White is a better fit for this offense. So much so, I don't know why they drafted ZW. They should have traded down and drafted Mac Jones. I am also hit by the concern that the OC should tailor the O for the QB, but ... While it is anyones guess on whether White can win the tough games or if ZW will ever be the guy - it was nice for a week to score 4TDs. We beat up a team we should have, but a win is a win and we looked like a quality NFL offense again.

The OL was much better, but again you expect that from playing such a soft D. But, the jets of old would have played down to the competition - again, glad we didn't do that.

It is nice ending the long weekend with a win.

[JetBlue]

The entire offensive team just had a different energy.  Garrett Wilson is such a stud, I am looking forward to watching to continue to improve and build chemistry with White.  The same with Moore; he showed some real explosiveness that we have not seen (mainly because he wasn't getting the football).    

I loved the play of Tyler Conklin as he came through again and again on third down.    It was good to see Davis back but I would still look to get Mims more involved as he is definitely the best blocking WR on the team and could replace Davis next year.   That said, I expect Davis just provides another weapon for White.   

My biggest takeaway from this game is the play of Bam Knight.  I had wanted to see this kid play since Hall went down.   He definitely is more explosive than Robinson and runs with more power than Carter.   He also demonstrated that he has good hands.  Ty Johnson stepped up and had a good game as well.   I think perhaps the most underrated aspect of the game was the play of the offensive line.  If they can continue to play like this in both pass and run blocking, I really do like our chances to make the playoffs. 

[nycdan]

One addition on the Zeurlein FG.  That would have made it from 70 yards out.  In the rain.  

[greenwave81]

Did Max Mitchell play today?  I didn't see it.

ANd I saw a lot of Feeney in the 2nd half...did Herbig not last the entire game?

[bla bla bla]

18 minutes ago, bostonmajet said:

Mike White is a better fit for this offense. So much so, I don't know why they drafted ZW. They should have traded down and drafted Mac Jones. I am also hit by the concern that the OC should tailor the O for the QB, but ... While it is anyones guess on whether White can win the tough games or if ZW will ever be the guy - it was nice for a week to score 4TDs. We beat up a team we should have, but a win is a win and we looked like a quality NFL offense again.

The OL was much better, but again you expect that from playing such a soft D. But, the jets of old would have played down to the competition - again, glad we didn't do that.

It is nice ending the long weekend with a win.

Could have definitely traded down for Jimmy G. That's the move I would have made in hindsight.

[Integrity28]

The defense was fantastic today. The other team shows up, too. 

Any defense that holds teams to 13 or less have done their job.

[Larz]

Yeah. I watched the game. 

[Alka]

1 hour ago, KRL said:

I'm not going to lie after CHI scored on their first two drives and was up
10-7, I was nervous.

I do believe that we are in uncharted territory here, in that the Jets began the game by taking an inferior opponent lightly, and it cost them in the start of the game by playing down to their opponent, and being down 10-7.  The Jets woke up after that, and played the way they needed to on defense.

The other thing I think you didn't mention is the poor tackling again in this game, which is now 2 games in a row with poor tackling.  Saleh even talked about it in his post game news conference.  The Jets will have to tackle much better if they have any hopes of beating Minnesota or Buffalo in the next 2 weeks.

Other than that, I continue to love you analysis, and look forward to your posts.

[ScarletKnight89]

There's a funny play with 7 mins left in the 2nd quarter where Sauce Gardner is out wide to cover the gunner on a Chicago punt and he looks over to the Bears sideline as the ball is being snapped and the gunner blows right by him. Sauce knew he screwed up at the end of the play. I don't know why but I found that hilariously while I am watching the game back on NFL Plus. 

[shevys]

59 minutes ago, greenwave81 said:

Did Max Mitchell play today?  I didn't see it.

ANd I saw a lot of Feeney in the 2nd half...did Herbig not last the entire game?

Yes, Max Mitchell played, as did Herbig. Believe Feeney came in for Tomlinson at one point, but may be wrong about that.

[Sonny Werblin]

Based on thr player post game statements, we need to give credit where credit us due. It’s been quite a long time since one jet player has brought the entire ream together. So, a bug thank you should be extended to Zach Wilson. 

[C Mart]

1 hour ago, Bronx said:

Elijah finally had a QB that showed up.

Good to have Herbig back this week. 

[C Mart]

36 minutes ago, shevys said:

Yes, Max Mitchell played, as did Herbig. Believe Feeney came in for Tomlinson at one point, but may be wrong about that.

He did for a couple of plays when Tomlinson went out to get his shoe back on and tied.