With all this talk about how the way to beat Pitt is to run it down their throats, imagine my surprise when I checked and discovered that Pitt is number one in the league defending against the run. 2.9 ypc. Second best is 3.5. And oh yeah fewest rushing TD's allowed. I am sure, however, the Jets can call some plays that opponents in the 13 previous games Pitt played never called, never even thought of, and the Jets will run right through them. Sounds like a plan!
I think some people are not in touch with reality - they criticize trying to run it too much then criticize Sanchez (and the passing game) as well. We need to try and run it, expecially against Pitt. Poulamalo will eat Sanchez alive if we throw it too much. A three and out with a good punt is not the end of the world against Pitt, we will stop their O all day. We need to play field position and mistake free football. The running game has not been as awful as people claim. The problem is we are constantly getting a holding or some stupid penalty that kills drives to the point we cannot recover. I think we throw too much - a couple times on Sunday on third and four or five in Phins territory instead of throwing we needed to have the mindset that we are going on fourth and RUN it two more times if necessary. On one of those occasions we did go on fourth - so if you knew you were going on fourth- why didn't you run it on third, the third down incomplete killed us. The real point is when we do run, the plays have to be more varied. I still cannot figure out why we have a great Full back and another supposed up and coming one yet they have been invisible. We almost never use them as lead blockers on running plays. We rarely try to run outside. When we pass we never use play action. Even on the rare occasion we throw on first down or second and short , we do something stupid like a shotgun or no backs in the backfield to take away any doubt what we are doing.
Can't wait for the Sanchez is a bust threads when we end up throwing the ball 46 times again this week...
This weekend will be time for a lot more play-action passes... and for plays with Greene and LT in the backfield simultaneously. It's not like T Rich has been a dominant blocking back this year or LT and SG can't do an adequate job of blocking for several plays. "Here we go!"
The running game has definitely stalled. Mangold's bad shoulder is affecting him, and now no Woody. LT's legs are wearing down, and Greene just doesn't look as fast as he did last year. Now we play perhaps the best run D in the NFL. I think the way to win this game is the spread offense. PIT's weakness is their CB's. Yes, that puts it on a struggling Sanchez to play a very soild mistake free game. Ball security, good decisions, patience in the pocket and willingness to take a few sacks to protect the ball. Sanchez really needs to work on the screen pass. He's been awful on screens. I think we need to challenge the Steelers on deep throws a lot. Running the ball and trying to win time of possession isn't going to get it done. Big plays might. Turnovers will be crucial, but they always are, just even bigger in this game. Our CB's need to take more risks in ball hawking. I'm not optomistic, I have to admit.
That's why we have to stick to the run game - even if it is three and out. If Sanchez drops back 40 times we will have at least 2 turnovers - if not Ints then he gets hit and fumbles. This game has to be a grind. We can try to hit a big play or two off of first down play action - but we need to have 55-60% running plays in this game.
Nail on the head at least as far as what we can expect from Sanchez. If we don't have a QB we can trust, forget ANY chance at beating the Steelers at home. This idea of running the ball is so Herman-esque. It's a play not to lose approach. Throw Sanchez out there. Let him play. Open it up, otherwise we are looking at yet another game with no offensive TD's, and I've had enough of those. Sanchez either sinks or swims. The Jets sink or swim with him. Attacking the best run defense in the league with a faltering rush offense is recipe for another loss, very much like the Miami game, but worse. If he stinks the joint up early, throw Brunnell out there. This is no time to coddle our mentally fragile young QB. It's time to step up, or sit down. The season is on the line.
LOL at that and the Half back toss Maybe we just run a trick play every other play Staute of Liberty Hook and Lateral Flee Flicker Double Reverse Shoutgun - direct snap to RB Or we can punt on 1st down - they 'd never expect that, we could really flip field postion then.
Or we should run the 'new ball' play. Have the center snap over his shoulder have smith walk to the sideline ask for a new ball then run haha
At least they'd never predict that call Probably what we'll be forced to use on the last play of Schottenheimer keeps calling games like he has been I always thought this one should be called more in the NFL anyway You laugh but Schottenheimer will do it and then be completely baffled at the result McKnight's first snap in the backfield with (what is left of)the 1st string offense This actually might have worked this past Sunday. Crowder probably would have been dumb enough to chase it.
Can I get a Shonn Greene 40+ break out run!?. I think the Vikings game was his only 20+ yarder this year. I don't know if its the O-Line (lack of a pulling guard that we had in Faneca), but I do miss the runs we saw in the playoffs against the Bengals and Chargers last season. Fumbalitis also continues and he would have coughed up one more against New England if the refs didn't blow up the play with forward progress. Obviously the pop is still there, and his 4, 5, & 6 yd gainers are nice, but where is the break out. Is it the playbook? Is it the playcalling? Is it the blocking?
Having seen the Jets the past 2 weeks you've gotta think the Steelers are gonna make sanchez have to beat them....we can only hope that polamalu throws us the ball back after he pics it hmy:
Every week its about Sanchez trying to beat a defense. Teams load up to stop the run, and make the kid win the game.
