Under Review: Jets dangerous in red zone

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The New York Jets offense ranks 25th in the NFL, which doesnt sound very good. Rex Ryan, their boisterous head coach, talks about his Ground and Pound attack, but they average just 3.9 yards per carry, which puts them near the bottom of the league.

So how are the Jets 8-5? And how are they sixth in points scored (327)? Clearly, they must be doing something right.

It is all about the red zone. The Jets are the No. 1 red zone offense in the league. They have scored 30 touchdowns in 42 red zone possessions, a success rate of 71.4 percent, well ahead of both New England (63.2) and Green Bay (61.4).

That is not good news for the Eagles, who rank 30th in red zone defense.

The Jets have good red zone personnel with 6-5 wide receiver Plaxico Burress, a tough matchup for any defense, but especially the Eagles. Burress has seven touchdowns in his last eight games against the Eagles, all as a member of the New York Giants.

Last Sunday, the Jets crushed Kansas City, 37-10. They scored five touchdowns, all five in the red zone. Burress did not scorehe did not even catch a passbut he still played a key role in the victory. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer used Burress to draw coverage and set up scoring plays for other players.

When Burress lines up in the slot, he runs a post pattern most of the time. If he has single coverage, quarterback Mark Sanchez will throw it to him. Burress has seven touchdowns on 37 receptions this season. If he draws double coverage, he creates a scoring opportunity for someone else.

For example

Last Sunday, the Jets had third-and-goal from the three. Burress was split wide to the right. The Jets had three other receivers in a bunch formation to the left. The Chiefs had a corner in press coverage on Burress and a safety shading to that side. At the snap, the safety buzzed to the inside of Burress to take away the post route.

The Chiefs had four defenders covering the bunch formation on the other side, so that left them thin up the middle. When Sanchez saw the safety break on Burress, he knew he had a manpower advantage with his six (the O-line and a running back) blocking five (the D-line and one linebacker). He took the shotgun snap and ran the ball himself finding a nice hole off the right side. The result was an easy touchdown.

Thats a play the Eagles have to watch for Sunday when they face the Jets. The Eagles will pay a lot of attention to Burresshe had 37 catches in eight games against them as a Giantand they may want to double him in the red zone, but they cant do it a way that leaves a gaping hole elsewhere.

The other play the Jets are sure to use against the Eagles is the screen or swing pass to the running back, either Shonn Greene or LaDainian Tomlinson. The Jets scored on a screen pass to Tomlinson against the Chiefs and with all the trouble the Eagles had covering backs this season, Schottenheimer will definitely try to get Greene or Tomlinson matched up against the Eagles linebackers.

Tomlinson isnt what he was in his prime, but he still is a dangerous receiver. He comes in on passing situations, which means he will be matched against the Eagles nickel. Last Sunday, the Eagles used Casey Matthews and Keenan Clayton as their nickel linebackers in place of Jamar Chaney and Brian Rolle.

There was a play in the Chiefs game that was a preview of something the Eagles will see Sunday. It was third-and-eight and Tomlinson ran a Texas route, where he swings out of the backfield, fakes a cut to the outside and circles over the middle. He left the linebacker hanging, caught the ball and turned upfield for a 31-yard gain.

Thats the play Casey Matthews has to be looking for, NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said, rerunning the tape. L.T. has been beating people on this play forever. When (Matthews) is on the field, the Jets are going to seek him out.

Matthews played extensively in the win at Miami. The rookie, who was moved from middle linebacker to outside linebacker to the bench earlier in the season, was given another chance to contribute Sunday in the nickel.

He made a few plays, including his first NFL sack, but he still has a long way to go. The Eagles were in the nickel most of the second half, so Matthews played a lot and he still is overmatched against the run. That was the main reason Reggie Bush was able to pad his stats. Bush had five carries for 17 yards in the first half and nine carries for 86 yards in the second half.

It didnt really matter because the Eagles won handily, 26-10, but it could be more of a concern this Sunday since the Jets had a full week to study the film and look for ways to attack Matthews.

One play sure to catch Schottenheimers eye was the fourth quarter pass on which tight end Anthony Fasano ran past Matthews and would have had a touchdown if quarterback J.P. Losman didnt overthrow him by a step. You can bet that will be in the game plan on Sunday for Dustin Keller, the tight end who leads the Jets with 47 receptions.

Matthews isnt fooled, he recognizes the route right away, Baldinger said. He knows (Fasano) is his man. He turns to run with him. He just isnt fast enough to stay with him. This play shouldve been a touchdown.

It might be a touchdown Sunday.

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger and Ray Didinger put the Eagles Under Review on Sports Nite and Sports Rise every Thursday, Friday and Saturday on Comcast Sports Net. E-mail Ray Didinger at viewfromthehall@comcast.net

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