You’re the opposing coach: how do you game plan the Jets?

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

1. What are the jets weaknesses?

2. Who do you prioritize stopping on Offense?

3. Whose hand do you force it into in Q4?

4. Who do you target on Defense?

Answers might vary week to week.  Consider this more a general or average game plan against the Jets rather than team vs team specific.  

[shevys]

I was just listening to the Cool Your Jets podcast. They do a really nice job of breaking down the matchups going both ways if you want a good in-depth answer. Gonna be a tough game for both teams. Hope we pull it off. 

[Larz]

This offense is much tougher to deal with because they can make you play pick your poison and Rodgers will sniff out what you are doing and make you pay. I would be tempted to play a lot of 2 deep and make Rodgers dump it off and see what Hall does.  If Hall starts to shred it you have to drop a safety down. 
 

The defense is difficult to attack overall but I think the weakness is pretty clear.  Just like Rex’ defense with Revis the popular way to attack this defense will be to run at the edge players to try to wear them out, go 2TE and pick on the linebackers in coverage, and go 4 WR to get Echols on the field.  
 

This 9ers team offense is wicked in how everyone is a nasty blocker including the WRs. 
 

at the end of the day with all the star skill guys they have, Kittle breaking their backs on 3rd down will be key. 

[Warfish]

14 minutes ago, OtherwiseHappyinLife said:

1. What are the jets weaknesses?

2. Who do you prioritize stopping on Offense?

3. Whose hand do you force it into in Q4?

4. Who do you target on Defense?

Answers might vary week to week.  Consider this more a general or average game plan against the Jets rather than team vs team specific.  

Hit Rodgers.  Hit him early.  Hit him hard.  Hit him often.  Test his mobility.  Test his elusiveness.  Test his durability.  Blitz and pressure him all game long, same way teams could occasionally beat Brady in his late years, by hitting him in the mouth as often as possible.

As a bonus, this also hits and tests the Jets possibly fragile O-linemen like AVT, Smith.  Breaking the line helps get to Rodgers.

They're not going to completely "stop" Wilson or Hall, not completely.  But they can break the Jets back on offense if they knock out Rodgers.  

Be assured, the 49ers would much rather play Tyrod Taylor than Aaron Rodgers if they could.

[Joe W. Namath]

You play the Jets straight up.  They can beat you with the pass just as easily as they can beat you with the run.

Pick your poison.

If you want to stack the box, Rodgers will slice and dice you and move up and down the field at will.

If you want to play against the pass, Breece will kill you.

Jets will be seeing base defenses.  Youd be silly to try to force them to beat you a certain way.

 

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

My own answers:

1. What are the jets weaknesses?

Offensively:  -WR outside Garrett Wilson (until Williams proves he is healthy & Lazard that last year was a fluke).  -Rodgers projected mobility outside the pocket.  

Defensively:  Run defense up the gut & misdirection to Clemon’s side (poor instincts).

2. Who do you prioritize stopping on Offense?

Breece Hall & Garrett Wilson.

Force Conklin, Williams, Lazard & Co to win one on win battles.
 

3. Whose hand do you force it into in Q4?

Pressure up the gut to test Rodgers Achilles.

Allen Lazard.
 

4. Who do you target on Defense?

Outside running up the gut, aging vets CJ Mosley and Chuck Clark in the passing game.

[slimjasi]

 pray for Aaron's forgiveness and mercy 

[Barry McCockinner]

I'm focusing on slowing down the run game and testing Aaron Rodgers who hasn't played in a game in a year. On passing downs I'm doubling G. Wilson to see if someone else can beat us.

On offense I'm passing on early downs while Clemons is in at edge and trying to get favorable matchups with Mosely & the safeties.  I'd also try to use hurry up to keep favorable personnel packages (including Clemons) on the field.

[bicketybam]

14 minutes ago, Warfish said:

Hit Rodgers.  Hit him early.  Hit him hard.  Hit him often.  Test his mobility.  Test his elusiveness.  Test his durability.  Blitz and pressure him all game long, same way teams could occasionally beat Brady in his late years, by hitting him in the mouth as often as possible.

They should sack Rodgers, stuff the run, blanket cover our receivers. I think that's a solid game plan for the Niners.

