Outlook: Jets’ Defense w/o Jenks
On the theory that Big Jenks may be gone, we have to consider life in the new era. Naturally, we’re all pessimistic about the defense’s chances. But, the only sample we have is the Jets playing without the big guy yesterday (I haven’t gone back to look at every snap in previous games). Let’s look at the defense’s performance yesterday, after the injury and see what we can expect for the rest of the season.
The game lasted for 47 minutes and 15 seconds after Jenks was hurt.
Pass Plays: The Bills ran 31 pass plays PJ (Post Jenkins). Of those, Fitzgerald was forced to scramble five times and sacked once. When he actually threw the ball, he was 10-25 with one touchdown and one interception.
Run plays: The Bills ran 22 rushing plays PJ including an end around to Terrell Owens. On those running plays they gained a total of 71 yards for an average of 3.2 yds/carry. Take out the end around and its 3.0 yds/carry. Before the Jenks injury, they ran for 71 yards on 20 carries for an average of 3.5 yds/carry.
Admittedly, this is a limited sample and the opponent was the Bills, a terrible offensive team playing without their quarterback. Also, the Bills scored ten points against the Jets without Big Jenks, and only three with him. But, statistically, the performance was pretty acceptable.
Explanations are a little difficult at this point. My view is that Jenks provides big plays for a line that has few other playmakers. He also makes it much harder on the offense to complete big pass plays since he puts so much pressure up the middle. On the other hand, because he’s so much better at penetration than his line mates, he creates space vertically; his line mates lag behind him at the line. This creates opportunities for the offense, if they’re patient, because holes open up on either side of Jenkins penetration. This is what seemed to be happening in the Miami game. Without Jenks, the line is more balanced in terms of penetration and may, therefore, create more orderly and playable gaps for the linebackers.
So the outlook may not be completely hopeless. In a way, his absence forces the team to play more cohesively, which can only help them in the long run as they learn the system. On the other hand, they may be easier to score on, since they lack a crucial playmaker.
29 Responses to Outlook: Jets’ Defense w/o Jenks
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jlb0183 says:
Im worried
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spentmiles says:
Jets have barely been able to get sacks with Jenkins in there; now they won’t get any at all.
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MLB Matt says:
Andrew, I appreciate the positive spin, but come on. We’re Jets fans. We are miserable. There is no need to give us any sense of hope. We have a rookie QB who makes terrible decisions, seemingly can’t play in the cold and we have a terrible stadium. Would anyone really be suprised if we lost 5 more in a row? I’d put Oakland as the favorite next week truthfully.
This season went from 11-5 to 5-11 in a heartbeat.
Further more, why should I even care about this team? This was such a joke of a game, that after last week’s game I will never get excited for another Jets game unless they are in the Super Bowl. Why build up hype when we fall flat on our faces every time? When we get to a Super Bowl, then I’ll talk about a legit team.
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Bent says: A better sample is the last 5 games of last year. Although Jenkins was not out, he might as well have been. In fact, whenever he was out last year they were automatically noticeable weakened. For all the talk that they didn’t improve their depth at DL, they haven’t been anything like as poor without him.
The numbers are encouraging from yesterday. Thanks andrew.
It’ll be tough, but I reckon the defense can still be pretty good.
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StvDoe says:
MLB Matt>
>>Further more, why should I even care about this team? This was such a joke of a game, that after last week’s game I will never get excited for another Jets game unless they are in the Super Bowl. <<
You're right Matt. It's time for you to quit being a fan. If you're not Super Bowl bound, why bother?
See ya.
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JesusRevis says:
More 4 man fronts. Jenkins is one of the irreplaceable players on the Jets but I still think we have a top 10 defense without him.
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Bent – wow, that coming from you (you always seem to me to be such a realist) says something, because to me it looks bleak. Buffalo didn’t gameplan against them without jenks, other teams will. Also, Buffalo sucks. A real offense will take much more advantage of a jenksless jets D. I only hope that (as you or Andrew said) the D gets more cohesive, since it was only week 6 of this D playing together, I think that much we can at least expect.
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Bent says:
I may be a realist but I’m not a defeatist. We can still do this! Who’s with me? *runs out alone*
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Bent says:
Actually sometimes Jenkins penetrates too far and creates a huge gap behind him for counter type plays. At least that won’t happen now! He’s too good for his own good sometimes.
Yes…I know I’m clutching at straws, but you gotta have faith, right?
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Mike D. says:
I agree with you 100% and think this will actually help the defense.
Its about a unit not one monster guy and now everyone is accountable, Jenks is gone. PERIOD.
Also, we still have a lesser opponent next week to work things out with.
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Harris52ChampionshipDefense says:
The thing to consider is that its not like this D had been completely dominating opponents. They’d given up a ton of yards on the ground against TEN, NO, and MIA. They weren’t getting to the QB with or without Jenkins. This is bad any way you spin it. They are going to sorely miss the big guy on the 3rd and short situations. He had a great play yesterday on 3rd and 1 where he shot the gap and leveled Lynch in the backfield. Who of the D-linemen can do that now? Now we’ll really see if Rex is a defensive genius. If he is as good as he says, I see this defense becoming a middle of the road defense that doesn’t necessarily make a lot of plays but nor does it give up a lot. There’s still too much talent in the LB corps and the secondary, but yeah, this sucks.
