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It’s time for Part II of Dan Leberfeld’s look at the work on the Jets blockers in the team’s win over Buffalo. Let’s get into it . . .
Lets move on to the third quarter. On the Jets first possession of the quarter, they went on an eight-play, 80-yard drive. The Jets ran on the first four plays of this possession, and the middle two runs were the best.
On second-and-nine, Shonn Greene ran for a gain of 12 off left tackle behind Ferguson, who manhandled DE Spencer Johnson. Another key block to the left side on this play was by Slauson (who has really turned into a terrific player), who locked up LB Nick Barnett.
On the next play, Brandon Moore led the way on a Joe McKnight gain of nine to the right side. Moore got to the second level and locked up LB Chris Kelsay, and McKnight ran behind him.
Later in the drive, the Jets ran a screen to Joe McKnight on the left side, and he gained 13 yards. McKnight (pictured above) is turning into quite a weapon on screens for Gang Green. Slauson, playing on a bad knee (MCL sprain), got out in space on the left side, and executed a picture perfect cut block on LB Kelvin Sheppard, knocking him to the ground, and this created a lot of space.
Let’s fast forward to the game-winning fourth quarter drive. The pass protection was great on this possession, and the one run of note was an 11-yard gain by Greene off right tackle. Wayne Hunter did a nice job sealing the edge by locking up Kelsay, and Moore got to the second level and took care of Barnett.
The Jets offensive line was brilliant in this game.
Granted, they Bills don’t have a great pass rush, and they recently put standout NT Kyle Williams on IR with a foot injury, but you can only go against who is on the schedule.
Also, the Jets left in extra blockers, more than usual, to make sure Sanchez didn’t take another beating.
But no matter how you slice it, they got the job done.
They will have a much bigger challenge next week against a Washington Redskins Front Seven with more talent than Buffalo, including two excellent edge pass rushers in outside linebackers Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo, in a noisy Fed Ex Field.
The Jets-Bills game was certainly a step in the right direction for the guys up front.