[rex-n-effect]

Score more points

[Bleedin Green]

27 minutes ago, Warfish said:

Hit Rodgers.  Hit him early.  Hit him hard.  Hit him often.  Test his mobility.  Test his elusiveness.  Test his durability.  Blitz and pressure him all game long, same way teams could occasionally beat Brady in his late years, by hitting him in the mouth as often as possible.

As a bonus, this also hits and tests the Jets possibly fragile O-linemen like AVT, Smith.  Breaking the line helps get to Rodgers.

They're not going to completely "stop" Wilson or Hall, not completely.  But they can break the Jets back on offense if they knock out Rodgers.  

Be assured, the 49ers would much rather play Tyrod Taylor than Aaron Rodgers if they could.

Pretty much my exact thoughts, for as much as we all may hope otherwise the OL is still a big question mark for this offense, between a combination of significant health concerns and a few still unproven. Plus as a general rule in the NFL when changing around multiple players on the OL, it will take an adjustment period to gel, even if it does eventually work out, and sitting out the preseason won't help that either.

So you go very aggressive at the OL and if that pays off, it will immediately cause problems for the entire team rather quickly. Now granted if the OL holds up then you could get burned by that kind of aggressiveness, but there's no reason to fear that until they've given opponents real reasons to fear that, which is not something this team has been able to do for a very long time now.

[Jack Straw]

Easy.

I relentlessly run the ball, attacking the Jets wide-9 edges and softness up the middle. On passing downs, I don't aim for completed passes. I coach my QB to hold the ball until the last second, baiting the Jets into taking roughing the passer penalties. This should be worth a minimum of 100+ yards of offense.

On defense, I flood the middle of the field and double cover Wilson. I send multiple pressures, targeting the interior offensive line,. If you're going to beat me, it's going be from Allen Lazard catching the ball, which at best is a 50-50 proposition. 

49ers win 35-0 with this approach.

[Doggin94it]

50 minutes ago, OtherwiseHappyinLife said:

1. What are the jets weaknesses?

2. Who do you prioritize stopping on Offense?

3. Whose hand do you force it into in Q4?

4. Who do you target on Defense?

Answers might vary week to week.  Consider this more a general or average game plan against the Jets rather than team vs team specific.  

When I'm on D, I prioritize stopping the run and Garrett Wilson. 8 man box, double Wilson every play. That leaves Lazard/Mike Williams singled up (when in base), a safety/lb on Conklin or Gipson and on Breece out of the backfield ... and that's ok. On passing downs, I attack Simpson and Tippmann with inside pressure.

When I'm on offense, I look to stress the safeties and flats, and take advantage of that aggressive attacking D. Lots of screens and swing passes to the back, inside power runs at the weakness in the Wide-9. If I have an elite WR, run a bunch of picks to try and free him up from Sauce; if I don't, just write off whoever Sauce is covering. Ideally, my TE is my priority receiving target.

 

[bicketybam]

Sounds like we are doomed, fellas 😢 I'm not even going to watch now.

[Ecuadorian Jet]

1 hour ago, OtherwiseHappyinLife said:

1. What are the jets weaknesses?

2. Who do you prioritize stopping on Offense?

3. Whose hand do you force it into in Q4?

4. Who do you target on Defense?

Answers might vary week to week.  Consider this more a general or average game plan against the Jets rather than team vs team specific.  

Inside Pass Rush against the NYJ guards. Double team Garret Wilson. Focus on those two things, and live with the consequences of letting Breece Hall do what he can.

Expose NYJ defense against the screen pass and no huddles early on in the first quarter.  Attack short passes against LB core, especially the matchups against CJ Mosley. 

[UntouchableCrew]

Stack the box and bring pressure. Try to take away the run game and test the offensive line/Rodgers mobility and toughness.

On offense I'd try to run the ball and see if I could exploit mismatches with my TEs and RBs on anyone other than Quincy. Don't fall behind the sticks.

[Warfish]

12 minutes ago, Ecuadorian Jet said:

Inside Pass Rush against the NYJ guards. Double team Garret Wilson. Focus on those two things, and live with the consequences of letting Breece Hall do what he can.

