Pennington: Jets' Screen Package Paid Dividends (12/9)

able to uh overcome adversity. And really the last eight minutes of the game was fantastic, uh and then going into overtime was fantastic as well. So I think it showed grit. I think it's showed determination, and probably for the team itself, it showed that, you know what we can We can win football games by passing the football. We don't just have to rely on the run to get our offense going. And that's exactly what happened. For

the most part. The Giants kept the running game in check with only nine until the yards are rushing, and the Jets were able to pierce through with their passing game, and that's important moving forward knowing that you can win both run and pass. So from a quarterbacks perspective, what clicked they're late for Rye Fitzpatrick, and you're one of the first people to mention it is that he's always looked comfortable when the team goes to a temple hurry

up mode. After rhon tz Miles makes the momentum turning play with the interception, there what clicked offensively for this team, Well, I think what happens, especially with the veteran quarterback, when you get into a no huddle situations and hurry up situations, you really get dialed in mentally. And I think that's important for a guy like Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is extremely

smart and and sees the field well. When he's able to dial in mentally and be part of the play calling and directing a traffic I think that really helps him and his rhythm and then it obviously affects the offense in a positive way as well. And so at the first when I was watching went back and watch the game, I felt like, well, the Jets didn't do anything in the second half until the eight minute mark. Well,

there was a reason for that. They only had one drive until eight minutes left uh in the fourth quarter because the Giants had held the ball for so long. So uh that was kind of the misrepresentation of the Jets offense and just a good job of the Giants holding the football on offense as well as the Jets

making some key penalties to keep drives alive. And so the Jet's office didn't really have opportunities until that eight minute mark when they were down uh ten points at the fourth quarter, and they were able to establish a rhythm and get back into sync and do some great

things and end up going into overtime to win the game. Well, looking back at that first drive at twenty a time, he got Decker involved right off the bat, and he kept on going to him and the Jets moved down the field and eventually cashed in with the field goal. Did the Giants started start to play a little bit differently in the secondary as far as a little bit more off for Decker was just beating coverage there. He

was certainly beating coverage. And I think we have to give coach Gaily credit sometimes as coordinators, we can overthink ourselves as coordinators and think we have to be so multiple in our play calling, and you can see that throughout both of those drives, he went back to play that had already worked. And it's one of those things as if hitter and play caller you were saying, hey, until you stop it, I'm going to run the same things.

And that's exactly what happened. You saw. The Jets have a lot of success, in my opinion, in two areas. In the empty package, they had success uh down the field as well as short throws. And then their screen package really paid dividends for them early in the game and late in the game, being able to create plays um and explosive plays with just simple screen calls, which is important. That slows down the pass rush, gets the ball out of Fitzpatrick's hand early, and and really controls

the tempo of the defense. So what can that do for this team moving forward? Like you just mentioned the screen packages, blal Paul looks really fresh. You pointed it out after the Houston game. You'll like what you saw of him in the loss. Now a couple of weeks later, the Jets have suddenly won two games in a row and he has become a real threat out of the backfield in the past game. Well, he's an extension of

the running game for Chris Ivory. Not only can blal Paule do some damage in the running game, now he's an extension of that running game, a short passing game, whether it be screenplays, checkdowns, or even matchups out on the perimeter. He creates another advantage for the Jets offense, which is extremely important. We know that the running game has been solid all year and we've said that, but that this Jets seemed to take the next step and

making their playoff run. They have to prove that they can be consistent in the passing game, and I think the last two weeks they have done that. The passing game has made big, big plays, and I think that will serve them well into these last four games of the season. Knowing that no matter what the situation is, uh in what situation we find ourselves in as a team, I think the Jets feel like they have a chance to win because all facets of the offense have proven

that they can be productive. How much pressure doesn't put on the defense right now, what Brandon Marshall and Eric Ducker continue to do. Last game against the Giants is the first are wide receiver dual for the Jets since all the way back to Wesley Walker. Now, tun Wow, that's a stat for you there. That's impressive, um, And I think that first of all, with both of their production, I think first of all, it leads to the fact that fitz Patrick is an equal opportunity quarterback. He's going

