NY Jets O Line Coach Keith Carter, What to expect in the run Game

By Jim Jackson

The Jets have a new o line coach, the energetic and demanding Keith Carter.

This article will look at some of the schemes he used while with the Titans. They were every effecient over the years but struggled in 2022 due to injuries to every starter.

The thing about the Tenn offense is that it was predicated on downhill runs with super back Derrick Henry. They were very good at attacking downhill and playing to his strengths.

They liked to run these 4 plays often:

1. Toss Crack

2. Inside Zone

3. Duo

4. Wide Zone

The TEN Titans had great success with Derrick Henry, and he is the primary reason that they were  a top 5  rushing offense in the NFL for years. But what about the OL blocking for him? This article will focus on the strength of the interior offensive line for the Titans. Throughout the season this group is playing at an elite level and paving the way for their success. Nick Hardwick (Pro Bowl Center and 9 year NFL vet) once told me, "If you want to protect the passer, get good Tackles. If you want to run the ball, get good Centers and Guards." The Titans are lived  that in the 2020 season as well as other years.

Center = Ben Jones - 9 year NFL vet. Good technician. Tough to fool him. Anticipates very well. Plays hard and finishes in run game.

LG = Rodger Saffold = 11 year NFL vet. Playing an elite level right now. Is extremely quick and violent of DL. Has been injured some, but playing great.

RG = Nate Davis = 2 year NFL vet. Athletic, quick, and playing fast. Once he gets hands on defenders, it turn into a knockdown. He plays with great pad level.

Sub = Aaron Brewer = Rookie. Has been solid in a reserve role at RG and LG. Does not look lost like most rookies and is usually initiating contact. He moves fluid and bends well. He is undersized but it has not shown to be a weakness. 

You will see all four of these OL highlighted. 

The first play is a Toss Crack (My Favorite!) for a 12 yard gain. Both Guards take great angles and have huge blocks to spring the play. Watch the finish by the LG. Great technique and violence!

Crack and get the tackle on the perimeter

Wr  block and they seal the interior.

Expect the Jets to run duo. 

Play two is Duo in Week 11 vs. BAL. The result is an 8 yard gain, but this is violent run. When Henry gets his shoulders downhill, he is extremely hard to tackle.

The center works opposite the RB in duo which you see here. 

Nice double team with the guard and tackle. 

Good running lane as the guard and tackle double to the LB and the center finishes his block!

Wide Zone

Wide zone was another staple in the Titans offense. They did it from numerous sets.  
The third play is a wide zone in Week 8 vs the CIN. The Center and the RG do a great job of using the DL leverage and momentum against them to finish blocks. OL job is put defense players on the ground.

Inside Zone Windback!

The last play, well this one is mostly Henry. HOU runs a run stopping blitz and have two unblocked defenders in the hole. When defenders are on the move, it makes it harder to square up and tackle Henry.  Great job by the RG of sealing the ILB and creating the hole on IZ Windback.

All block zone and the h comes across. Similar to slice.

Nice job sealing the backside and he makes the LB miss.

In conclusion, Their run game was designed to get Henry downhill, and this is a tough tackle for anyone in the NFL. The interior OL played  at a high level, even with the injuries they have sustained. Excellent work by Coach Carter and the Titans' staff and we shall see how it transcends to the Jets.

Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans passing game

Over the last 2 games, Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans passing game is on fire.

There are a couple reasons for that as we will highlight that in the article but his stats are rather amazing of late. He's thrown for 662 yards and is 45/62 and a whopping 72.5% completion percentage. He's getting great protection from his offensive line and the offense is hitting on all cylinders. The amount of big plays is staggering.  

Vs The Patriots

He was 28/37 for 344 yards and 2 touchdowns and zero sacks. 

What's more impressive is he had 4 wr average more than 13 yards per reception.

Brandin Cooks    4 receptions for 85 yards    21.2 average

Jordan Akins       5 receptions for 83 yards   16.6 average

Will Fuller          6 receptions for 80 yards    13.3  average 

Darren Fells       2 receptions for  29 yards    14.5 average

Vs the Lions 

17/25    318  yards and 4 touchdowns and  only   2 sacks . He had 3 wr average 14.3 yards or more per reception.

Will Fuller         6 receptions for 171 yards   28.5 average 2 td

Brandin Cooks   5 receptions 85  yards      17 average 

Duke Johnson   3 receptions 43  yards   14.3 average 

Part of that can be attributed to the great pass protection and great job  the offensive line did. They let up zero sacks in the game and really did an excellent job. 

Let's look at some of the passing game and concepts they are using in the game.  

Vs Patriots

The Patriots love man free and the Texans made them pay early.

Here is a 2nd and 8 

Here is a great man beater where they run #1 a vertical after a pick from the #2 wr.

They get Cooks over the top with a little pick rub route.

Here the Texans run mesh with the deep over route by #3. Its man so the te runs.

2 things about this play: 

1. Tight end runs a great route                  2. Offensive line does a great job in protection. Clear lane!

Heres another good route concept out of 12 personnel. The patriots go man free again and the Texans run a good in shallow concept. Tight end runs the in because of the outside leverage by the cb. Good execution and again a clean pocket. 

Here they have a 3rd and 4 and hit the deep crosser  again. Watson does a great job staying in the pocket. Pats go man free with 2 rat under players and it doesnt matter as the rat defender doesn't get in the passing lane. Nice deep completion for 25 yards against Patriots man free coverage. 

On the next play,

1st and 10, The patriots go cover 2. They run the fake screen and hit the wr on a vertical vs cover 2. Great design and the cb reacts hard to the wr screen action. Another great job in protection by the Texans. 

Look at the clean pocket and how much time he has to throw.

Heres another cover 1 crossing route, They really hit this route in the game against man free coverage.

The patriots go to cover 4 down in the red zone and the Texans hit a nice square in route by #1. Good play design and again a great throwing lane. 

2nd half of the Patriots game. The patriots play man free with the weak safety playing #3 on the crossing concept. Safety is sitting on #3 which opens up Fuller down low for a nice 13 yard gain in man coverage. He runs a 15 yard stop route.

3rd and 10

The next play design is nice. They bring the tight end across like slice, they run a wheel route with 1 and 2 up top and he hits the inside wr with a great pass.

       2 clips are below:                                                             

Here are some of the concepts and why they have had great success the last 2 games. Hope to see it continue. 

Vs. The Lions.
Lions play cover 1.

Here you see a great job in protection, but also Watson sitting in the pocket. Not scrambling and making an accurate throw. Great job by the offensive line.

1st and 20 after a holding penalty and td get called back.

The Texans go empty and smartly put Johnson out as the #1 wr. The Lions put the lb out there and that is a complete waste of time as johnson runs by him for a 33 yard touchdown.