Black & Gold Xs & Os: Defensive Gameplan for the Jets

When the New York Jets enter the Louisiana Superdome on Sunday afternoon (3:15 on CBS), it will likely be the craziest atmosphere Mark Sanchez has ever played a football game in.

Yet to be honest I don't see this effecting him too much. He did play Southern California in front of 90,000+ fans on a regular basis, so he's at least used to rowdy crowds, just they are normally on his side.

The bigger issue that he will face though is a Saints defense that is much improved over a season ago, and will likely give him as many different looks as he's seen in his early career.

Even the number of looks I don't expect to be the issue Sanchez faces though. If the Saints are going to knock off the 3-0 Jets, they are going to have to execute defensively. Sanchez is as poised a young QB as could ever be found. He is also very football smart, and of course extremely talented.

In order to win this football game the Saints are going to have to play their best football of the season on the defensive side of the ball. That's in large part due to Mark Sanchez being the best quarterback they've faced to this point in the season.

It's also due to a productive running game, and a plethora of skill players all who bring something different to the table, and present possible matchup problems for the Saints defense. Here's a closer look at that group of players.

Jets Personnel

RB Thomas Jones

Jones is a veteran who would seemingly have lost a step at this point in his career. But through three games, he looks just as fresh and lively as he's been in the past. He's never been the quickest or fastest back in the league, but he does hit the hole quickly and is explosive enough to get to the second level of the defense and run right through it.

Jones is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield and also does a wonderful job blocking in the passing game for his rookie QB.

RB Leon Washington

Washington is the Jets' super-utility guy (think Reggie Bush). He returns kicks and punts, plus he takes some snaps in the "Wildcat". Not to mention that he gets about 10 carries a game from under center, and the Jets love to throw him the ball on screen passes and run him on draws to get him out in space. Overall, he is the Jets' most explosive offensive player.

WR Jerricho Cotchery

Cotchery has turned into one of the most reliable receivers in the league and has become a true No.1 target for Sanchez to look to in key situations. He runs good routes and has good hands in order to finish his routes by catching the ball.

He is a difficult guy to tackle with the ball in his hands, and is very physical when going up in traffic to make a catch. He also does a pretty good job blocking in the running game.

TE Dustin Keller

Keller is a large Wide Receiver for all intents and purposes. The Jets do play him on the line and use him to block, but his real value is getting out into a pattern and creating mismatches against linebackers. He has really good speed for the position and super hands.

He is capable of making plays after he catches the ball. However, his blocking leaves something to be desired.

WR Chansi Stuckey

Stuckey came on late last year and has now become the Jets No. 2 receiver. He has good speed, good hands, and is a decent route runner. The Jets like to use him on quick screens and shorter routes to allow him to make things happen with the ball in his hands. That being said, he is a deep threat and must be taken seriously down the field.

WR Brad Smith

Smith is the Jets third receiver. The former Missouri Tiger quarterback has become a decent wide receiver and the Jets like to use him on reverses and he is also a viable "Wildcat" possibility. He has good speed and is a legitimate threat to take it the distance anytime he gets the ball.

Offensive Line

This is a veteran group that has been together for over an entire season. Because of this they have continuity, which is so crucial to the success of an offensive line.

They are not the most physical line in the history of football, but they do open holes for their backs. They also do a really good job of giving Mark Sanchez enough time to find receivers downfield.

Formations

The Jets are the second most complicated team the Saints have faced so far. They do a lot of different things personnel and formation-wise.

They like to go two backs and start in an offset-I, and will often run the football to the side of the tight end in these formations, especially on a counter-lead.

They also like to go to some three-receiver sets and put the tight end on the side of two receivers, giving them a 3x1 look. They will often run the inside zone play away from the three receiver side.

It is not uncommon for them to get into the "Gun" in long-yardage situations. When they do this, they primarily go 2x2 with Keller being split out wide. The other possible formation they show a lot of is the Gun w/ a two back look, although Keller usually is one of the two "backs".

Some other formations the Saints should be wary of are some Empty packages, where Keller and Washington are split out wide with three receivers. Additionally, the Wildcat with either Washington or Brad Smith are likely to be utilized by the Jets.

Play Concepts

I mentioned some of the things the Jets like to do in the running game, by getting into two backs and running the counter-lead and running the inside zone away from the three receiver side.

It is also important to note the Jets LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to use playaction and screens.

On playaction, their goal is generally to hit it deep. They will run three vertical routes with the receivers (sometimes including Keller) and then send the two backs out into the pattern short to the same side with the fullback going to the flat and the running back to the middle of the field.

The Jets will throw a lot of screens especially on third-and-long situations (3rd-and-seven, or more). Many of these will go to the receivers on quick hitches. Some will go to the slot and are essentially the same play. They will also throw the jailbreak screen, which is a middle screen with the wide receiver.

They have some other screens where they'll get the backs out in space or bring them inside off playaction or other misdirection-type concepts. Keller is also a possible target on these screens.

The draw is also a favorite of theirs in long-yardage situations. They'll get into passing formations and fake the pass and then hand off, generally designed to go up the middle.

If I didn't mention it before, the passing game is a vertical passing game. They like to run three receivers vertical, and then come underneath with another receiver. In short-yardage situations they'll try to bunch you up and run switch patterns to mix up man-to-man coverage. The passing game is very similar to what the Saints like to do offensively.

What Gregg Williams Will Dial Up To Stop This Explosive Unit

As I said, the Jets try to give you a lot of different looks offensively. The Saints handled that pretty well when they faced the Eagles.

The running game is a power running game, with a physical back and a good change of pace back. They like to use playaction and throw a lot of screens and run draws. But they also like to go deep.

Keeping all those things in mind, I am going to suggest a more aggressive plan than I have in recent weeks.

In order to stop the inside zone against the 3x1 look I would stay balance and not overreact to this look. I would allow Scott Fujita to match up with Keller most times, at least in this formation.

I would then have my backside DE slant inside which should kill the backside tackles kick-out block. I also have my DT on that side slant into the B gap, to completely kill that gap. Then I have Vilma blitz the A gap and Shanle come outside and keep contain against a possible cutback.

Against the two back look I play the counter-lead. To do this effectively, Roman Harper must come up and be the eighth man in the box. He is the guy who will make most of the tackles on this play.

I would play a lot of man-to-man against these guys. Sure, they have speed and are dangerous, but blitzing is necessary. I would back it up with some cover two looks, especially focusing on helping Fujita when matched up against Keller.

As for the blitzes, I am tempted to zone blitz by dropping Sedrick Ellis, as they've done already on a number of occasions. The problem with this is the quickness of all the Jets players. He cannot stay with any of them.

Also, I failed to mention before, but in pass pro against the blitz, they tend to slide their entire line one way, which is very good against an overload blitz. For this reason, I would stay away from the overload. Instead, I would use blitzes where the backers come from both sides, and bring safeties and corners again much like last week.

So I guess the game plan is pretty similar to last weeks. I would be a little surprised to see three down linemen on the field every play. I think Williams will mix up his fronts a little more and try to keep Sanchez off guard. He will disguise blitzes and coverages.

None of this is really very new. Sanchez has seen this stuff before. But where the Saints have a chance to show something new is in the execution. Every coach knows the gamplan is only as good as the players performing it. The Saints certainly have the players. Let's just hope the plan works.

Thursday I will preview the Jets' defense and tell you how Sean Payton is likely to attack it. Until then, Geaux Saints!