to read the coverage. He is going to make sure that he takes what the defense is giving him. And both receivers aren't pressing. They trust Fitzpatrick that throughout the game they will get their chances, their opportunities. So no one's pressing right now within this offense. They're letting the place come to them when they come and when those

opportunities happen. That's that's number one. Number two. For two weeks now, we've seen a young receiver make a couple of plays in the passing game, and Noir made two plays in the passing game, which was important. The week before Smith made two plays. And now you add Pal as that third option that really creates an advantage for the Jets offense. You played against Fitzpatrick when you were

a player. Obviously you were preparing for opposing defenses, But what have you seen from him now through twelve games, because you break down the tape each and every week, and what have you seen from him that has impressed you As far as his development as a player that maybe the Ryan Fitzpatrick we saw three or four years ago. Well, I think number one, he is finally in tune with

what his strengths are. And to me, first of all, his number one strength is his mind and delivering the football with anticipation and accuracy and not forcing throws uh that he doesn't need to force. That's number one. Number two, he's done a really good job of just seizing the opportunity, whether it be with his arm or with his legs. He has made big plays. And think of the fourth down in sixth play on Sunday that was with his legs.

That was a veteran move to say the coverage is there, Well us, don't just throw it up for hope in prayer. I've got a chance to get six yards and he does. Uh. That comes with experience, knowing when to run, when not to run, and at the right time to run. I think that's that's extremely important. The third thing that I've seen that's been really impressive for me is that he has really become a solid passer. And there's two plays

that bring that to mind. Number one against the Dolphins, the corner throw to Brandon Marshall early in the game was was an amazing pass. Knowing the type of durest that he was under and how early he actually threw the ball, that was fantastic. And then and over time on Sunday on third and two on a bootleg pass, he hits Eric Decker and if you go back and watch the film, that was not a missile of a throw.

That was not a hundred mile hour throw. It was a soft touch throw thrown before Decker came out of his break, ends up on the sideline of where Decker can catch it or No. One. It was a huge first down conversion. That that is the difference in throwing this football and passing the football, and that's in the area that it's packed. Fitzpatrick has really elevated his game.

You were such a great red zone player yourself, and we talk about it every week, but I want to look at it from a total package, the whole perspective. How impressive is it right now for this Jets team to be leading the NFL, not only in touchdown efficiency offensively, but they're also doing that defensively. Their number one in the league in red zone and both units well. And that's why they're seven and five, I think because the defensive has kept opponents out of the end zone as

far as touchdowns are concerned. And offensively, the opportunities that they have gotten they've really turned into points and touchdowns and that's important and and so that bodes well for the last four games because these next four games, uh, you're not gonna be able to predict what exactly is going to happen, but you've got to know that when I when the Jets are in the red zone, they have proven that they can score touchdowns and score them

uh consistently. And when the Jets defense is in the red zone, they have proven that they can turn those touchdown opportunities at least into field goals. And that's that's the difference between winning and losing in the month of December. It comes down to those finite categories. A very strange game obviously on Sunday, like you mentioned, the Jets didn't have a lot of opportunities with the football in the second half because the Giants held the ball for eleven

twenty one partner. Obviously, they converted a couple of times on third down. A number of penalties really hurt the Jets, but they came through when they needed it most with Ron tays Miles interception that really changed the ball game. But were you impressed or what do you think this coaching staff did from a defensive adjustment perspective, because the Jets gave up some big passing plays in the first half.

O'dal Backham got his yards in this game. But one of the things that guys were saying on Monday Chad was early on, we played a lot of zone. Then in the second half we kind of switched some things up. We played some more man Remember this team was down without without Darrell Revas, who for a second consecutive game was a concussion protocol. Marcus Williams, who leads a team of five interceptions, he didn't play, and then Calvin Pryor has become a force in the second year. He was

out with a stinger as well. Well. I can completely agree with the players, and I think it was a great adjustment. I think the Jets went in knowing their injury situation in the defensive backfield, team, we probably will need to play more zone to protect ourselves. And then they made an adjustment. The staff made adjustment thing, you of what we can actually cover these guys. We feel much better about our coverage situation, and maybe the Giants receiving core as a core is not as good or

we're giving them too much credit. And so they changed and that's exactly what I saw. I saw more man the man coverages as the game progressed, and it it went well for the Jets in that area, and they covered extremely well in man the man defensive situations. And so that was a great adjustment by the staff to make that adjustment and go away from what they thought the game plan would be about. And then the players responded and made it happen a very emotional locker room.

