Like Dan Quinn’s unit in Dallas, Robert Saleh’s Jets defense runs frequent rotations of personnel on and off the field throughout the game. They lean on their line depth to keep players fresh but also to put specialists in optimal position to succeed. It gives the Jets an advantage over opposing offenses because they can roll deep into their roster with limited overall drop-off.
Dallas has a similarly dominant defense at their disposal. While schemes and personnel differ between the two, they share familiar traits in their overall depth and dominance. Dallas logged 10 players with 17 or more snaps in Week 1. So, it stands to reason, if anyone knows how to limit the effectiveness of a rotational line, it’s Dallas.
The Cowboys know firsthand the best way to stop a rotation is to prevent substitutions in between plays. Opponents have done it to Dallas occasionally over the years and it’s forced the Cowboys to keep tired personnel on the field for longer than they would have liked.
If offenses stay on the field and line up instead of huddling, they will prevent the defense from swapping in fresh players. If the Cowboys can catch New York with a mismatch of personnel, they could gain an advantage by sticking with it for an up-tempo drive.
With a veteran quarterback like Dak Prescott under center, they can easily make their play calls at the line of scrimmage. And at home, Prescott can clearly communicate from under center since crowd noise will be in his favor. Once they’re at the line they can use the play-clock to its fullest. The point is they will prevent the Jets from substituting.
In Week 1, eight Jets defensive linemen logged 20 or more snaps. And that number should jump to nine when Carl Lawson makes his way back into the lineup. Standout star tackle Quinnen Williams took the most snaps at 52, but everywhere else the line rotates early and often.
The Cowboys saw significant success playing out of 12 personnel against the Giants in Week 1. Two-TE sets could be the key to success again in Week 2.
The Jets cycle their defensive line but don’t adjust much in the back-seven. Based on snap counts, they played 56 of their 69 plays in nickel. If the Cowboys can catch them in a mismatch with 12 or 13 personnel, they may want to stick with it, play hurry-up, and prevent the Jets from substituting.
It’s not something for every drive but can be a great way to move the ball against a defense that leans on its rotations.
The Cowboys’ Week 2 opponents may not present immense challenges offensively, but their defense is one that should keep them within arm’s reach of victory throughout the season. It’s hard not to appreciate and respect what Saleh has built in New York. Lost in the doom and gloom of Aaron Rodgers’ injury is the fact Saleh has a defensive juggernaut on his hands.
Mike McCarthy and the Dallas offense may need to play some fast-break offense to break the Jets’ press.
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