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The Jets plan to defeat the Packers Sunday should fundamentally be straightforward one. They’ll look to spread out Green Bay’s defense with their various wide receiver formations, allow Chris Johnson to play the role of percy harvin and ignite Chris Ivory between the tackles into a soft middle.
The Packers front is a disaster and played an embarrassing four quarters in the West last week. Their poor tackling, disappointing gap discipline and penalties galore together made for a humiliating loss to the Seahawks, which could give the Jets an idea on how to defeat them this weekend.
The best way to put the brakes on Aaron Rodgers passing game is not as clear cut as the Jets would like. However, the Jets dominated the time of possession against oakland, controlling the ball for almost 35 minutes, but Rodgers, Nelson and Cobb will create an all too familiar problem for the Jets’ defense.
The backfield family of Ivory, Johnson and Powell can’t afford to be flagged six times again. Putting Johnson in the slot or out wide here and there could help Ivory discover a lighter box to exploit similar to Lynch last week. Lynch forced nine missed tackles on 20 rushes, but the Packers’ poor gap discipline was hard to watch.
Ivory is perfect to be the focal point for the game plan this weekend. He forced a total of six missed tackles on 10 carries and averaged 9.0 yards after contact per rush against the Raiders.
“You love just handing it to the big back and let him roll,” Rex Ryan said of the impact of a fresh Ivory against tired defenses late in games.
Last year’s Superbowl champs destroyed the Packers, it would be wise for the Jets to copy the guys with the rings.
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