And you know the way Todd Bowls is going to be, uh considering uh, he was down there in Miami with you when you were a Dolphin, and you know his approach because you worked for his mentors like a guy like Bill parselves. But with all that being said, coming back from ton points down for just a ton time and franchise history, when you're down by ton or more in the fourth core order, beating the Giants, finishing emotional locker room. What could this do for the team as

it enters the final quarter. Well, I think I think the biggest um the point of this game and how this game evolved and turned out, was that the Jets know, if there's time on the clock, we have a chance to win. Whether it be our defense making a big stop, coming up with a big play, we've done that. Whether it be our offense, uh, putting the couple drives together and taking our team into into overtime or winning games,

we've done that. So now they have proof and what the coaches have been preaching, and that's important for a team. It's it's one thing to hear it and to talk about it. It's another thing to be about it and to actually have proof that you've done it. And this team they have done it. They've been in multiple situations where adversity has struck and they've been able to answer the call. And so this is another example of them

being able to answer call. Mind you, not only did they come back from ten down in the fourth quarter, it was ten down with eight minutes left. That that's big time. That's that's very very difficult to do and they were able to do that. All right, Let's take a couple of Twitter questions on Jets audibles for Chad penny Tin. Rob writes in and asked, where's the breakdown of the run game? Offensive line and Ivory have appeared

to hit the wall in recent games. Before you take that, I just want to tell you, Chad that Chris Ivory had ten carries for forty seven yards. So those numbers weren't that bad, not at all. I didn't feel like the run game was bad. I felt like the run game was successful. It's just that the opportunities because of the game and the type of game it was, the opportunities were there in the passing game. That's why you had fifty attempts. I thought the running game was efficient.

It wasn't great stats, It wasn't a d fifty yard day. It was efficient. And when you watch the game, you see that the Giants they were having eight men in the box. Safeties were blitzing off the edge. Receivers couldn't even get to the eighth element and trying to block the eighth men in the box because they were coming off the line of scrimmage and the receivers weren't able

to take care of that issue. So that's why the Jets then had to go use the empty package, used the spread packages, use the screen game as an extension of the running game. That's what's great about an offense when it can find ways to complement its defense by finding other ways than your typical ways to produce, whether it be the screen game, short passing game, uh, the draw game, you name it. Uh, that's what you're looking in for an offense. It's not necessarily your run of

the mill statistics that you're looking for. You're just looking to see can an offense be efficient and effective in all areas? And and that's that's what the Jets have been able to find, that they've been able to find success in different areas of their offense. And you were a tough guy, as most quarterbacks are, but he makes the National Football League. Most guys are mentally a physically tough How much do you appreciate the way fits attacks

it out there? His mentality because he took some vicious shots early in that ballgame, he kept on getting up. Well, I'm always worried because I never want to see him take an unnecessary hit I know that those hits add up over time, and it only takes one to take you out of the game. So I love the grittiness.

I love the opportunistic attitude. I always want to see him just protect himself because the Jets are at their best when he is behind center right now, and if he has to suffer a hit that takes him out, that doesn't bode well for the Jets in my opinion. So, but there's no doubt I love the attitude that he has had to be able to play with the injury that he's had. Uh. I don't think people are talking

about that enough. That's extremely difficult to go through the adversity that he's faced from the injury standpoint and to play actually and to actually improve. He is improving as the season moves forward and going into this uh these last four games, I think you feel good when you watch his quarterback play that it's not stale and it's not declining. He's actually on the incline and on the rise as far as his play as a quarterback in

this system. Frank wants to know one of the things the Jets need to clean up the most in your mind, Well, Number one it's special teams. UH. They must clean up the special team's miscus uh and clean up the return yardage from the opponent. I think once you show that you have that weakness, teams put an emphasis on it. Tom Coughlin told Dan Fouts, we have an advantage in

the return game, and they were proven right. And until the Jets proved the opponent wrong, you will see an emphasis put on the return game UH and special teams. So that to me is number one, because that is a game changer that can that's the difference in winning and losing. Is the simple return yard is because you don't see that in statistics. Those are hidden yards that create field position and create points. You've got to address