Expose NYJ defense against the screen pass and no huddles early on in the first quarter.  Attack short passes against LB core, especially the matchups against CJ Mosley. 

Hall, and perhaps Allen too, are the key for the Jets to defeat any "pressure Rodgers" scheme by the 49'ers.

If Hall (and Allen) can punch the 9'ers in the mouth early with a few big runs against pass pressure-oriented D schemes, the 9'ers will have to relent a bit on pressure and pivot to trying harder to stop the Jets run game.

If our RB's can't be productive early, it could allow the 9'ers to double down on the blitz trying to pressure Rodgers.

The best thing we can see early on Monday is Hall ripping off a few big early runs.  It'll open up the whole field for Rodgers in the passing game and likely reduce the pressure load Rodgers would see the rest of the night.

Be assured tho, the 9'ers have the tape of the infamous "4 plays" last year, and will aim to do the same to Rodgers early if they can (pressure wise, not necc. injury wise of course).

[Jet_Engine1]

1 hour ago, Warfish said:

Hit Rodgers.  Hit him early.  Hit him hard.  Hit him often.  Test his mobility.  Test his elusiveness.  Test his durability.  Blitz and pressure him all game long, same way teams could occasionally beat Brady in his late years, by hitting him in the mouth as often as possible.

As a bonus, this also hits and tests the Jets possibly fragile O-linemen like AVT, Smith.  Breaking the line helps get to Rodgers.

They're not going to completely "stop" Wilson or Hall, not completely.  But they can break the Jets back on offense if they knock out Rodgers.  

Be assured, the 49ers would much rather play Tyrod Taylor than Aaron Rodgers if they could.

Its Rex Ryan/BB standard blueprint: run blitz hard to shut down Breece and hit Rodgers, slide heavy coverage and double or triple Garrett Wilson and make them beat you with the "other guys". When it was Darnold or Zach, the plan was flood the field with confusing zone coverage, 4 man rush and let the Ghosts flow...

[LionelRichie]

Throw to TE's and swing passes to RB's.   We haven't stopped either of those since Parcells was here.

[LAD_Brooklyn]

Double Q and force the outside rushers to win their 1 on 1 battle.

If JJ or McDonald lines up opposite of Trent, make sure to give Colton McKivitz (RT) a chip with the RB or TE before releasing out. 

Attack the middle of the field in the passing game. This will stress Mosley and Williams to get depth on drop backs and 9ers can counter with hitting McCaffrey underneath. 

Test the FS/SS in the passing game. 

Defensively, they should stock the box but also bracket Wilson and force the other targets to beat them. 

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

Lots of great thoughts!  Always fun to see a topic get some deeper analysis than the one liners that might not tell a more complete story.

So it seems critical to pretty much all of us that guys like Tyler Conklin, Mike Williams, and Lazard/Gipson win their match-ups.  Otherwise stacked boxes will aim to stop the run and put inside pressure on Rodgers when looking for a double covered Wilson.

Rodgers was top 3 against the blitz in 2022 with a weaker supporting cast but that's a long time ago in football years and given his age & injury.

What's interesting to me is that while OTs get paid the big bucks to protect the QB from blind side or blind spot injury, the inside of the trenches is where a lot of games are won.  A big key to this season with our power gap running game and the need to create a safe pocket for Rodgers to step into will be the following hogs:

Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera Tucker, John Simpson.

 

[Waka Flocka Flacco]

3 guys on Garrett, 3 guys on Quinnen.

[Mogglez]

1 hour ago, Warfish said:

Hit Rodgers.  Hit him early.  Hit him hard.  Hit him often.  Test his mobility.  Test his elusiveness.  Test his durability.  Blitz and pressure him all game long, same way teams could occasionally beat Brady in his late years, by hitting him in the mouth as often as possible.

As a bonus, this also hits and tests the Jets possibly fragile O-linemen like AVT, Smith.  Breaking the line helps get to Rodgers.

They're not going to completely "stop" Wilson or Hall, not completely.  But they can break the Jets back on offense if they knock out Rodgers.  

Be assured, the 49ers would much rather play Tyrod Taylor than Aaron Rodgers if they could.