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Andrew Weiss says:
Bent
“Actually sometimes Jenkins penetrates too far and creates a huge gap behind him for counter type plays. At least that won’t happen now! He’s too good for his own good sometimes.”
My point exactly. One of the most glaring things in watching the Dolphins film was the patience of the Fins in waiting for cutback gaps. One of the things that makes it possible to defend the wildcat is consistent penetration across the line so the gaps are known and predictable. Gap discipline isn’t only on the linebackers. The line must control penetration evenly to create specific, predictable gaps. I’m sure the Ravens learned that over the years and that accounts for their superior execution against that offense compared to the Jets last week.
I’m trying to view yesterday as a learning opportunity for a basically sound, run-stopping defense. How’m I doing?
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Bent – “Clutching at Straws” is actually one of my favorite Marillion albums. Remember them? Ok, not Jets related but since the season might be wasted anyway, why not talk music!
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starz31 says:
only here could we debate that Kris Jenkins may be too dominant for our team lol…i love it.
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Bent says:
I refuse to be a fan of any band whose lead singer is called Fish.
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LOL, never thought of that., His real name is Derek Dick, does that make you feel any better? I think he’s about 6’6″, maybe we should sign him.
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Drew says:
Yah Loosing Jenks will hurt, Howver you cannot compare what happened last season to now. There is a lot of different people on this D now that were not on the team last season. All I know I still think this D will be good enough to win. I know right now things are falling, but we knew coming into this season that there will be ups and downs. Right now it is a down point. With a rookie QB that we have to be patient with and a Rookie Head Coach we have to give it time. Still plenty of football to play. These next two game we need to win going into the bye.
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ID says:
lets bench revis. by “overcovering” one side of the field he has been creating a lopsided coverage situation which many teams have been exploiting. If you ask me, Thomas Jones lost this game by inadvertantly overemphasizing long running plays.
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mdGordon says:
Shaun Ellis isn’t good, and never has been any good. Hes’ the most overated player we’ve ever had. He’s been a budget lineman for years now..Gholston is awful, a complete bust of a pick.
Another player who isn’t any good is Kerry Rhodes. I’m so sick of seeing this guy missing tackles and playing like a scared pretty boy. It’s about time that some of us start calling out the guys who just don’t get it done on the field.
Can we get a real Tight end? What a joke Keller has become.
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Bent says:
That’s the spirit ID.
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James in TN says:
lol good one rhodes does suck
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MrJetGreen says:
I hate to say it but …….the Jets suck.
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Harvlis says:
Our defense is based on a system. Granted, Jenkins is a force in the middle but, there are lots of talented players on this team. How long have Ryan and Pettine had to learn these players? Less than half a season. They have only had one bad game, Miami, and we would have won, if our QB wasn’t in panic mode. They played well enough to win the Bill game.
As for the team, we go nowhere, until Ryan/Schotzy realize that Sanchez is frazzled. He was surviving, in our first three games. The Saints game shook him up and he has been playing scared, ever since. I would play Ainge at QB. He is a tall QB, with a strong arm, and he looked much better than Clemens in pre-season. I have a good feeling about him. I am not giving up on Sanchez but, the best of QB’s had to take a step back, early in their careers.
I am as sick to my stomach as any Jet fan but, when you look at how the Saints manhandled the Giants, you have to feel a little better about our team.
We have been let down by Schotzy and by Sanchez. It is not too late to change up on both of them and get back to our winning ways. If they play Sanchez in Oakland, with Schotzy calling the shots — it will be another tough game to watch.
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Sorry, my fist post didn’t show up, after I submitted it. At least i’m consistent.
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Jibes says:
We’ll be fine. The NFL is ridiculously unpredicatable from week to week. Time to start the next roll. Look at some of the games of late with befuddling results (Seahawks last two weeks, Eagles last week, etc.) Hang in there boys…it’s the road we’ve chosen with a rookie QB, but we’ll be OK.
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donny says:
thats why we got back-ups at every position for situations like this. it isnt 1 versus 11 its 11 on 11. they WHOLE defense unit gotta make up the slack. thats what GOOD teams do!!!!
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Max says:
Already looking forward to the 2010 NFL draft in April!!! Browns, Redskins, Buccaneers, Lions, come on join me now….
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miketaliaferro says:
One thing to keep in mind:
While Sanchez Blows Up, Vol. 1 was playing in the Superdome and was the lead story that week, the Jets’ D clamped down on a Saints’ O which thoroughly thrashed the vaunted Giants D on Sunday.
So, Rex’s D is doing good things, despite its glaring holes.
Hi,
I like that fact that you are putting it as a good thing that the next guy won’t be as good as jenkins and therefore the line will be balanced! Nothing like playing down to a level.