New York Jets Run Defense vs. Buffalo Bills Run Offense

by John B on Oct 17, 2009 10:00 AM EDT

Kris Jenkins dominated the Bills up front last November up in Orchard Park. Rex Ryan is probably going to let him loose again. Buffalo surely upgraded its center position over Melvin Preston and Duke Fowler by signing Geoff Hangartner. Jenkins probably has an edge against Hangartner, but I would anticipate seeing Jenkins lining up a lot against rookie guards Andy Levitre and Eric Wood. Jenkins shut down Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson last year in the first meeting. In the second game when Jenkins was banged up, the Bills ran all over the Jets. How Jenkins fares might be the most critical aspect of slowing down the run game.

With an inexperienced offensive line, I get the impression the Bills will be leery of letting Trent Edwards stand back with that pass rush too often. They'll want to keep the ball in the hands of their excellent running back duo, Lynch a hard runner between the tackles and the speedy Jackson. I think they will have a tough time blocking Jenkins without a double team which means they will have to beat David Harris and Bart Scott to run it inside. We'll probably see them challenge Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace, both of whom struggled against the Dolphins, on the outside.

I still think this is a tall order for the Bills. They don't have the offensive line the Dolphins do capable of winning matchups on the same level. Again, the Jets are going to come out with a lot of intensity and be motivated to stop the run after last week's struggles.

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Expect a heavy dose of the run from now on...

If theres a weakness in the Jet D its the run game. Theyve given up yards all year and until they show they can stop it consistently, teams are gonna line up and try to do what the Fins did against this team.

I think the D will respond this week and the Jets will pull out a victory, but the Bills are tougher than they get credit for. The game will be closer than most think, and if the Jets don’t come to play they might get dropped.

by Crackback on Oct 17, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

Never thought I'd say it.

But Thomas looks awful enough that we should consider flipping Gholston to that side. He’ll take up more blockers and he can’t be worse against the run than Thomas has been lately. Besides if we’re gonna have a crappy linebacker it might as be the one that’s getting paid a boat load of money to suck.

Looking forward to the replenished secondary, even if Strickland can’t make it I’m much more comfortable with Lowery dropped into the nickel.

by Bro Namath on Oct 17, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed...

Gholston might not be flashy but he eats blockers, like u said. Can’t say ive watched him enough to say with certainty he would be more stout against the run, but it seems he would be. I like his physicality. Maybe thats what he needs. Tell him to be disciplined and physical and to eat up as many blockers as he can. Then maybe the switch will flip in his mind that he can’t be blocked by one guy if he doesn’t want to be.

by Crackback on Oct 17, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions

blitz blitz blitz!!!

The thing that worked most for the Jets was the blitz package that confused previous offenses. Rattle Edwards and the rest of the snake will fall like a stack of dominoes…..

Jets 30
Bills 17

by curtismartinforprez on Oct 17, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions