New York Jets: Keys to victory over the Detroit Lions
Win the Interior on Defense
Nathan Shepherd isn’t just making his NFL debut, he is doing it with a very important role in the game.
It’s always important to win the battle of the interior, but in this one, it’s especially important for the Jets to win the battle on defense.
Why? LeGarrette Blount. He is one big dude that is tough to bring down. Not only does he have a career average of 4.4 yards per carry, he is just two seasons removed from an 18 touchdown season.
Blount likes to run the ball in the “A” gaps, to either side of the center. That is right into the territory of both Shepherd and Steve McLendon.
These guys are going to have to take up a lot of space, keeping Blount from having room to roam.
If Blount has a big night it will free things up for Matthew Stafford to have his way with the Jets defense.
The Jets didn’t allow any touchdowns in the preseason but they gave up chunk plays against the pass. A good night from Blount is going to make that even easier to have happen.