After Further Review: Leon Gets Three For His Team
In After Further Review, we look at an aspect of the Jets last game and try to explain how it happened, and what it means to the Jets.
This week, we were amazed by two well executed plays just two plays apart in which Leon was the focal point of solid execution to give his team a three point lead out of the gate.
15:00 Left in First Quarter — Leon’s Kick Return
Recap: During the first play of the game, Leon Washington fields the kickoff from the Bills at the front of end zone, and has his blockers set up left on the 20 yard line hash mark. With no gaps between his blockers, Leon runs it around the blockers’ right towards the center of the field and passes the first wave of currently unengaged tacklers. Bursting through open space, Leon puts players who were ahead of him in pursuit from behind. Bills tacklers finally grasp him at the Jets 35 and he falls forward setting up the drive at the Jets 39 yard line.
Analysis: Leon’s combination of patience to wait for blocks, vision to see his path, and burst to hit those holes are what make him so deadly on returns. Some statisticians will say that starting field position is statistically an inaccurate measurement for teams winning versus losing, as it’s more about what you do once you start. I’d agree to that point might be true, but then there’s just common sense. If someone is spot my team a few extra yards per drive, I’ll gladly take those yards.
14:49 Left in First Quarter — 2nd Down & 10
Recap: After a tipped pass, the Jets run a spread shotgun formation with Leon in the slot left with Coles split out further left. Leon’s defender is five yards back from the line of scrimmage, making the distance already close to seven yards between the players. The ball is snapped and the Bills bring five blitzers while the Jets line disintegrates on the left side “baiting” the linemen on a screen. Favre turns left and throws the ball while Leon sets up behind the line of scrimmage for the screen. C Nick Mangold, LG Alan Faneca and LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson get in place to block for Leon while Coles has moved downfield, clearing out his defender for Leon. D’Brick sets up furthest left and his assignment (Leon’s cover man) has the best chance to make the tackle. D’Brick chips the smaller defender enough to spring Washington, while Mangold seals the best inside chance (LB Kawika Mitchell) to make a quick tackle.
Now free, Leon bursts forward. Faneca is in space, but doesn’t have a hand on anyone. Rather than wait for a block, Leon blows by both him and Laveranues Coles deep into Bills territory. Washington isn’t touched until the Bills’ 25 yard line and is wrangled down at the 21.
Analysis: Leon plays some of his best football, with all the assignments ahead of him executed in space. The more familiar this line gels, the more Leon can flourish like this. These were the only two plays that gained significant yardage (only TJ had a gain of two yards) for the Jets on this first drive. Due to these plays Jay Feely was able to make a field goal to put the Jets up by three points.
Filed under: Main Page, Opinion
Any news on Nugent?
Never have I ever been more proud to say that, I AM AN AMERICAN!
BASSETT,
any tribute to President Obama and the United States victory?
Let’s just stick to the Jets.
Yeah, like the status of our kicker.
All Things-
Thanks for asking, but readers don’t come to this site to see my political insight — or lack thereof.
There’s thousands of sites/blogs dedicated to those topics, and I decided a long time ago how to craft this site and politics just wasn’t part of what I wanted to discuss unless it directly effected the Jets (stadium issues, etc.), no matter how strongly I felt about a particular subject.
Thanks for understanding!
thanks bassett,
this is the only place i can get away from politics….
Yes, politics might only distract us from viciously ripping one another over Brett Favre.
Yeah, I agree, let’s leave out anything to do with chad(s) !
lol subwayfare …
well played …
Is this a joke to not share info on the kicker?
If Jenkins wasn’t playing lights out, Leon would be a slam dunk for team MVP
The great thing this year is that Leon is better, and he probably will not win the MVP award again. The Jets have the talent to do something this season. Second half should be great to watch.
Leon can be as good as they allow him to be. He is an awesome talent. He is probably very proud that his country rose above racism and elected a black president. Obama will be a great president and someone for everybody to look up to.
You see Bassett, I associated Obama with football.
Go Jets – Go Obama.
I think Leon’s “one foot out of bounds” play on the kickoff migh be my favorite so far this season. Love that type of heads up play.
God I hate politics. Let see if he is any good before we treat him like the political Brett Favre. For the love of god he isn’t even in office yet. Favre at least one a couple of MVPs in the 90’s.
Ruin a perfectly good football site.
won instead of one and that was one heck of a play.
We have a lot of “smart” football players on this team, but the play Leon Washington made on that kick return was one one of the smartest I’ve seen in a long time. Now if we can only get Schott to give him the ball more. Don’t get me wrong, TJ is doing his thing when he gets the rock, but give Leon the chance to be explosive and make something happen. We all know this guy could be a game changer given the chance, and so far he hasn’t let us down all year. Give the man the ball!
Dear Brian, How
How did the ettect of this game affect you?