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The OL had a solid game, and you have to wonder a little if the Jets should automatically give Woody his RT job back. But then again, Hunter had two penalties.
Before being replaced by Rob Turner, Nick Mangold did some good things. On Joe McKnight’s first carry, a gain of nine, Mangold actually blocked two players to open the hole. After blocking a defensive lineman, he got to the next level and handled LB Arthur Moats. Mangold also locked by DT Kyle Williams on a McKnight run up the middle for five yards, late on the first series.
Also on the Jets first series, Brad Smith took a direct snap, and ran off right tackle for a gain of 40. Wayne Hunter got this run going with a great chip block, in the backfield on LB Paul Posluzny. Hunter was also called for holding on Moats, to bring back a five-yard McKnight run off right tackle on the first series.
Early in the third quarter, Hunter was called for an illegal block in the back on Kelsay, and this brought back a 17-yard keeper by Smith to the left side.
Another huge play by Smith on the first series was a 20-yard keeper off right tackle. Slauson threw a great block to help get this play going. A play Slauson would want back was the mid-second quarter sack he gave up to DT Spencer Johnson.
Another bad example of pass protection in the second quarter was when DE/OLB Chris Kelsay stunted inside, and beat RG Vlad Ducasse for a sack late in the first half. Mark Brunell was called for intentional grounding on this play, and Kelsay got flagged for roughing the passer, so there were off-setting penalties.
Early in the second quarter, Joe McKnight had an 18-yard run on the left side. It was kind of a strange play. It looked dead at the line, but McKnight was very creative. There was nothing doing up the middle, so he improvised, and took it to the left side, late in the play, where there was a lot of real estate to be had, because all the defenders were in the middle of the field, thinking the play was basically over.
Early in the third quarter, McKnight had an impressive nine-yard gain on the right side, and there were two outstanding blocks on this play. Rob Turner pancaked DT Torrell Troup to get the play going, and then Ducasse locked up LB Akin Ayodele, on the second level, to help the second half of this run.
Turner dominated Troup throughout the second half.
The first drive of the third quarter (which didn’t last long due to a Pick Six), started with a six-yard gain by McKnight off left tackle. John Connor led the way on this play. Mathew Mulligan added a false start to this disastrous drive, and then on the next play, S Jairus Bryd scored.
The Jets had a two play drive in the middle of the third. The first play was a gain of six by McKnight on the left side behind Brick Ferguson and Slauson. Then on the next play, the line provided great pass protection, and Brunell hit Edwards for a 52-yard TD down the left side.
There was total domination up front on John Connor’s 16-yard TD in the fourth quarter. The Jets went with an unbalanced line, with tackles Ferguson and Hunter both on the left side. These guys both did a great job, as did inside trio, Ducasse, Turner and Slauson. Everybody got a hat on a hat, and Connor waltzed into the end zone. Remember Connor is a massive man, and not the niftiest runner around, but the hole was so massive, he didn’t need to make anybody miss on this play.
Ducasse deserves kudos for this play. Once this guy gets totally comfortable, he’s going to be special. He’s the quintessential road-grader – massive and powerful with great feet. He consistently hits people and drives them back.
