https://www.sny.tv/jets/news/jets-v...why-defense-has-thrived-this-season/312191720 Jets' virtual reality room a key reason why defense has thrived this season Defense meets every week to run virtual walk-through at Jets facility By Scott Thompson | Dec 12 | 4:41PM Despite the Jets ups and downs this season, one constant throughout has been their defense. Even through the slew of injuries, this unit has remained a driving force for New York, and is a big reason why they've won four of their last five games. So what's DC Gregg Williams' secret to his squad that's currently ranked seventh in the NFL in total yards allowed? Well, ESPN's Rich Cimini uncovered one critical piece of the defense's preparation that is fascinating. On normal game weeks, there is a players-only meeting that occurs in a very large room that hoists three projectors on its ceiling and a 37-foot by nine-foot screen on the wall. The Jets defense does an entire walk-through session where it looks like they're playing against their opponent. "It's like we're playing in our own video game," Jets LB Brandon Copeland said. The virtual really room, as it is called, is the epitome of using modern video technology to prepare for games. Jets defensive players can run through their assignments, make pre-snap changes and pick up on certain offensive play calls without having to truly run through it outside on the turf. Video coordinators can switch the view to have a quarterback's eye if they want as well. Williams is particularly fond of it. "Pretty cool," he said. "We can take 1,000 reps and never have anybody take a bump, bruise or anything. "I've got a call structure and game film, and they're going to be playing a game in there -- in the virtual reality room -- just like they're doing all the steps, all the reads, all the eyes, and it looks like they're playing the game." The defense had to speed up their process this week, with the tough Ravens offense on their schedule on Thursday. But they made sure to step into their game and face off against a virtual Lamar Jackson to see a way to contain his production, let alone stop it. Baltimore is the No. 1 rushing offense in the NFL, and Jackson is a main reason why -- he can break the all-time rushing yards by a quarterback record tonight with 23 yards. Hopefully, after their virtual reality session, they know what is coming at them in Baltimore. This tool has been crucial to their production when the play is for real on Sundays, and something the Jets will continue to use going forward. "We go through footwork and steps," Jordan Jenkins said. "It's almost like a practice, like a walk-through, while we're watching film" *********** This is interesting. I wonder if every team has one of these virtual reality rooms. It seems to be helping the Jets on the field, but I can't help but wonder if perhaps it might be contributing to all the injuries this season. Perhaps they're sitting and watching the screen too much and not stretching and moving on the field. I don't recall reading where any Jets were injured in practice this season, but they've been dropping like flies in the games. Could it be that they are not practicing on the field enough during the week, so they aren't as used to the hitting, and aren't moving and stretching enough? What are your thoughts?
Doesn’t the NFL have a mandate for the amount of practices/practice days? Not sure it has to do with the injuries. Maybe though the fact that Jets training camp was supposedly ROUGH may have been the reason the Jets players been dropping like flies though.
The Jets are always ahead of the curve at taking wrong turns. While everyone else is speeding towards the curve we are on a back road to Tijuana.
It does with how many practices in pads with hitting, but I'm not aware of any restriction of practicing in shells without hitting. Maybe you're right, maybe TC was so rough on their bodies that they began breaking down and their bodies couldn't hold up to the strain. The Jets better figure it out so we don't have a repeat of this every year.
What they need is a crystal ball to determine how their draft picks are going to turn out. If they drafted better this offense wouldn’t be 30th in the league in rushing and passing!
Where the hell is Adam Gase in all this? If anything, it's the offense that needs this virtual walkthrough more than anybody. Sam can learn possible coverages from the opponent coming up, and learn to identify where the pressure could come from. Receivers could learn where the coverage is going to be at beforehand. So where is Adam and Sam in all this?
I think it’s great. Some of the great linebackers of all time would put film of their opponent in a massive projector & literally do all their fits,footwork & drive on the ball. Muscle memory, anticipation & eye discipline are a big deal.This stimulates all thise aspects w.o enduring any contact.
If this thing makes us above the curve (and I think it looks or sounds like a great aid) why have we let details of it leak out for all of the opposition teams coaches to think hmm sounds good I'll get me some of that, hey boss get the It guys in here immediately and get this VR shit running for our team.
The Jets are ahead of the curve in terms of dysfunctional franchises. Other than that they suck at the stuff that matters.
Well the players have negotiated hitting out of TC and weekly game prep. There's a lot of 'down time' now filled with 'meetings' and 'walkthroughs'. So why not? Test your alignments and assignments in a big room in front of a big screen that's running your opponent's plays. There's a ton of adjustments a defense makes on the fly, depending on what's coming at them. LBers hand off WR to a safety, safties hand off WR's to DB's, etc. I'm sure the whole thing is a bit hokie right now, but fast forward 5-10 years where these guys are running around in VR and it could be a nice advantage, getting our guys up to speed (all without 'hitting'!)
Actually players love playing video games. So, the jet staff should program Madden (or something like it) with the Ravens actual offense as it will be the day the players play, with our defense, and send the players home to bang it out. See what the ravens pull...which alignments work, which ones don't work. Get the players mental ready for what's coming for real!
Thrived is a pretty strong word...regardless of stats my eyes tell me this defense is pretty mediocre .
Actually I think this is where the NFL is heading for ACTUAL games. The coaches all want to micromanage every movement of every player, so why not just take the next logical step and use virtual players they can manipulate at will? Think of the cost savings! And most NFL "fans" won't care as long as it looks real.
Why don't you take it up a notch? eNFL is the future. Embrace the dark side. Instead of QBs, OLs and whatnot, we will be drafting the best madden players, and we will be competing electronically. And once this eNFL wave hits a certain small country in the Far East - look out. We SHOULD be able to lure shit ton of these whiz kids from South Korea, and dominate the eNFL for ages.
Because other teams including numerous college teams are also using it. It's nothing secret ,STRIVR has marketed it to every team, it's also used in the NBA, NHL,WNBA,NASCAR, and Soccer. Vikings , Cowboys and Patriots have been using it since 2015. It's not a new technology that the Jets developed. In fact it's pretty far behind the curve of what some teams and college programs like Iowa State are using.
