After each game, we’ll be highlighting three defensive and three offensive players and looking in detail at their performance. We’ll wrap up today with the offense:
If at first you don’t succeed, Tyron try again
Sunday marked our first look at Tyron Smith in a Jets uniform and he showed some signs of what he’ll bring to the table as the most consistent run blocker on the line.
One of his better moments saw him drive Maliek Collins several yards off the line and into two linebackers at the second level. That helped spring Breece Hall’s longest run of the day (although he still had to break a tackle at the line to overcome Tyler Conklin’s error).
Clearly the running game wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders though. Hall only averaged 2.5 yards per carry on his other 15 carries. This can likely be attributed to the lack of chemistry on the line, which hopefully will develop in time as long as everyone stays healthy.
In pass protection, Smith did give up a few pressures despite the fact he was primarily matched up with Leonard Floyd rather than Nick Bosa.
Bosa got by him on a speed rush though, with Smith called for holding as he was forced to reach across Bosa’s chest to grab him and prevent him from completing the sack. Aaron Rodgers was sacked anyway though, as Floyd stunted inside and was able to benefit from Rodgers being forced to step up.
Smith likely knew he was beaten there and cut his losses by holding rather than allowing the sack. While this might have negated a successful play had Rodgers been able to escape and make something happen, the chances of this happening were slim, so it’s probably a veteran move to play the percentages there and minimise the risk of a blindside hit on a play where you’re likely to lose yardage anyway.
Another interesting battle between those two saw Bosa attempt to unleash his spin move but Smith read it well and basically put him in a sleeper hold. Bosa was relentless though and kept driving to move Smith off his spot and collapse the pocket so Rodgers had to vacate and get rid of the ball.
Call this one a win for Bosa if you like but you can’t say Smith didn’t keep Rodgers protected from Bosa on that one.
Smith is a professional and someone the Jets can rely on for consistent play on the left side and flashes of dominance. If the offense can get into a better rhythm in the games ahead, we should start to see the benefits of this.
A path well Tyrod-den
By popular demand, the recently acquired Jets veteran quarterback deserves a deeper dive in his first extensive game action. A Tyrod Taylor review is just what you all wanted, right?
The backup handled the Jets’ last drive and instantly had results as he led a 70-yard touchdown march.
Taylor was 6-for-8 for 36 yards and a touchdown on the drive, which he ended with a strike to Allen Lazard for a three-yard touchdown. Although his longest completion was only nine yards, he did a nice job of taking what the defense gave him in the quick passing game with his best throw probably this strike to Lazard on the outside:
While Lazard’s performance was credited to him being reunited with Rodgers, it’s interesting to note that three of his six catches actually came from Taylor, with all three being contested catches on accurate well-timed throws.
Taylor also set up the touchdown with this run, on which he read the field well and showed that he still has decent wheels as he almost scored.
It wasn’t perfect from Taylor who had one deep out that Deommodore Lenoir almost made a leaping interception on. However, it was the kind of confident hit-the-ground-running performance that will give the Jets some comfort if they’re ever forced to put him in the game in a key situation.
Now let’s hope we never have cause to break him down again…unless it’s garbage time at the end of a win.
Keep it Simpson, Stupid
Also seeing his first action on offense was John Simpson. The left guard had mixed results in the running game but did a solid job in pass protection, although he did have one play where Jordan Elliott hit Rodgers as Simpson’s man got upfield leverage to collapse the pocket allowing Elliott to stunt underneath.
He otherwise looked really solid in pass protection, controlling his man well whenever he had a one-on-one.
Perhaps his best moment as a run blocker came late in the game as Fred Warner run blitzed and Simpson moved across to pancake him:
One negative came on the first two-point conversion where he basically got stood up and Breece Hall ran into his back and went down short of the goal line.
Another area that needs work is when Simpson leaks out into space on screens or inside zone runs. He didn’t angle up his target correctly on a few of these. However, he consistently looks really good getting out, so if he can tighten up that aspect, this is going to enable him to pop some potential big plays going forwards.
As noted above, the offensive line chemistry is going to get better and better if everyone stays healthy. Right now, it’s still a work in progress but there are signs that they have the foundation of a solid group and Simpson can make an impact within that.
Previously: Three on D: Kinlaw, Clark, Holmes