Lichtenstein: Washington Was Bowled Over By Jets Coach's Schemes
By Steve Lichtenstein
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Todd Bowles routinely comes across as a Vulcan whenever he gets in front of the media. Oh, the first-year Jets coach will light up a bit when someone brings up Gladys Knight, but his standard demeanor is to never get too impressed by anything positive or appear overly concerned with negatives.
After six years of Rex Ryan's pomposity, it's been a refreshing change.
But when Gang Green trudged to the MetLife Stadium locker room at halftime on Sunday trailing injury-depleted Washington by three, Jets fans had to wonder whether Bowles had it in him to issue a much-needed wakeup call.
Bowles didn't get into specifics with reporters about his halftime tone, but however he delivered his message of "energy, energy, energy," it seemed to illicit the appropriate response.
After a turnover-plagued first half, the Jets stomped all over their overmatched opponent in the final 30 minutes to win 34-20, and up their record to 4-1.
It has been a recurring theme this season, as the Jets are the only team in the NFL to not allow a third-quarter point, outscoring opponents 34-0, according to ESPN.com.
There's still a lot of season left to be played -- and a lot better competition on the horizon (starting next Sunday with New England) -- but the early indications seem to be that Bowles knows what he is doing.
We heard all week how this was a "trap game." The Jets were coming off their bye week and might be caught looking past weakened Washington to the showdown against the undefeated Patriots next week.
When the Jets committed three turnovers in the first half, the columnists had their pre-certified articles crucifying the entire Jets organization queued up for their editors.
Except it didn't happen.
Bowles downplayed the "schematic adjustments" that were made at intermission, other than tightening the screws on Washington's short passing game that had been somewhat effective in combination with their max protection calls.
The Darrelle Revis interception on Washington's initial third quarter drive epitomized the disguised coverages that confused quarterback Kirk Cousins, who was 2-for-7 for 9 yards and threw two interceptions in the stanza. Revis baited Cousins by passing off his normal assigned man, wide receiver Pierre Garcon, after a bump at the line of scrimmage and then took off to the right sideline to step in front of Ryan Grant in the flat.
Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick scampered 18 yards for a touchdown on the next play to give the Jets the lead for good.
In another way Bowles is unlike his immediate predecessor, he is not wedded to any one formation. With the Jets holding an abundance of quality defensive linemen on their roster -- particularly now that Sheldon Richardson is back after a four-game illegal substance suspension -- Bowles decided that the time was right to switch from his signature 3-4 defensive front to a majority of 4-3 looks.
The effect of an extra big body directly across from the Washington offensive line, that to be fair was hurting from the absence of two key injured starters, led to the stifling of what had been a top 10 rushing attack. Washington, which entered the game averaging 121.8 yards per game and 4.1 yards per carry, was held to 34 yards on 17 attempts.
Richardson played 46 of the Jets' 62 defensive snaps, per ESPN.com, producing three tackles and a half sack shared with Muhammad Wilkerson. It isn't outlandish to believe that once Richardson improves his football conditioning, he'll come close to his Pro Bowl-worthy production of a year ago. With Wilkerson, Leonard Williams and Damon Harrison, this foursome could be similarly as fearsome as some of the more regaled defensive lines of yore. Bowles wouldn't need to risk blitzing every other down.
And that's the only way the Jets can possibly defeat Tom Brady next week. The Patriots' quarterback regularly beats blitzes with his quick release. According to ESPN.com, the ball is out of Brady's hand in an average of 2.04 seconds after the snap, the fastest in the NFL.
You have to pressure Brady, but you also have to play coverage against an underrated set of weapons that often resort to illegal pick-play tactics. The teams that have the best shot at upending the Patriots juggernaut are those that can get to Brady with their down linemen.
You're also going to have to score, which brings me to my final comparison. Under Ryan, Jets fans always got the feeling that the offense was on the field trying not to lose the game. It was going to be ground and pound, no matter who the offensive coordinator happened to be that season. Rex was cut from the same cloth as his father, Buddy, who infamously took a swing at offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride while they were both on the Oilers staff in a 1994 game against the Jets. The provocation? Gilbride was calling too many pass plays and ensuing turnovers were putting Buddy's pet defense in perilous situations.
Rex was never ashamed to let everyone know that he outsourced his offense. Bowles is also a defensive guru, but he seems to have the requisite understanding of how the NFL game is played in the 21st century. If anything, Bowles and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey have given Fitzpatrick too much rope, which partly explains the seven interceptions in five games.
But the results speak for themselves. Outside of the loss to Philadelphia, the offense has been able to generate touchdown drives at the most crucial points of games.
On Sunday, Fitzpatrick once again made plays. He didn't just manage the game by handing off to bruising running back Chris Ivory, who accounted for 196 yards from scrimmage. Fitzpatrick was 19-for-26 for 253 yards and two touchdowns despite throwing just one pass after Eric Decker's touchdown reception on the second snap of the fourth quarter put the Jets up by three scores. Brandon Marshall's 111 yards receiving was his fourth straight game over 100, the first Jet to accomplish that feat since Don Maynard in 1968.
The Jets are still a long way from usurping the Patriots, never mind eradicating the ghost of Joe Willie, but I have to admit that Bowles has gotten them a lot closer than I thought they'd be at this point.
Follow Steve on Twitter at @SteveLichtenst1
