Sunday against the Patriots is the perfect time for the Jets to put on their big-boy pants and run the ball early and often this time, if they can.
“I second that,” offensive tackle Duane Brown said, and smiled.
The way the Jets’ offensive line imposed its will on the stout Bills in the fourth quarter — eight consecutive runs for 73 yards — was eye-opening. Offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur called 33 runs, for 172 yards, and asked Zach Wilson to throw 25 times as the mistake-free game manager supported by an elite defense.
It has fueled a bully-ball swagger among the offensive linemen (and running backs Michael Carter and James Robinson).
Don’t hesitate to put it on us
“Absolutely,” Brown said. “We know we have a really tough room, a physical room, and our backs [run] extremely hard. And I think we have a lot of great different run designs that kind of throws defenses off. And against a team like that, it’s a lot of different fronts, exotic fronts, I think being able to run the ball efficiently consistently kind of takes away from a different look that you might get.”
GM Joe Douglas deserves plaudits for fortifying the offensive line following the losses of Mekhi Becton, George Fant and Alijah Vera-Tucker, and adding James Robinson after Breece Hall was lost for the season. The Jets believe they can run on anyone.
“Yeah, and I think the coaches believe we can,” center Connor McGovern said. “I think that’s the identity of what Joe Douglas and the Johnsons went out to build this offseason. I think ever since [coach Robert] Saleh’s been here and LaFleur’s been the O-coordinator, they’ve wanted to run the football.”
LaFleur cannot coordinate an attack in which Wilson throws the ball 41 times again against the opportunistic Bill Belichick defense while running just 15 times, until Wilson proves he is ready to put the team on his back in its most desperate hour.
“I think it’s just a matter of running the ball more,” Carter said, “and that’s staying in front, that’s not playing from behind.”
The Patriots recorded nine sacks against the Sam Ehlinger Colts on Nov. 6, and running the ball against them would help keep NFL sack leader Matthew Judon (11.5) from wrecking the game.
“It starts up front for them,” Carter said, “but like I said it starts up front for us, too. It’s gonna be a fun game.”
Three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust may not be fashionable in today’s NFL, but there is always a time and place for demoralizing power football.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins knows what a smashmouth offensive line can mean.
“It’s a mindset, and it’s kind of the way we’ve always talked about how we want to play ball — imposing our will on people within the trenches,” he said. “And when you can do that, especially to a defense like Buffalo, they’re as talented as any defense, got playmakers all over the field.
“It’s starting to get into colder games, and later in the season, and that’s when you really gotta be able to that. For us to be able to do it, now you know you can do it, now it’s about replicating that, and being able to do that week in, week out when the opportunity is given, and I have all the confidence that we can do that.”
The bye week helped Robinson acclimate to his new surroundings and new playbook.
“Very patient runner,” Carter said. “Has a good burst. Faster than they give him credit for. Smart.”
The Jets are 18th in rushing yards per game (116), a stat skewed across the first three pass-happy games behind Joe Flacco. The Patriots are 18th in rushing yards allowed per game.
“The attitude of this O-line is definitely the best I’ve been a part of,” McGovern said.
Robinson carried 13 times for 48 yards with a receiving touchdown and beamed at the recollection of that soul-sapping, fourth-quarter drive against the Bills in his second game as a Jet.
“That was really fun,” Robinson said. “Wears ’em down. It’s hard to stop when it gets going. Can’t do much about it.”
The Patriots stuffed Cleveland’s Nick Chubb (12-for-56) on Oct. 16, but the Jets have gone to school on Justin Fields and the Bears gashing them for 243 rushing yards in their 33-14 romp. The Bears rushed 45 times on a day when Fields threw just 21 times and ran 14 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. Wilson isn’t nearly that kind of threat, but he shouldn’t be reluctant to use his legs.
“For them to go and put up the rushing yards that they had, it was pretty crazy to see on film,” McGovern said.
The Jets possessed the ball for just 24:26 versus the Pats when Wilson threw those three interceptions, but 32:44 against the Bills when their offensive line enjoyed a bludgeon party that Woody Hayes, Vince Lombardi and Bill Parcells would have relished.
“I trust them with my life,” Carter said.
Put it on their backs.