Ground and Pound: Jets Once Again Lead League in Rushing Yards

by Matt Birch on Oct 12, 2010 2:18 PM EDT

What do you get when you combine the following?

An offensive line comprised of young Pro-Bowlers such as OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson and C Nick Mangold, as well as savvy veterans such as OT Damien Woody and G Brandon Moore for some leadership mixed in.
Five-time Pro Bowl RB LaDainian Tomlinson, who is motivated to stick it to his former team and win a Super Bowl ring.
A young, powerful, downhill runner in RB Shonn Greene.
An athletic, mobile QB calling the shots behind center in QB Mark Sanchez.

The result: The No. 1 ranked rushing offense at 165.2 ypg.

This is nothing new. Jets lead the NFL in rushing yards throughout most of last season also. While they may have done a lot of re-structuring at the running back position, this is still the same team that can either punch you in the mouth in between the tackles or run east-south to the outside coming off the edge.

Furthermore, they keep opposing defenses off-balance with versatile WR Brad Smith operating out of the Wildcat formation.

The NFL may be a passing league now. However, when you execute the "ground-and-pound" gameplan, control the clock and keep the other team's offense off the field, you can win games. A lot of them.

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This year is different and more impressive

Last year the numbers were inflated because the Jets played the three worse run defenses in the league (Buffalo, Oakland, and Tampa Bay) gaining almost two hundred plus yards in each game also playing Buffalo twice. This year the Jets went over hundred yards against Baltimore and Minnesota, very impressive.

by BIG OH!!!!! on Oct 12, 2010 2:53 PM EDT reply actions

Tomlinson isn't done...

he just needed a better oline. Which SD could not provide him.

Individuals don't win Championships, Teams do.
Chase for 28

by Jeterian 2 on Oct 12, 2010 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

Also a lot can be said about physically imposing your will on a team. There a couple of runs by Greene and LD last night that you could tell were deflating for the Vikings.

LD gashed them bad a couple times in the first half, rippingthrough tackles and running through gaping holes. Teams just don’t do that to the Vikings, typically. It was a psychological blow.

Also there was a time when Greene drove the pile for what seemed like 3-4 yards that you can tell just took some air out oftheir sails. He also broke throughthe middle once and laid the boom on a safety and looked like he knocked them silly.

When you have a backs like that, who attack you like that, and an o-line that can move you around like that, it really makes a defense play defensively. They’re back on their heels and waiting for you to come at them. They’re waiting to react to you. They’re bracing themselves against the punch in the mouth. Its that “Oh shit, are they coming again?” reaction. Its so damn fun to watch that.

by Crackback on Oct 12, 2010 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

The 3rd and 15 run by LT was pretty deflating for them.

Individuals don't win Championships, Teams do.
Chase for 28

by Jeterian 2 on Oct 12, 2010 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah. Good call, forget about that one. He EXPLODED on that run.

by Crackback on Oct 12, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome

What a game!! And now the Jets take on the Broncos.

Jets Run Offense: 165.2 YPG (Best in NFL)
Broncos Run Defense: 127.4 YPG (8th worst)

Broncos Run Offense: 51.8 YPG (Worst in NFL)
Jets Run Defense: 79.0 YPG (4th best)

Lopsided affair on paper?

by Travis_6 on Oct 12, 2010 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

Even the fancy numbers suport the Jets greatness

Adjusted Line Yards, meant to measure the performance of the OL alone (and not the greatness of the RB) are tops in the league, making the Jets the number 1 run blocking team at 4.97 yards ALY.

The Line is 2nd best in not letting their RB get stuffed, but RBs and down field blocking make the Jets 2nd in 2nd level yards (in the 5-10 yard zone after the line of scrimmage.

This adds up to fine line blocking up front, and good RB production once through the line.

The only thing missing is long, open field runs (Jets are 14th), but in watching them you can see why.

"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson

by kv on Oct 12, 2010 5:21 PM EDT reply actions