How the D should dominate, avoid embarrassment
Well, this is it.
All that stands between the Patriots and their offseason rebuild is a date with the hated Jets. In past years, Gang Green was a regularseason speed bump, and at 2-13, they should be. But nothing is quite so easy for these Pats.
The Jets are riding a twogame winning streak, having recently upset two potential playoff teams in the Rams and Browns. Those wins were both functions of great defense, though quarterback Sam Darnold is playing some of his best football. Back in November, New York almost upset the Patriots behind backup Joe Flacco, who brutalized their defense until a lousy fourth quarter.
If the Jets finish the job this week, brutal will be the only way to describe the end of the Pats season.
Here’s how they can prevent that from happening:
1. Double Jamison Crowder on key downs
The highlight of the Jets’ upset of Cleveland last week was Crowder tossing a 43yard touchdown pass, but he’ll do most of his damage traditionally Sunday as a receiver.
The Jets’ top pass catcher by receptions and receiving yards, Crowder is the most consistent of New York’s weapons. He owns 15 catches the past two weeks, for 158 yards and a touchdown. Darnold will look to him on third downs and in the red zone, when the Jets will need a receiver to uncover quickly against man coverage.
By doubling Crowder with in-and-out brackets, the Pats can force Darnold to hold the ball longer and aid their pass rush, which was nowhere to be found against Buffalo.
2. Back off the blitz
Speaking of Darnold holding the ball, the Patriots should resist the temptation to overwhelm him with the Cover-0 blitzes that led to his most famous quote as a pro last year on Monday Night Football.
The night when Darnold was “seeing ghosts.”
Because this season, he’s actually been slightly worse versus a standard rush than the blitz, per Pro Football Focus. He has a lower completion percentage, yards per attempt average and touchdown rate when not blitzed. Let Chase Winovich and Co. go to work after a down week against the Bills.
In the secondary, expect the Pats to still disguise against Darnold, though with simulated zone pressures — plays where the defense rushes four, but replaces one expected rusher (down lineman or outside linebacker) with a blitzer from the second or third level. Adding speed to the pass rush should also help the Patriots contain Darnold and keep him from breaking scrambles that have helped sustain long drives recently and led to an earlyseason highlight.
“I don’t think there’s any shortage of talent there or play-making ability. We saw him run for a 50-yard touchdown or whatever it was against the Broncos,” Bill Belichick said this week. “So, he’s an athletic guy that has great size, big arm, is hard to tackle in the pocket.”
3. Stunt constantly across the D-line
Per PFF, the Jets are the
second-worst pass-blocking team in the league. The last time the Pats faced such a porous offensive line, they crushed the Chargers for three sacks and two interceptions.
The Patriots primarily beat LA through stunts and twists up front, where defensive linemen and linebackers shot into gaps to their left or right and looped around one another to cause confusion.
Offenses that rely primarily on five-man protections or don’t block well as a unit are particularly susceptible to these maneuvers. Look for the Pats to attack center Connor McGovern and whomever replaces starting guard Josh Andrews, who went on injured reserve this week.
Potential victims could include fourth-round rookie Cameron Clark or veterans Greg Van Roten and Alex Lewis, who could be activated off IR.