Know Thy Enemy: Observations From Jets Vs. Seahawks

Last Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks pushed their undefeated home streak to 5 games with a win against the New York Jets. A Jet's team that went from a championship contender a couple of seasons ago to only being recognized by the media, because they acquired the great Tim Tebow in a trade before the season started.

Although the score ended 28-7, the game was closer than the final score indicates. While watching this game, I made what I consider 5 key observations.

Quarterbacks

Mark Sanchez is as bad as advertised. Sanchez completed 9 of his 22 pass attempts, with only 124 yards, and an interception. A majority of his completed passes were inside the numbers and the players got YAC for him.

I don't know who handles the blitz pickup duties, but Sanchez he needs to do a better job.

via assets.sbnation.com

On this play, it's 1st and 10. The Jets were down by 14 points, and they desperately needed a touchdown. The Jets are in a trips set on the left, but on the defensive side of the ball the Seahawks have Richard Sherman blitzing on the right. Sherman is close to the defensive end and looks like he will blitz. Sanchez either doesn't see it, or thinks his offensive line or his running back will block the corner. Instead the running back get's closer to the line, the the defensive tackle is doubled teamed and the right defensive end is blocked by Jason Smith. Which leaves Sherman unblocked to sack the QB.

His decision making needs major help.

Imagine this. It's 3rd and goal for the Jets, in the 2nd quarter. The offensive line provides a solid pocket for Sanchez, he has enough time to scan the defense, no one get's open, but then he spots the receiver getting open. Sanchez stares the receiver down, and then pump fakes and telegraphs a late pass, Richard Sherman baits Sanchez into the throw and makes the interception.

Sanchez isn't the answer in NY, but maybe this player is.

Offensive Line

The offensive line was good against the Seahawks frnt four. Mark Sanchez had enough time to throw the ball on a majority of his throws, but when Seattle brought the blitz it all broke down and Sanchez got sacked or hurried, or just had to throw the ball quick.

The offensive line opened up holes, not particularly big holes in the run game, but big enough for the running back to get 2 or 3 yards and then make something happen, which they didn't do this game.

Jets weapons

Long story short, the Jets don't have weapons. They have Jeremy Kerley, who is in his second year, that pops out at you at times; he caught a 40+ yard pass in the game. Then you have Dustin Keller who's a solid player, but not a player that defensive coordinators stay up game planning against. Besides those two players, no one else stood out.

Big plays

Seattle scored on three passes that were more than 20 yards. One of those passes was thrown by Golden Tate. The Seattle offense was able to move the ball, but the deep passes were the main reason the Seahawks was able to put this game away

Here's an example of one of the big plays the Seahawks did.

On first down in the 1st quarter, the Seahawks decided to pass the ball. Russell Wilson has a nice pocket created by his offensive line. Wilson throws the ball deep and Golden Tate made a great play on the ball, by catching it at it's highest point. The corner was in good position, but just missed the ball. This wasn't the smartest play by Russell Wilson, but he threw a perfect deep ball, where only the receiver could grab it.

Now here's another big play by the Seahawks

When's the perfect chance to run a fake play? On 1st and goal in the 4th quarter when you're up by 14 points apparently. A fake hand off to get the defense to go in the wrong direction, and then Wilson flips the ball to Golden Tate. Then Golden Tate faked running out of the backfield with the ball, and instead threw the pass to the wide open wide receiver since the secondary came up to stop the run.

Defense

The defense wasn't the problem in the game. Like I highlighted in the key note above. It took a good deep ball, a trick by the offense, and a contested deep pass for the Seahawks to win.

The Jets sacked Russell Wilson 4 times, and if it wasn't for Russell Wilson's legs the Jets would have gotten at least 7 sacks on him. The defense got the only touchdown for the Jets, by forcing Wilson to fumble the ball, and scooping it up for the score.

Although their run defense allowed 179 yards, it wasn't as bad as the statistics said. Wilson ran for 37 yards himself, and Marshawn Lynch ran for 124 yards on 27 carries. Lynch made a couple of plays by breaking tackles.