This.  In the eyes of other teams, the offensive line, until proven otherwise, is only better on-paper.

This could certainly backfire in only a few plays if they are as advertised, but you have to start somewhere.

On offense?  If you have a good-to-great pass catching RB, I’d run a number of quick pass plays out of the backfield.  I’d also call short but effective passes to the TE, or an occasional deep shot up the seam, via a TE or fast and somewhat tall slot WR.  Test the LBs and Safeties.  It’s probably your best bet.

[FidelioJet]

18 minutes ago, Warfish said:

If our RB's can't be productive early, it could allow the 9'ers to double down on the blitz trying to pressure Rodgers.

The best thing we can see early on Monday is Hall ripping off a few big early runs.  It'll open up the whole field for Rodgers in the passing game and likely reduce the pressure load Rodgers would see the rest of the night.

That's the thing with Hall.  If he gets a crease he goes for 6.    I'm not sure the 9ers are going to take that risk.  Ripping off a few big runs can be 14 points in the 1st quarter.

I think you have to play tight on the run game, double Wilson, hope your front four can get there and that Mike Williams isn't near 100%.

[BreeceHallofFame]

I think you have to go rex Ryan exotic blitz to try and expose our OL communication/coaching and get free rushers going at rodgers who can’t run to the sidelines anymore, while doubling GW in every play 

on offense you have to establish the run and demoralize our pass rush 

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

27 minutes ago, Warfish said:

Hall, and perhaps Allen too, are the key for the Jets to defeat any "pressure Rodgers" scheme by the 49'ers.

If Hall (and Allen) can punch the 9'ers in the mouth early with a few big runs against pass pressure-oriented D schemes, the 9'ers will have to relent a bit on pressure and pivot to trying harder to stop the Jets run game.

If our RB's can't be productive early, it could allow the 9'ers to double down on the blitz trying to pressure Rodgers.

The best thing we can see early on Monday is Hall ripping off a few big early runs.  It'll open up the whole field for Rodgers in the passing game and likely reduce the pressure load Rodgers would see the rest of the night.

Be assured tho, the 9'ers have the tape of the infamous "4 plays" last year, and will aim to do the same to Rodgers early if they can (pressure wise, not necc. injury wise of course).

Agreed.

I'd triple Highlight that Breece Hall is most dangerous against stacked boxes.  He also averaged over 6 yards per carry in a 1 gap scheme versus 3.5ish in the wide zone.  SF needs to be very cautious about Breece in both the running AND passing games.

Hall, Allen and our TEs will need to be strong pass blockers if SF decides to blitz often.  This is one of those reasons you get a guy like Allen to replace Dalvin Cook / Izzy (not good pass blockers) and the waiver pick-up TE.

That said, SF blitzed only 17.3% last year -- 2nd to lowest in the NFL.  A major difference from us is they don't have the same CB trio.    

 

[chirorob]

37 minutes ago, UntouchableCrew said:

Stack the box and bring pressure. Try to take away the run game and test the offensive line/Rodgers mobility and toughness.

On offense I'd try to run the ball and see if I could exploit mismatches with my TEs and RBs on anyone other than Quincy. Don't fall behind the sticks.

Yeah, on D that's 100% what I'd do.  See how Rodgers looks after a year off.

On offense, I'd run till they stop me, and I fully expect Kittle to have 7 catches for 100 yards.  The Jets do NOT cover tight ends well, and Kittle is excellent.  The only reason he doesn't get 100 catches a year is the balance they have on O, and he is such a good blocker.

[RoadFan]

Run CmC, on the ground and in the air.

Kittle.

Deebo with some funky plays.

[Claymation]

This is a great question.

SF should move Bosa to the left side, NY's right side and have him go against Moses. Smith will neutralize any edge rusher so why waste Bosa. SF should run blitz on running downs. And be quick to move personnel on obvious passing downs. SF should shadow Hall, and roll the coverage to GW. SF will let the TEs, WR2 & slot beat them. And if they do, SF will tip their cap.

SF will run the ball up the gut and test the middle of NY defense. Make Chuck Clark creep up and hit George Kittles over the top.

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

Looking at SF specifically, according to jetsxfactor there was only 1 game last year where Nick Bosa didn't have a QB hit (defined as a knock-down).

