QuickFix: Reviewing the rotations on Thursday Night Football

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

Sunday is a day of rest

After Sunday's game, we were wondering if the Jets had reduced some players' playing time so that they would be fresh for Thursday night. Whether that was the plan or not, that's how it worked out.

David Bass, who didn't get any reps on Sunday, saw action on 22 snaps. Mike Pennel played just six snaps on Sunday but he was in on 16 plays. There were others that played more snaps too, but these seemed to be gameplan or injury related.

On offense, they employed Dakota Dozier regularly and effectively as an extra blocker. He had played just three offensive snaps since game three. Elijah McGuire saw more action this week (and then got some bonus action in garbage time) after only playing three snaps against Atlanta. Matt Forté was the lead back after only carrying four times on Sunday.

Responding to injuries

It may also have been in the plans to have Chad Hansen and ArDarius Stewart playing more snaps this week, but that became inevitable when Jeremy Kerley suffered an early ankle injury. Hansen played a career high number of snaps and Stewart played his most since opening day. Again, much like McGuire, this was supplemented in garbage time.

With Lawrence Thomas out, the Jets used Eric Tomlinson as the fullback, as expected. This was in addition to his usual reps at tight end so he ended up playing a season-high number of snaps too.

With Morris Claiborne out, the Jets had newcomer Rashard Robinson active, but he didn't get any defensive reps. The Jets stuck with Juston Burris and Darryl Roberts outside and Buster Skrine in the slot. Burris would go to the bench in base packages and Robert Nelson got just a couple of snaps in relief.

The other newcomer, Xavier Cooper, got some reps replacing Ed Stinson's role in the rotation but these were again mostly in garbage time.

Remixing Miles/Davis

The Jets have been using a 2-2-7 personnel package on passing downs which we've been calling the Miles/Davis package due to how Demario Davis and Rontez Miles move around to create different looks within the front five.

With Terrence Brooks inactive, the Jets didn't have the usual personnel to run this package, but they ran it with backup linebacker Bruce Carter in instead. Since at least two of the safeties would typically be in the box in these packages anyway, the plan made sense. So it was 2-3-6 personnel but the same package otherwise.

The Jets ran this four times in the first half and they got three stops, but one of those was negated by an offside penalty. They didn't use it in the second half.