that as a team. And then secondly, I think they just have to clean up those missques, whether it be a bust of coverage, holding penalty on offense, or a defensive hold or passing appearance on defense that are keeping drives alive or making drives a stop. Those are the simple things that you have to clean up to make sure that if you're getting stopped, or you're getting u or you're not being able to stop someone, it's because

that they're just flat better than you. But when you are allowing drives to stay alive, or you're not staying on the field because of your own mistakes, those are things that you have to clean up. All right, David's coming at you with some stats here. He writes, six of the seven Jets wins came when they scored ten or more points in the first half. What can the Jets do to get off the offense and rhythm and get more first half scores. Well, that's that's a good point.

I think that if you look back at us think you will probably find that a lot of those points have come at the end of the second quarter. They've been really efficient in two minute drives and trying to score points before the half. So, um, not to be nitpicky, but if you'd like to see a better start, it certainly would be in the first quarter. But we all know that it's not how you started, how you finish,

and they're doing a good job of finishing. So if we really being nitpicky, you would at least want to see, even if it's not points eric in the first quarter, you would want to see a couple of drives. There are seven and eight play drives. Number one that's important for your defense. And then number two, it's important for your offense to gain a little a little rhythm even if it's not scoring. Alright, So fast forward to this week, buddy, UH Jets are seven to five. They're hosting a three

and nine Tennessee. Eaton's team was coming off of victory, and they have a rookie quarterback that I know you got a little bit familiar with UM, probably an indie at the scouting combine. And PAULI asks, how does New York stop Marcus Mariotta? Well, this is a complete trap game. Three and nine team, UH coming in for seven and five team at home, making a playoff run, complete trap game. I have lost one of these games before. Luckily in two thousand and six one played Buffalo seven and five

at our place. We lost, and we were lucky enough to and good enough to win the last three to get to tennis six and make it in. But this is a complete trap game for the Jets, and you certainly UM wants to make sure that you have a complete total team victory, and it's going to take that. I think when you're facing a young quarterback, especially like Marcus Mariotta, you can't allow him to make plays with his feet. Uh. He proved Sunday that he has an opportunity.

He has a he's very opportunistic with his feet with a huge touchdown run then he had against Jaguars. So it's important that you contain him in the pocket, forced him to be a passer on all downs. Don't just rush past him. Make sure you push the pocket up in the middle, keep him in that pocket and make and see if he can be consistent for four quarters and making solid reads. I think that's number one partner.

Has his accuracy impressed you? Because we know he was a tremendous athlete, but a lot of uh times at Oregon, I really didn't know what I was looking at because you know this a lot of these big D one programs they can out athlete other schools at times, and there aren't a lot of reads. But on the pro level now and I know they probably simplified this offensive system because he's a rookie. He's still putting up impressive numbers as far as completion percentage is concerned, and he's

only thrown nine in substance so far. Well, I agree with you, Eric, I think that his accuracy has been something that's been impressive, and um, I think the Titans should be happy about that and and pleasantly surprised and impressed by that, because I agree with you and the spread systems in college, a lot of these receivers are sitting there wide open and not a defender with him

three or four yards of them. And and he's been able to make some some big time throws in in certain situations that are good passes and that our accurate passes with anticipation and they have the right accuracy. And so that's important to see when you're trying to develop a quarterback. Uh, it's one thing to just be able to throw against air, but can you hit what you're aiming at when the lights are on? And he's starting to prove that he's probably a better pastor than what

most analysts thought he was coming out of college. Yeah, and I'll tell you what defensively their front can get after you're talking about is like Casey Brian and rack Ball coming off the edge. I believe they're tied for fifth in the National Football League in sacks and gave up a lot of passing yards last week to Jacksonville. So this is gonna lead me in to my next question, and this actually comes in from Eric good name. Uh, Chad, how many touchdowns would you have thrown in your era

with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker as your receivers. I would hope many more than one idea. And I actually had a chance to possibly play with Brandon Marshall when I was in Miami, and I got a chance to play three plays with before I got intoed on my last shoulder surgery. And I just remember that week of practice, the connection that we were developing, and you know, I was going to him a lot and one on one situations and he was surprised, pleasantly surprised that I was

