Quick Hits: Reviewing the rotations against the Raiders

Let's start today's analysis with a quick review of the rotations on offense and defense in yesterday's game.

Back to basics on defense

In terms of defensive rotations and personnel usage, the Jets' approach was very straightforward indeed. There were no three safety sets at all this week, instead they either operated out of base personnel or took the nose tackle out and put Juston Burris in as a third cornerback.

Other than a few special pass rush packages, the goal line defense and a couple of late changes to get Darryl Roberts and Dylan Donahue some reps that was basically all there was to it this week. Lawrence Thomas was the primary back-up at defensive end and Jordan Jenkins, Kony Ealy, Josh Martin and Freddie Bishop split time manning the edges.

At nose tackle, Steve McLendon and Mike Pennel split the reps with McLendon barely getting any time at all in the middle part of the game. McLendon played most of his snaps before the Raiders first score and after their last one. In between times, he was on the field for just one run snap.

Jets offensive line at sixes and sevens

With their injury issues at tight end, the Jets were already employing six-man lines with Brent Qvale last week. This week, they went a step further with Ben Ijalana and Dakota Dozier also seeing action on some seven-man lines. Dozier would later replace the injured Brian Winters.

The Jets should get Austin Seferian-Jenkins and hopefully also Jordan Leggett back next week, so the tight issue should subside. However, neither of those are particularly known for their blocking so we might continue to see extra linemen being deployed while Eric Tomlinson remains sidelined.

Rotations at the skill positions

Jeremy Kerley was supposedly going to be a game time decision despite not being injured, but actually ended up playing a lot. In fact, he only played a higher percentage of the snaps than he did yesterday once in the entire 2015 season as Chan Gailey buried him on the bench.

Of course this meant that there were a lot less snaps for the rookies. Chad Hansen and ArDarius Stewart had just 10 snaps between them (down from over 50 last week). Charone Peake saw his reps go up this week, though, as he basically became the number four (of six) having previously been the number five (of five).

There was rotation at the running back position as well. Bilal Powell got the start but Matt Forté got the most reps. After not playing last week, Elijah McGuire got into the action this week. Hopefully he can continue to play a role.

Finally, at tight end (and, by extension, fullback), the Jets didn't have much choice but to give Will Tye the majority of the reps again. Neal Sterling also saw some brief action.

PREVIOUSLY: Woeful run defense sinks Jets chances in Oakland