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The inconsistency of the offensive line is part of Mark Sanchez’s struggles, but only part – let’s take an in-depth look at what the big fellas up front did in Denver.
With all the focus on Wayne Hunter’s inconsistency, don’t lose sight of the up-and-down play of the tackle on the other side. D’Brickashaw Ferguson had his second shaky game in row.
Ferguson had a bad first series. On the Jets first offensive play from scrimmage in the game, DT Marcus Thomas got by Brick and stopped Shonn Greene on the line. Then two plays later, DE Elvis Dumervil beat Brick, and LB Von Miller beat Hunter and they met at the quarterback and shared a sack to end the possession.
People wonder why the Jets keep Matthew Mulligan around. Well he does make too many mistakes, but he’s also a very good run blocker, at times. He had good run blocks on the first and second series – both on Miller on runs off right tackle for a gains of five and four yards by Greene. Mulligan is a powerful man.
A few plays after the four-yard gain, Greene hurt his ribs and had had to come out of the game. This was a bad loss for the Jets. First of all, they already were without LT (and Jeremy Kerley), so they were down three important offensive cogs for most of this game. Also, McKnight, who played most of the game, doesn’t run inside nearly as well as Greene and LT, and this hurt the Jets. McKnight is a more of a space player. Greene also helps the offensive line a great deal because he breaks a lot of tackles. And LT is the Jets best runner at picking up blitzes.
On the play that Greene was injured, a screen to the left side that gained four yards, Matt Slauson did an outstanding job of getting out out in front and locked up LB D.J. Williams. Slauson looked really nimble in space on this play for a man his size.
On the second series, the Jets attempted a deep pass to Plaxico Burress down the deep left side. It was incomplete, but S Brian Dawkins was called for a helmet-to-helmet hit. One player who deserves credit for Sanchez having the right amount of time to throw this pass down field, was Vlad Ducasse. He was in the game as an extra lineman/tight end, and effectively picked up Von Miller rushing off the edge.
Also on the second possession, Joe McKnight had a six-yard run up the middle, and one of the key blocks on this play was by Ferguson on DE Robert Ayers.
On the Jets third possession, on first down, Brandon Moore had an excellent block, and McKnight ran behind him for a gain of five. This drive resulted in a field goal after the Jets took over on a short field following a fumble recovery.
On the Jets next two possessions, the offensive line had some run blocking issues.
On the first of these two series, on first down, DT Broderick Bunkley shed a Nick Mangold block, and stopped McKnight for a loss of two.
On the next possession, on second down, DT Ryan McBean got by Moore, and stopped McKnight for a loss of one. A few plays later, Bilal Powell lost two when Miller got into the backfield. Powell was a little indecisive on this play, and that didn’t help.
We will have Part II of our offensive line review on Monday. But before we go, one thought.
Sanchez often being indecisive and holding the ball too long because he doesn’t trust his eyes, hurts the cause of the offensive line at times.