That was against Baltimore where he lined up almost exclusively at Left Edge against Morgan Moses.  A big key to stopping him was to send a variety of help in the form of TEs, RBs, and WRs.  Moses was 'only' one vs. one  22% of the time.  That's like me saying I only had to hold my ground against a vicious bear 22% of the time.

Important because the Jets will likely not have the luxury of sending out as many receivers in the passing game.  We can probably expect a healthy dose of chips followed by leak outs.  Pass directly in Bosa's direction to keep him off balance.    

[ARodJetsFan]

27 minutes ago, Claymation said:

This is a great question.

SF should move Bosa to the left side, NY's right side and have him go against Moses. Smith will neutralize any edge rusher so why waste Bosa. SF should run blitz on running downs. And be quick to move personnel on obvious passing downs. SF should shadow Hall, and roll the coverage to GW. SF will let the TEs, WR2 & slot beat them. And if they do, SF will tip their cap.

SF will run the ball up the gut and test the middle of NY defense. Make Chuck Clark creep up and hit George Kittles over the top.

FWIW, Moses had an excellent game against Bosa last season with Baltimore - I believe one of only 2 games the entire season, where Bosa didn't register a QB hit.

Read that somewhere today....

[Barry McCockinner]

23 minutes ago, OtherwiseHappyinLife said:

Looking at SF specifically, according to jetsxfactor there was only 1 game last year where Nick Bosa didn't have a QB hit (defined as a knock-down).

That was against Baltimore where he lined up almost exclusively at Left Edge against Morgan Moses.  A big key to stopping him was to send a variety of help in the form of TEs, RBs, and WRs.  Moses was 'only' one vs. one  22% of the time.  That's like me saying I only had to hold my ground against a vicious bear 22% of the time.

Important because the Jets will likely not have the luxury of sending out as many receivers in the passing game.  We can probably expect a healthy dose of chips followed by leak outs.  Pass directly in Bosa's direction to keep him off balance.    

This reminds me of the Cowboys game last year when Micah parsons was beating our o-line like a drum and a bunch of us were screaming for a little help from the TE's or RB's or whatever and Hackett just ignored the fact that Parsons was dominating and let it continue. Good times.

Thank God we have an OC this year.

[Maynard13]

2 hours ago, OtherwiseHappyinLife said:

1. What are the jets weaknesses?

2. Who do you prioritize stopping on Offense?

3. Whose hand do you force it into in Q4?

4. Who do you target on Defense?

Answers might vary week to week.  Consider this more a general or average game plan against the Jets rather than team vs team specific.  

While we're at it, Is there a God?

[Claymation]

6 minutes ago, ARodJetsFan said:

FWIW, Moses had an excellent game against Bosa last season with Baltimore - I believe one of only 2 games the entire season, where Bosa didn't register a QB hit.

Read that somewhere today....

That is true, and had some help. And not to disparage Morgan but Tyron is a different type of player.

[Mr. Rogers]

Screens. So many screens, draws, and outside runs. This team can rush the passer and beat vertically oriented offenses (think Bills) but has a horrific track record against speedy, west coast offenses (think Dolphins). Also poor against running QBs unless they try to play hero ball like Allen.

Defense is a quagmire, but I think the top strategy will be to try to beat the OL through the middle. This OL is injury prone and will likely lack cohesion early. Stunts, linebacker blitzes, stacking the box. Don't bother trying to be too tricksy with disguised coverages, just try to get after Rodgers and let the OL beat itself with penalties and blown up plays. Teams will need to risk letting our outside playmakers beat them, so we best hope Wilson and Williams are on point. Also, that Breece can continue to be a weapon on rollouts and even out wide.

On this note, I'm worried about matching teams like the niners, phins and packers this year. Conversely, I'm fairly confident about those like the Bills, Vikings, Texans, etc. A few teams like the Broncos or Steelers would worry me more if they had more offensive talent and execution - in those games I really just worry whether Rodgers still has "it".

Tldr; offenses that spread the field horizontally and use our DL aggression against us are my top concerns. I'm not worried about a specific aspect of the offense, just the OL and its health/discipline.