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1. The starting defense allowed only three points, despite allowing 125 yards rushing. The Redskins were good once the Jets got into their territory, making big plays on third downs. Though Maake Kemoeatu was moved back more than a couple times, the ends did a good job of holding their ground. Brian Orakpo drew a holding penalty on D’Brickashaw Ferguson when he schooled him with a stutter-step move to the inside. Ferguson had no shot.
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2. More turnovers. On DeAngelo Hall’s interception, he did a good job fooling quarterback Mark Sanchez. Hall’s was playing a match-up zone and passed his man off so he could stay outside, as he is supposed to do. It fools the QB into thinking he’s playing man and going inside. So a combination of the design of the play, and the execution, caused the turnover.
3. Pass protection. The running backs in particular did a solid job tonight picking up the blitz. That was especially good to see of guys like Willie Parker and Larry Johnson, neither of whom has a reputation for being good in this area. Keiland Williams was good in this area as well. It was a tough challenge because the Jets’ defense offered numerous funky looks. They’d overload sides; they’d use five defensive linemen – with some of them standing. Yet Rex Grossman was only sacked once (of course he also fumbled on the play). It helped that the Redskins prepared more; it also helped how well the backs did. And the times when Washington went to a naked backfield, it used five receivers so the Jets couldn’t blitz.
4. The 29-yard pass to Moss. The Redskins have been able to get him more free this summer than he’d been getting the past two years. It helps lining him up in the slot, but it also helps to send him in motion. The combination of both of those factors led to his 29-yard reception. It left him covered one on one with safety Jim Leonhard, a mismatch every day of the week. Moss turned him out, then went back in for the easy grab. Moss also dropped a pass deep. But the fact that he was getting free was a good sign.
5. More play designs. I loved the blitz in which London Fletcher had a slight delay and came through the right side of the Jets’ line. Jim Haslett loves blitzing up the middle, but does so in a variety of ways. This time, the line slanted to the right and the guard blocked down on the nose. Linebacker Andre Carter swung wide, taking the tackle and leaving the hole free for Fletcher. He didn’t get the sack, but he forced him up and Adam Carriker finished him off.
Down
1. The running game. Sort of hard to measure how well the backs did when there’s no room to run. Willie Parker had some runs where it took all he had just to gain two yards. His first cut often was made in the backfield. Not a good sign. He did have a couple runs where he made yards after contact. But until Larry Johnson’s 18-yard run late, the Redskins didn’t have a run longer than eight yards. Kris Jenkins was part of the reason as he controlled the middle at times. But the right side of the line seemed to get shoved back too often. Both Artis Hicks and Jammal Brown had some issues in the run game. They weren’t alone.
2. The big runs. New York’s LaDainian Tomlinson had a 43-yard run as the Jets averaged 5.0 yards per carry (gaining 161 yards on the ground overall). Even when Albert Haynesworth was in the game the Jets ran well. They’d allow Haynesworth to penetrate to the other side of where the play was going, thereby taking him out of the action. Or, more accurately, he’d take himself out of the action by shooting the gaps too much. It’s what makes him both a threat to other teams and a danger to his team. When you shoot the gaps that much, you leave big holes. Period. But Maake Kemoeatu was shoved back too often. He did recover late in the first half and played better, but he needs to be more consistent.
3. Brandon Banks’ fumble. The little guy didn’t help himself with a fumbled punt. However, that speed is still something to covet; saw it big-time on the screen in which he took it 20 yards. Very quick feet. But he also wasn’t anything special on his two kickoff returns. One great punt return won’t land him on the roster.
4. Josh Bidwell. He punted five times for a 41.2-yard average – with no punts downed inside the 20-yard line. His net? 29.4 yards. Ugh. He did get off a 51-yarder.
5. Rex’s fumbled snap. Rex Grossman had an OK night against an excellent defense. But he dropped that snap right to him. His eyes were looking at the safety and the snap was a bit higher than normal. But he can’t let that happen.