doing that. And he knew that I was going to get into football and I was really looking forward to it. So, you know, I've been impressed with Fitzpatrick and Brandon mars chemistry. To be able to have this type of chemistry, um twelve games in that that's that's impressive to be able to do that not having played with each other before. And uh, and then you throw an Eric Decker who has just been as solid as they come. It is a great one to combination. There's no question about it

and defensive struggle and trying to defend both of those guys. Alright, So the Jets sit here at seven to five at the season and did today, which we all say, but obviously we got a quarter of the way to go. The Jets would be right in that playoff frame three seven and five teams. Kansas City keeps on winning Chad six in a raw. There are a lot of punents out there who look at the schedule and say Kansas

City could win out and go eleven and five. And then you got Pittsburgh there seven of five as well, and they have two tough ball games coming up right now. What do you think about the Steelers the next two weeks, first going to Cincinnati and playing against the Bengals, and then next week coming home and playing the Denver Broncos. How do you think the Steelers are gonna fair those two matchups because an explosive offense goes that is gonna

go against the NFL's top two scoring defenses. Well, that's exactly what I was gonna say. That's that's gonna be a great matchup to watch over the next two weeks because the Steelers have an explosive offense, and Ben Roethlisberger has done a great job. Todd Haley, the offensive coordinator, former Jet coach, has done a great job in creating opportunities, uh for that offense, even with the injuries that they've sustained in the offensive line as well as with their

running back situation. I mean, they've done an outstanding job of of really doing some good things in the passing game. On offense in general, the three wide receivers that they have are as good as anybody in foot ball when it comes to a complete wide receiver corps. And so that's gonna be a big challenge for the Bengals and

also for the Broncos. Um. I think for the Bengals that plays into their hands that it is in Cincinnati, but in that NFC North Division, you can't you can't really put your hand on anything as source what is going to happen. So uh for the Jets. From the Jets situation and standpoint, uh, you know this is these are two big weeks. That's why these next two weeks are just as important for the Jets as it is the Steelers, because the Jets can certainly get a win

against the Titans. Moving forward, where the Pittsburgh Steelers have a difficult game. That could be a step in the right direction and get step ahead in this wild card race. Yeah, I love Bulls as approached and you'll like this too. Was a former player who said, we're just gonna keep our head down. At the end of it, we'll look up and see where we're at. Jets fans can keep their eye on the opposing scoreboard during these ballgames. Well, what I tell you that Kansas City has three of

their next four. Three of their five to four games at home against San Diego, Cleveland and Oakland, a team they just beat on the road, and their only road date as is against a Baltimore team that has struggled this year. Could you foresee the Chiefs win and up? Oh, no question that they can't. They can when we're in Miami, we won nine of our last ten and so uh and when we were sitting there at six and five and one out, So it can certainly be done. It

won't be easy, but they can certainly do it. And they saidly have the momentum. Uh, and that would be impressive after starting uh, you know, one and five and they be able to win ten in a row which has as when I was in Miami we won nine out of teams, so it can certainly be done and they have the right situation to do it as well. Now it doesn't mean it's going to be done, but it's out there for them. Yeah. And then you know, you look at the FC still the Bills are right

in the mix, still right on. Uh, you know, on the cost bit looks like an age I should say six and six and the FC South is wild and wacky with Houston and Indianapolis both being six and six. A lot of football left to be played, but the Jets continue to play meaningful football in December. You're gonna be up here in Midlife Stadium on Sunday, aren't you. Absolutely. I'll be up there visiting some suites and fans and

things like that, looking forward to it. I think anytime you have your team in the playoff race in December, it is a lot of fun for fans. That's when it really you really start to see what NFL professional football is all about. When you have playoff teams buying for spots in December, the intensity is much much greater. Um, it's on the line, and uh, I think this month also proves that you'll see some teams actually just flat out loose ball games that they should and and that

they you know, they gave to the opponent. And that's what you want to stay away from as a team, is making sure that you're doing everything you can uh to not just give a game to an opponent, but really focus in on the little details of the game that can change the game. All right, we're looking forward to seeing it up your partner, Hey, you too, Eric, Thank you.