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Rosemont – The Jets offensive line had a solid game, but they didn’t get off to a great start. The first play wasn’t a good one, and fourth qurater was non-descript, but in-between a lot good things happened . . .
On the Jets first running play, to the left side, Tommy Harris got by Matt Slauson, and stopped LaDainian Tomlinson for a loss of three. On top of getting beat by Harris on this play, to make matters worse, Slauson was called for holding the defensive tackle.
Tomlinson had a rare fumble on the first series, and it was recovered by Brandon Moore. This possession ended with a reverse to Santonio Holmes that ended with a fumble, recovered by the Bears.
On the first play of the second drive, Shonn Greene ran for 12 yards on the right side. There was some tremendous run blocking on this play, by non-offensive linemen – Ben Hartsock and Jerricho Cotchery, out in front on the right side. But as usual, Greene helped his own cause, by breaking a tackle attempt by CB D.J. Moore early in the run. It’s becoming almost a waste of time for corners to try and tackle this guy.
Late on this drive, Rob Turner was called for a false start.
This drive ended on the first play of the second quarter, with a Shonn Greene three-yard touchdown run. The key block on this play was by Nick Mangold, who dominated NT Matt Toeaina, turning him around, and Green ran behind him into the end zone.
Brad Smith had a terrific 12-yard run after a direct snap in the middle of the second quarter. Brandon Moore had a great block on Toeaina, to open up a big hole for Smith on the right side. This drive ended with a three-yard LT touchdown run. Mangold manhandled LB Brian Urlacher and Moore locked up DT Anthony Adams opening up a big hole up the middle.
Late in the second quarter, D’Brickashaw Ferguson had a great block on DE Julius Peppers, and Green ran behind him for a gain of 12 yards. As per usual, Greene helped his own cause, in the middle of the run, by breaking a tackle attempt by LB Nick Roach.
Also late in the second quarter, Greene ran behind Moore for a gain of seven on the right side.
In the middle of the third quarter, the Jets had their most impressive running play of the afternoon, an 18-yard gain by Green. Brick, Matt Slauson and Hartsock, pushed a bunch of defenders to the right side, in unison, opening up a big hole up the middle, and Greene took advantage of it.
Late in the third quarter, LT helped his own cause a great deal, on a gain of eight on a pitch to the left side. He showed he’s still got plenty of wiggle left, and made LB Pisa Tinoisomoa miss in the open field, and this was the key to this run.
In the middle of the fourth quarter, Greene showed one reason why he’s not playing full-time. He missed a block on a blitzing Roach, and this forced Sanchez to throw the ball away.
While the Jets had a pretty good day running the football, they got little done in the fourth quarter on the ground.
In closing, it’s hard to leave out the brilliant job Wayne Hunter and Brick did on Julius Peppers. No matter what side he picked, he couldn’t get much done. But in all fairness, it’s needs to be pointed out, that the field was awful, and hard for the pass rushers to get any traction to head up field. But even with this being the case, Hunter and Brick deserve a lot of praise.
