I ask this question to myself from time to time and wanted to put it out there for discussion. Recently I read about how the offense had to play against the forty six for an entire practice, and just listened to an interview where Sanchez discussed how the defense killed them today and that was one of the best defenses they'll have to face. For starters, not many teams (if any) are going to be breaking out the 46 against us so I wonder if the offense is wasting cycles practicing against that defense. I guess it's good to face something that presents unique challenges, but will those specific challenges ever exist in a real game? Wouldn't the offense be better off learning how to execute against a standard, basic defense first - especially when installing a new offense? In the Sanchez interview he was talking about how you first have to understand what a play looks like when it's called and where everyone is going to be offensively. The next step is to start understanding how to react to the defense doing different things. He then said that in the practice they're facing Rex's defense that is finding the weak spot in the offense and attacking it. So while the offense is just taking it's first steps the defense is basically being a bully and knocking them down before they have a shot. I'm all for competition and playing to win, but it seems like this type of thing is going to stunt the offense from growing and learning rather than help it. Sure, if you can beat that really good defense it means you should be able to beat most defenses, but I think it would make more sense to face a vanilla defense when you're learning to walk.
I get what you're saying but I don't know if that's true. You would think that our offense would be able to come out and play relatively well against the Ravens given they run a similar style of defense. You don't really see that though. The Ravens have typically steam rolled our offense even though we practice against that type of defense.
This is a good question. I've thought before that Revis must go soft in practice sometimes just to let the offense complete a pass. I'm sure the defense does at times run vanilla so the offense can move the ball, but I'm just guessing. I heard this argument played out on the radio from the opposite side of the ball - does Peyton Manning make his defenses soft? The argument is that the defense doesn't get enough opportunities to dig in and play the run which in turn makes them soft. The secondary issue is that the defense practices against a passing offense that is unlike any other. I suppose this argument could be applied to Marino and the Dolphins defenses and to the evolution of Tom Brady coinciding with the break down of the defenses for the Pats. All in all, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the Jets have practices in favor of the offense and at other times practices in favor of the defense.
I think practicing against Rex Ryan's defense really hurts the offense. They can't get continuity against that defense and let's face it there aren't any other defenses in the NFL that are similar because the Jets defense is so DB-centric. I've had the same question for awhile now and I just don't see how practicing against a strong defense that is unorthodox does anything to prepare the offense to face off against the rest of the NFL.
The Ravens and the Jets defenses are not similar at all. The Ravens dominate the front 7 and rely on the FS to make plays in the defensive backfield. The Jets use edge blitzes to get their pressure and rely on the corners to maintain outside coverage. The two defenses just aren't that similar. When Ozzie Newsome decided not to go with Rex as head coach part of the reason was that he did not think that Rex's desired defensive scheme was fundamentally sound against the elite teams. His remark that Rex always wanted cornerbacks was telling. The Ravens have been trying to switch over to an offense dominated talent base for the last couple of seasons but have not made the transition yet.
It is a really good question I see the idea of Mark developing chemistry with WRs as paramount on this forum. That could be hard to do if Revis has the top WR smothered at all times. That is just one example but I see what you mean definitely
If this year is anything like the '09 '10, the offense always starts out behind the D, but by mid camp is about even. The offense actually 'wins the day' on occasion late in training camp. Plus, getting exposure to 'other defenses' is what happens in pre-season game. You worry too much.
The entire point of Rex's defense is to throw QB's and WR's off of their timing, giving them looks that are highly unusual and coverages that are twice as good as they seem in some places and non-existent in others. Most of the pass pressure is designed to come unblocked from odd angles and players who usually do not rush. I just don't see how playing against that helps the offense out at all.
They're similar in that theyre attacking defenses that attack perceived weaknesses. You are right though.
This is a valid point. I have same doubts. There are three learning zones - mastery, challenging and shit-over-your-head zones. Out of these three, you learn only from challenging zone. Simple example - let's say you just learned how to play chess, as in, how to move pieces. Now, giving you grandmaster tactics problem is not how to teach you. To me, it looks like that's what is happening with the Jets offense. Ryan's defense has been very good for quite some time (dating back to his B'more days) and the offense is just learning how to play Sparano way. Throwing the offense at the teeth of ferocious defense - in Spring, notwithstanding - is not how you should go about it. (Or that's my two cents.)
If an offense can not play on a par with its own defense in practice when the QB wears a red shirt, what will happen when we play other tough defenses? The Ravens usually kill us. The Steelers usually do too. When do we play the 49ers? The Blowfish have beaten us too with a weaker offense! Time we stop looking for excuses for the Offense. We simply must be a tougher minded offense on the field and I think Sparano will do exactly that! Sanchez must step up and we have to stop making excuses for him. If he is capable of doing well, Sparano will demand it from him and he will produce!
Revis is not at Jets West. Rapport can be developed there for starters. A great QB can and will find his receivers regardless of how great Revis is. The QB will go through his progressions and pick out the open man as he throws the ball accurately to him. A QB can do that in practice as well! Sanchez and all QBs wears red for a purpose. They can not be hot by the defense. They might be a bit rushed though. I also think that the coaches might know how to assist a QB to develop chemistry with his receivers regardless if Revis is there or not. There are other great defenses we get to play. Sanchez gets paid to win games as do all of our offensive players. its time they all stepped up!
I really didn't intend for this discussion to be about making an excuse for the offense but I figured someone would go down that road. I just wonder if it's the best approach for our offense to be facing our unique defense all the time when thats really not what they will generally face. I think the question is more important when you consider theyre installing a new offense. The offense needs to perform this year. No excuses. I just wonder if rex is making a mistake in this approach.
The colts defense was soft because the built a front 4 that was based on speed rushing the passer. They lacked the bulk to constantly anchor the edge and were going to be soft against the run no matter whom the praticed against. Offense vs defene is often what is reported about, but that is not the only pratice time there is. They can build chemistry in reps with no defenders. They test it against our defense in pratice.
rex ryan knows defense, excels at defense, loves to coach and scheme defense...rex ryan knows little about offense, does not excel at offense, isn't known for his offense being anything special... if u take that and extrapolate (like this word) and apply it to your question you'll have your answer
How's that worked out the last couple of years? BTW, the jets defense is not the best any way you look at it. Also, once the season starts, the Jets O plays against backups (scout team)who try to simulate the defense of the team they are playing that week.
I agree with the OP entirely. The fact is RR runs an incredibly unconventional defense, that very few if any teams in the nfl will be anything like it. That combined with using unusual sets that our offense wont see dont help. Not to mention QBs and WRs are supposed to be developing a cohesion and to get on the same page with timings and such. Rex Ryan defenses are built around causing havoc for the qb, sending extreme pressure, and having elite corners press cover at the line with the sole purpose of throwing receivers off their routes disrupting timing. I dont know how effectively an offense can grow, constantly going against a RR defense. Definitely a legitimate concern
No the idea is that contact in practice makes a defense tough. Just the same, this year new rules required less contact in practice and some said it made defenses softer. I get your point about the Colts speed rush. But Peyton has been playing a long time and his defenses have been weak most of the time. Same for Marino and same for Brady of late. So there is more there than just the last four years of the Colts D. I don't have a strong opinion on this but I can see the point.
If your offense is sophisticated, complex, uses many shifts, alignments, and fronts, it should be possible to comprise a game plan to defeat any defense. Oh wait....never mind.
