Between The Lines: How the Jets Shut Down Tennessee's Running Game

There was a lot to be impressed about the Jets thrashing of the previously undefeated Titans. The Jets offensive line managed to hold its own against one of the best defensive lines in the league, and Brett Farve picked apart the Titans secondary.

But when I rewatched the Jets-Titans game, what stood out most was how the Jets defensive line and linebackers completely stuffed one of the league's best offensive lines. The Jets offense helped by holding onto the ball for 40 minutes, but the defense set the tone by forcing the Titans to largely junk their running game (which came into the league ranked ninth in the league in yards per game). With Kerry Collins forced to pass on almost every down, Tennessee was out of its comfort zone for most of the game.

Tennessee only called back-to-back running plays twice all game. Partly that was because they quickly fell behind, but it was also because the Titans were unable to account for nose tackle Kris Jenkins.

Jenkins was one of the best defensive tackles in the league in 2002-2003, as he helped lead the Panthers to the Super Bowl. But Jenkins lost two seasons to injuries, then saw weight issues sap some of his quickness in 2006 and 2007. The Panthers eventually tired of all his baggage and dealt him to the Jets in the offseason for a third and fifth-round pick.

That is proving to be the best thing that ever happened to Jenkins. For one, it spurred him to get into better shape, which means he dropped 40 pounds from 400 pounds to his now only super-sized 360 pounds. But also, playing nose tackle in a 3-4 defense, his oversized frame fits better. He's now lined up on centers, usually the smallest player on the line, who simply can't block him one on one.

The Titans tried anyway. Tennessee center Kevin Mawae is one the craftiest offensive lineman around, but all his guile, savvy and holds that officials don't see meant very little against Jenkins.

On the third play of the game, Jenkins showed the Titans why it's not wise to try to block him with a single man. Mawae did a good job of striking Jenkins with a rising blow. He got up under Jenkins shoulder pads and actually drove him three yards off the line of scrimmage. But that just made Jenkins angry. So he threw Mawae to the ground with a simple toss of his arms and tackled Chris Johnson for the three-yard gain. The way that Jenkins did it, you would have thought he was being blocked by a running back, not a 290-pound center. If you were Mawae, it would have been fair to wonder after the play how it would be possible to do any better. Mawae's technique was solid, he was just tossed aside by a much bigger and stronger man.

It wasn't just Mawae who couldn't handle Jenkins. On the Titans second series of the game, he picked up guard Eugene Amano and drove him back into quarterback Kerry Collins as Collins got rid of the ball. Later in the same drive, Jenkins drove Mawae into the backfield to blow up Lendale White's carry on third-and-one. Jenkins got some help from backup defensive end Mike Devito, who stacked up tackle David Stewart.

That was one of White's two plays against the Jets, as he whined about after the game. But with White being the Titans power back, and the Titans being unable to create any holes up the middle with Jenkins trashing Tennessee's offensive line, there wasn't much reason to give him additional carries. Johnson had the Titans only successful running play of the game, a 24-yard run, on a sweep that went outside. It was Tennessee's only run that went for more than three yards.

It's not all Jenkins, as the Jets linebackers were also solid at stuffing the run. The Jets' 3-4 is best designed to stop the run, as outside linebackers Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace are former 4-3 ends who are bigger (at 266 and 270 pounds respectively) than your average 3-4 outside linebackers. To run against a 3-4 team, you have to occasionally block outside linebackers with tight ends, wide receivers or fullbacks--against the Jets, that's usually going to be a mismatch.

The Jets pass rush was not as impressive, but that's partly because the Titans tackles are very good pass blockers and also because Collins does an outstanding job of making quick decisions and getting rid of the ball. The Jets sent five or more rushers on three of the Titans first five pass plays, but once they started to realize how quickly Collins was getting rid of the ball, they started to drop more into coverage, which worked well enough since the Titans receivers were dropping balls all over the field.

While multiple players contribued, Jenkins was the key, as he showed on play after play. I came into this game thinking that Albert Haynesworth was the odds-on favorite to be the league's defensive player of the year. I could still see that argument, as he's a more complete player than Jenkins thanks to his superior pass-rushing skills (8.5 sacks to Jenkins 3.5), but an argument can be made for Jenkins. Since he lines up over the center, it's nearly impossible to run away from him unless you go outside the tackles. And he is an effective pass rusher who can collapse the inside of the pocket.

I'd still vote for Haynesworth if I had a vote--he's just as unblockable with more speed, but if you're looking for the league's best 3-4 nose tackle, Jamaal Williams and Casey Hampton need to step aside. Jenkins is the man.