QuickFix: Reviewing the rotations against the Saints

Let's start today's analysis with a quick review of the rotations on offense and defense in yesterday's game.

Replacing Muhammad Wilkerson

With Muhammad Wilkerson out, the Jets mostly used a basic 4-2-5 nickel package and also mixed in a base 3-4 defense. They essentially just pared the rotation down from five players to four, with fullback Lawrence Thomas available as cover but not used.

Leonard Williams was in virtually all of the time until he went down with an injury in the third quarter. Xavier Cooper, who was already in an expanded role, was basically in a full time role thereafter.

Two new starters

A couple of surprising changes saw Juston Burris inserted into the starting line-up on defense and Neal Sterling used as an offensive starter.

In Sterling's case, this may just have been an anomaly as Austin Seferian-Jenkins still received a starter's workload.

However, in Burris' case he had the third cornerback role ahead of both Rashard Robinson and Darryl Roberts, who've started there over the past few weeks. Neither of those played at all on defense.

We should perhaps expect the team to experiment like this over these last three games, given their lack of importance in terms of the standings, but ultimately there weren't many other changes.

Sixth man of the year

Brent Qvale has seen plenty of work as an extra lineman this year, but this was the most action he's seen in that role all season. Qvale was in for approximately one-third of the offensive snaps and almost three quarters of the Jets rushing attempts on the day. The Jets gained 74 yards on 19 carries with Qvale in the game.

Over the course of the season, Qvale has been in the starting line-up five times and has played over 330 snaps.

Previously: Falling into Line