Green Bay Packers vs. N.Y. Jets: Q&A with thejetpress

This week, the Green Bay Packers take on the New York Jets in the season-opener at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

It will no doubt be a huge game for both teams. The Jets come in at 1-0 after their drubbing of the Oakland Raiders on the road. The Jets kept the Raiders to just 25 total yards on the ground – yes, you read that right – 25 total yards.

Of course, playing in the home-opener, the Packers should be sky high for this game. Whether they can hold back the Jets’ front seven and score points will be a key factor in the outcome of this game.

If I were the Packers, I would attack the Jets with crossing patterns, try to isolate Randall Cobb on Kyle Wilson and throw to James Starks and Eddie Lacy underneath …

But to get an inside look at the Jets, we sat down for a Q&A with Craig Hoffman from over at TheJetPress to get a view from the other side.

His insightful answers to our questions follow … and be sure to check out his prediction for the game, too.

Q. The Jets defensive front seven are probably as good as any in the entire league. The Packers were kicked around last week by a similar defense. If there is a weakness in that defense, where is it and do the Packers have the weapons to exploit the weakness?

New York Jets cornerback

. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports photograph

A: The Jets are pretty thin at corner. The team passed on or were rebuffed by the major free agents (Vontae Davis backed out of a deal, Aqib Talib, Darrelle Revis, etc.), Dimitri Patterson, the player that was signed, got injured, went AWOL and got cut before the season even started, Dee Milliner, last year’s 1st round pick, suffered a high ankle sprain the same day that 2014 3rd round pick Dexter McDougle was lost for the year.

This might end up being a blessing in disguise because the team moved SS Antonio Allen to corner and he has done very well so far. But Allen has one career start, Milliner will have some rust in his return, Kyle Wilson is an adventure in the slot and Darrin Walls, though an ascending player, is still a developing former UDFA.

If I were the Packers, I would attack the Jets with crossing patterns, try to isolate Randall Cobb on Kyle Wilson and throw to James Starks and Eddie Lacy underneath against Jets’ linebackers Demario Davis and David Harris as both do not do well in coverage.

I’m sure the Packers will test Calvin Pryor deep and we’ll see what the rookie is made of on Sunday.

Q. Tell us about the one player you feel could be poised for a breakout … could it come against the Packers and why?

New York Jets defensive end

could be a big headache for the Green Bay Packers. Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports photograph

A: OLB/DE/DT Quinton Coples is a player to watch for from the Jets this week. Last year, despite fracturing his ankle and changing positions, Coples led the Jets in quarterback hits with 50.

He has slimmed down 15 pounds in the offseason and looks set to finally fulfill his 10-plus-sack potential. With Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison, and Calvin Pace requiring the defense’s attention Coples will get favorable 1-on-1 match-ups to take advantage of on both passing and rushing downs. Coples nearly decapitated Maurice Jones-Drew with a clothesline that caused a forced fumble last week. Coples can win match-ups and do it quickly which makes him very dangerous. He’ll line up by Bulaga or Sherrod.

Q. The Packers run defense was pathetic last week agains the Seahawks; the Jets have got to be licking their chops to go against the Packers. Tell us about the Jets offensive line and what makes their running game so effective – and yes, we know that having Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson in the backfield surely helps.

A: The blueprint for success for the Jets is to run long, sustained drives. They had three drives of over 10 plays in the opener, albeit against the Raiders. Running the football remains the Jets’ identity, though it is not just a power running game anymore. Chris Johnson brings an element of pure speed that was lacking in season’s past and Chris Ivory is a violent runner that is a lot quicker than he is given credit for being.

Bilal Powell is a good all-around back that does everything pretty well and running read-option with Geno Smith further keeps defenses on their heels.

Why are they successful? The Jets offensive linemen are mean. The right side of the offensive line, Willie Colon at right guard and Breno Giacomini at right tackle, play with a chip on their shoulder and block through (and sometimes after the whistle). Left guard Brian Winters plays with the same style of aggression. The stars of the Jets line, LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson and C Nick Mangold, use their technique and experience to outmaneuver their defensive line counterparts.

Running the football is an attitude and the Jets definitely have that attitude that they are going to own the line of scrimmage and wear you down over the course of the game.

Q. Other than Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy, which Packers player scares you the most?

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb could be one Packer with a big game against the New York Jets on Sunday. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Randall Cobb scares the heck out of me because slot receivers do well against the Jets and Cobb is one of the league’s best. He can quick cut to get open in a hurry against a blitz or beat you deep.

Kyle Wilson graded out as one of the best slot corners in the league last year, according to Pro Football Focus but watching him play doesn’t make me believe the rating. Wilson can be beaten in coverage and would need to have an excellent day to keep up with Cobb.

Defensively, Clay Matthews not only gets to the quarterback but can stop the stop the run as well. He is an extremely athletically gifted, yet heady player that doesn’t get caught out of position much and the Jets rely on misdirection and exploiting match-ups just as much or more than most teams so his discipline could put the Jets in negative down and distance situations.

Exactly where they don’t want to be.

Q. Your take on the game … with a final score, please.

A: The Jets are going to play ground-and-pound football on Sunday. They played it well enough last week to control the clock for over 35 minutes, rolled up over 400 yards, including almost 200 yards rushing and got 7 different receivers involved.

Live Feed

FanSided

I would expect a heavy dose of Chris Johnson, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell on third down due to his pass blocking and receiving out of the backfield. Also, Geno Smith throws a good screen ball and Chris Johnson in the open field is lethal so I would expect a ton of screens, especially since Matthews and Peppers will be coming upfield looking to force Smith into turnovers.

Defensively, the Jets are going to promote safety Rontez Miles from the practice squad to the 53-man roster for this game and they are going to run a ton of Big Nickel. Big Nickel is a three-safety look where the third safety replaces a linebacker.

Having Antonio Allen as a corner, along with Pryor, Miles and Dawan Landry on the field at the same time will allow the Jets to be very physical with the Packers backs, receivers and tight ends to throw off their timing as well as allowing for interesting blitz combinations.

Rex Ryan will also throw in some odd looks, like Sheldon Richardson lining up at outside linebacker or Quinton Coples at cornerback to try and confuse Rodgers’ pre-snap reads.

None of this will completely stop the Packers but it will slow them down a little bit.

I think the Jets have a puncher’s chance this week, but ultimately fall to the Packers 24-21.