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 Thursday, September 30
Curtis Martin's I right 22 blast
 
By Sean Salisbury
ESPN.com

 

<img src="hhttp://espn.go.com/i/nfl/playbook99/wk4_nyjden_2.jpg" width=400 height=480 border=0>

About the play: The Jets will run the football as much as possible now that Vinny Testaverde is out for the season. Curtis Martin will have to shoulder a great part of the offense. This team is completely different without Testaverde.

Keys to the play: The Jets offensive line must strike first. Each offensive lineman cannot let a defensive lineman cross his face and get into the running lane. There are three huge keys that make this play:

  • Center Kevin Mawae has to control the nose tackle so he gives a clear running lane, and fullback Richie Anderson can get through to his block.

  • Right guard Randy Thomas must help Mawae double-team the nose guard and bump off to the scraping weak-side linebacker. The right guard's main focus is to take the weak-side linebacker or force him to go around him, which will make the linebacker late to Martin.

  • Anderson's block is huge. It is power vs. power. The fullback on the middle linebacker is a head-on collision with the low man winning. Anderson has to explode into the middle linebacker, and Martin will make his cut off the fullback's block.

    Critical player: Two huge points: First, quarterback Rick Mirer has to get the ball deep to Martin so he can see the whole play; and Anderson must hurry to get to the middle linebacker. The Jets, by design, would like four to five yards on this play.

    When to expect the play: Expect this run (22 Blast) and about 30 to 40 more plays for Martin per game, with the loss of Testaverde. The Jets must win on the ground and with defense.

    Defensive strategy: To have a middle linebacker who will blow up the fullback and force Martin to break his run off early.



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