Here are the three most important keys for the New York Jets in anticipation of their ‘Monday Night Football’ contest against the Colts.
By Robby Sabo
The phrase following the New York Jets around since their 31-10 victory last Sunday has to get tiresome after a while. Instead of realizing this is the NFL and any blowout win is a solid performance – Johnny Manziel entrance or not – football pundits around the league have failed to dish out credit in the direction of Todd Bowles and company.
Enter Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. Not just Andrew Luck, but an angry version of the fourth-year pro out of Stanford.
Last Sunday in Orchard Park, NY, Luck and his Colts were completely manhandled by Rex Ryan and the new bully-like Buffalo Bills 27-14. It was the same old story for Indy. When they lose, they completely get overpowered.
Luck threw two interceptions and couldn’t even reach the 250-yard mark – something unusual for a guy who picked up 4,761 yards through the air a season ago. If you take away Luck’s 20 yards on the ground, the Colts run game was virtually non-existent.
Though no Jets fan wants to see Rex and the Bills start 1-0, the victory could be a determining factor in how Todd Bowles and company will match up.
Here are the three keys to a Jets victory over the Colts on Monday Night Football:
3. Get To Luck
And the award for most obvious key to victory goes to me. Still, it’s the most crucial key for the New York Jets this coming Monday night.
We all know how beastly the Jets defensive line is. Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams and Damon Harrison (the guy’s nickname is snacks for goodness sake) are dominant. So dominant that they limited Cleveland to just 3.7 yards per rush on the day, and if Josh McCown’s 7.7 YPC and Johnny Manziel’s 7.0 YPC were taken out of the equation the Cleveland run game would’ve been non-existent.
New York’s defense also exhibited something special in comparison to Rex Ryan’s defense. They actually turned the ball over. With a Marcus Williams interception and three fumble recoveries, the Jets defense took the will right out of Cleveland’s offense.
They also sacked McCown and Manziel a combined three times.
Andrew Luck was brought down two times himself against a Bills defense who was flying all over the field.
With Antonio Cromartie’s status still up in the air (knee), and the fact Luck is going to be ultra pissed off, Todd Bowles’s defense better come up with pressure. The reason the Jets’ pass rush is always a question has very little to do with their defensive line. They do a fantastic job every Sunday. It’s the edge rushers that’ll have to be active and disciplined against the Colts offense.
Quinton Coples, Calvin Pace and Trevor Reilly will all have to come up huge. Should that happen, they’ll team up perfectly with the stud interior of the Jets defense to put enough pressure on Luck.
2. Dominate The Clock
This game will be played in a rowdy Indianapolis environment. So, naturally, the Colts will have a leg up.
This being the case, the best New York Jets defense might actually turn out to be their offense.
Chris Ivory is a little banged up. His groin started acting up in practice this week and such is the last thing Jets fans want to hear out of the guy who ran for 91 yards and two scores last Sunday.
He’s expected to play, but now that we know he won’t be 100 percent the offensive line will need to continue to make strides. Last week the offensive line showcased a solid running attack. Granted the first quarter was a little disappointing in terms of rushing, but once Chan Gailey started mixing in a little Ryan Fitzpatrick through the air, the run game opened up a bit.
Three-step drops leading to a controlled passing game and a running game that’ll spearhead an offensive attack will be necessary for the Jets offense to control the clock.
If they don’t possess the ball for more than 35 minutes in this one, Luck and the Colts offense might put up too many points for the Jets to overcome.
1. Allow Fitz To Take Shots
Although it will come down to time of possession, allowing Fitzpatrick to take shots in the passing game will be crucial.
The offensive line did look solid after quarter No. 1 against the Browns. But solid isn’t enough to implement a ground-and-pound attack. The coaching needs to recognize a balanced offensive attack is crucial for this offense to succeed.
This means fully trusting Fitzpatrick.
Run the ball with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell all you want, but understand Chuck Pagano and the Colts will come heavy in the box to begin the game. Opening up the running game with an intermediate passing attach might be a very necessary key to victory. The Colts front-seven is nothing to write home about.
This means bullying them if they don’t go eight in the box will be the ticket, and opening it up through Fitzpatrick if they load it up will be critical.