Dateline London: How the Jets stiffled the Dolphins

Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets

(Wembley Game #1)

 

Well. What can I say about this game? As a neutral that loves Defensive Football, I loved watching the Jets. It’s hard for me to describe this love to a footballing world that seems to be driven by Offense and scoring points. This isn’t a flashy Defence like that in Seattle. It’s not pretty, filled with fast ball hawking players. It’s Strong, Solid and built to give teams a beating upfront, while playing smart on the backend.

This will be less of a Key Play, but more of a Key Unit. Showing how the New York Jets made life hell for the Dolphins.

Now I could go through the whole game and take up hours of your time showing you a multitude of plays where the Jets play great Defence. However, I am just going to focus on the 1^st Half, as this sets the tone for the rest of the game.

Miami’s 1^st drive isn’t too bad. Some smart play calling poorly executed, more than the Jets playing good defence.

The 2^nd Drive is where we get our 1^st look at this Monstrous Defence. Tannehill finds himself under pressure on a mid-ranged passing play, Sailing the pass over both target and covering cornerback. 2^nd Down is where we start to see the power New York have upfront.

This is a Run play so we will keep this all focused on the Line. We have a Zone run to the left. Miami, expecting a hard time on the ground anyway, are looking to play on the edges where a seam is more likely to open up and hopefully start setting up for Bootleg Play Action Passes later on. Miller, depending on the blocking, can either stay on course working off the outside hip of the LG, cut back to the inside, or Bounce it outside. Basic Zone rules. Jets are in a Basic Nickle 40 Front. The motion means the 3 tech ends up on the Weakside of the formation.

Jets #78 gets penetration on the Left edge stopping the sideways movement you tend to see on Zone runs. On the right you see #92 collapse the cutback lane. Finally, in the middle you see #52 close the B Gap and #25 free to flow should Miller find any room.

 

The Big boys then swarm to make the tackle. Textbook defence of a zone run and a sign of things to come.

 

Moving on to later in the 1^st Quarter. 1^st and 10 after a Jets FG and Miami come out passing.

They go play Action looking for the big play. Everyone working down field with just the Running back in the flats for a check down.

Jets, now in a 3-4 Look, running is a standard Cover 3, but by putting both OLB (#98 Couples and #97 Pace) on the line they make it difficult for Miami to work out if who they are dropping into coverage or if they are sending a blitz.

#97 is going to pretend to rush for a few steps holding the TE before dropping into the Flats.

This stops any help getting over from the left. Leaving the right side of the O Line 2 on 2 with Couples and #96, Wilkerson. This is not a good match-up, as you can see. Pressure gets there while Tannehill was trying to throw to the Check down forcing the ball to go backwards out of his hand.

Luckily the Running back was alert enough to realise that the ball goes backwards and recovers the fumble.

 

 

 

 

 

2^nd and 9 at the start of the 2^nd Quarter. Miami have just got a short gain on a running play and are looking to get something going.

A nicely designed play with some short crossing. Exactly what you want when you’re having trouble blocking up front.

Jets have a Blitz called trying to get to Tannehill quickly, and are playing Press Man the Receivers to stop any quick passes.

Tannehill makes a quick read to the Running back, who was covered. But before Tannehill can find the open receiver on the drag (the only player the Defence couldn’t get a good press on), Harris hammers him in the backfield after coming through the line untouched.

Moving onto a quick ‘3 and Out’ now. This starts with around 4:40 left in the 2^nd Quarter.

1^st and 10. Mia 24.

We get a run call. Nothing too fancy. Just the LG pulling, trying to get out in front and RG trying to help both C and RT. But as you can see the Jets have 5 Men down on the line with the 3 interior players in a TNT alignment. Add to that, 2 LBs sitting behind them, and you get a BEAR Look. The pulling LG is going to create a hole that #78 is going to explode through and get to the Running back deep into the backfield. Throwing off the timing of the play.

 

 

 

2^nd and 10.

This is a miss by Miami. Tannehill has the right play against the play call, but he fails to step into the throw. Previous pressure seems to be making an impact already.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3^rd and 10.

 

Miami have found themselves in a hole once again. The comeback on at the bottom of the screen is the Key route as the corner has been slowly bailing out during the cadence. Tannehill wants to release this the moment the receiver makes his cut.

Jets have a blitz called again. Trying to get to Tannehill quickly.

However, Jets get the pressure they need to force Tannehill to take off.

The ball should have been thrown now. However Tannehill is still escaping the pass rush and is unable to throw the ball.

Disrupting the timing causes the throw to be late, the catch to be in front of the 1^st down marker, giving the beaten Corner time to recover and drive back to make the tackle. The Front helping the Backend get the job done.

 

The Unrelenting pressure, mass of talent and clever play calling by Todd Bowles makes this Jets Defence one of the best in the NFL if not the best. Miami were ill equipped to deal with it. The second half looked a lot like the 1^st. With the Jets only having themselves to blame for the points they conceded (Penalties and Poor Offence/ST).