Five to Watch: Bills at Jets, Week One

 

 

Defending the Defense: Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Mark Anderson means trouble for the Jets offensive line and specifically new starter Austin Howard.  The addition of Williams means that the Bills defense will be much better equipped to only rush four and allow their linebackers to be more help in pass coverage.  If the Jets are going to be the Ground and Pound team they’ve been telling us they will be, then they need to win on first and second downs via Shonn Greene’s legs to set up easy third down conversions and allow the Jets to keep the Bills defense guessing by subbing in the the Wildcat to deflate the Bills pass rush.

 

Sans Sione: Po’uha’s likely absence from the game is troubling, but it’s not the worst thing ever.  Expect Kenrick Ellis to fill in nicely for Po’uha, but the Jets ought to be mindful of the fact that the Bills might try and test the Jets right at the middle of the line – specifically Ellis and Coples.

Frisky Fitzy: Ryan Fitzgerald is known as a scrambling quarterback, but he’s also a quarterback who hasn’t had historical success against the Jets when they pressure him.  With Coples and Mo now, the Jets should be able to create more pressure straight up front and allow a player like Aaron Maybin to chase Fitzy off the edge.  Look to see how the Jets mix their pressures this game, but expect them to dial back the number of blitzers thanks to their new look line.  Also, consider that LaRon Landry will make a fantastic bookend to Maybin in rushing situations.

Scat Back: In the Jets and Bills first matchup last year, the team shut down Fred Jackson and it shut down the rest.  In the second matchup CJ Spiller gave the Jets a little more trouble.  Spiller is the type of back that the Jets have struggled against in recent years, so look to see how much the Bills try and use Spiller against the Jets and to what success he has on the improved front seven.

Stevie Wonder: Look for the Jets to shut down Stevie Johnson as much as possible.  Better have done less against the Jets and any of the notoriety that Johnson might be gaining in NFL circles can be sloppily attached to Darrelle Revis.  Look for the Jets to make this a matter of pride today.

 

 

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