QuickFix: Reviewing the rotations at Miami
Let's start today's analysis with a quick review of the rotations on offense and defense in yesterday's game.
The Miles/Davis package
The most innovative thing from yesterday's game plan were some pass rush packages that seem to represent an evolution from the 2-2-7 packages the Jets have been running in recent weeks on passing downs. For future reference, we're going to call this the Miles/Davis package.
In these packages, the Jets basically spread six defensive backs out to cover the receivers and then varied the personnel they used to rush the passer in the front five.
The first time they did this, Kony Ealy was wide of the left tackle with two hands in the dirt, Darron Lee was used as an edge rusher on the other side, Demario Davis and Rontez Miles were up at the line in the A-gaps and Leonard Williams was 4-5 yards off the line as a conventional middle linebacker. Lee sacked the quarterback but was penalized for roughing.
Next they used Ealy as the middle linebacker, with Miles up at the line over the center. Jordan Jenkins was also an off-ball linebacker to the left side, while David and Julian Stanford came off the edge. This forced Cutler to heave a desperation throw off his back foot that was almost intercepted but ended up as a first down due to a gift of a penalty.
The Jets used the same package on the play where Jamal Adams recorded a sack:
Williams is the middle linebacker again and he almost makes the sack. (Would that even have counted as the first sack for a defensive lineman?) This time Stanford and Ealy come off the edges with Adams joining the fray late. Davis and Miles are up at the line again, this time with Davis over the center and Miles dropped off to the flat. The Jets had previously used Davis as an edge rusher in these personnel groupings.
The same package also let to Marcus Maye's interception:
Again, Williams is the middle linebacker with Miles and Davis up at the line as before. Lee comes off the edge on the left side, but this time Davis Bass is the wide defensive end on the right side and it's his outside pressure that sets up the bad throw.
Mix and match
Something else that was unique from this game was that the Jets used a package with just three defensive backs when Miami came onto the field with three tight ends - and then later on a short yardage play where they had two tight ends and linebacker Rey Maualuga in as an extra blocker. These packages involved Buster Skrine coming out of the game for an extra lineman to create a 4-4 front.
On the first of these plays, the Jets blew a coverage and both Jenkins and Lee played up on the back in the flat, leaving Julius Thomas uncovered out by the sideline. That was a missed opportunity for Miami as Thomas was unable to catch an inaccurate pass. The next play saw them stuff a run to force 3rd-and-long. Later Miami successfully converted on 3rd-and-short against the same personnel package.
Summing up the rest
There wasn't much to report in terms of the player rotation off the bench. In fact, the team rotated players in less than usual in this game.
Elijah McGuire, Dakota Dozier and Lawrence Thomas all saw some action on offense in the first half but none of them got any snaps in the second half. Ed Stinson and Mike Pennel on the defensive line and rookie receivers Chad Hansen and ArDarius Stewart didn't see much action either with Hansen limited to two snaps after half time as the Jets really tightened up the rotation.
Stanford saw more action than he has in any game since opening day, replacing Lee for a few series while he was suffering with cramps and also getting involved in some of the special packages.
PREVIOUSLY: Wilkcome back!