This week, as we’re getting ready for the AFC Championship Game, I asked CBS analyst Phil Simms if Jets coach Rex Ryan would benefit in any way from his experience being in last year’s title game as the defensive coordinator of the Ravens.
You may recall that Baltimore entered the game with a rookie quarterback in Joe Flacco and that Ryan’s defense faced an All-Pro quarterback in Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.
Now, Ryan is the Jets head coach. He has a rookie QB in Mark Sanchez and the NFC’s best defense. Does this help the Jets in their battle against Peyton Manning and the Colts?
Simms » I think that what Rex learned in Baltimore was that if you have a talented young quarterback like Mark Sanchez, and he is willing to listen to what offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer tells him, and you have the league’s best running game, led by Thomas Jones, then you can be successful.
What about Ryan’s defense vs. the Manning-Colts offense?
Simms » The Jets bring a lot of guys from one area in an attempt to get one guy free to get to the quarterback and hurry him, or ideally, to sack him. But the way the Colts’ blocking schemes are set, sacking Manning is almost impossible. But hitting him is possible and that is a victory for the Jets defense. The problem they face is Manning’s ability to hit the hot receiver and his knack for dialing up the right play to beat the blitz. I really feel that the Ryan-Manning chess match will be the biggest storyline of the game.
What about the Vikings-Saints NFC Championship Game? Is this as simple as Brett Favre vs. Drew Brees?
Simms » No, I think that Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams — along with some loud crowd noise — will be able to cause the Vikings offense problems. Favre has been sacked 37 times this season and can take a hit. They need Adrian Peterson to run well in this game and get him the ball between 20 and 30 times. For the Vikings to beat the Saints it all comes down to balance. We know Brett can make plays, but he needs time, or at least solid play-action passing, and that will only work if they can run. The Vikings defense will run blitz packages like they did last week against Dallas. The key to a Saints win rests on picking up the blitz and Drew Brees hitting the open man in one-on-one coverage. And he has been able to do that all season. This game could ride on which defensive coordinator can dial up the best defense at just the right time.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
