Wednesday Film Review: JFM
A lot has been said about the lack of production from JFM since the contract extension. On Sunday, that all changed.
🗽 Good morning Jets fans. Welcome to hump day and to the Wednesday film review. Today has been a busy day, life and work just getting in the way of watching game film, devastating. I’m writing this as the clock approaches midnight, so if there is a spelling mistake or two, I’m blaming tiredness.
My instinct when writing these film review pieces is to head to the offensive side of football. It’s where my eyes naturally go, offensive line play is where my interest rests and Zach Wilson is where most Jets fans’ interest rests. But I’ve looked at the offense for a couple of weeks in a row now, so I thought it was the turn of the defense to have some of their plays highlighted.
In particular, I wanted to take a look at JFM.
A lot has been said about John Franklin-Myers after he signed his contract extension, one sack in 6 games will do that. I would say that nobody needed a productive day more than JFM, but #2 could have done with a nice outing to ease the pressure and calm the narrative. But, JFM certainly needed something, and he got it.
The Jets like to rotate their defensive line a lot and JFM will often come out of the game when it’s an obvious running down, but when he is in he’s more than capable of making plays on ball carriers. This is a kind of upward hand shuck move that allows him to gain leverage inside and make a play on the RB.
You’re never going to mistake JFM for an explosive edge rusher, he doesn’t have the speed or first step to win consistently with that alone, but what he does have is power in the hands. The Texans’ right tackle was put on his heels all day with JFM just dominating the power game. The first clip is of Quincy Williams's sack, and while I don’t think Taylor is escaping this sack, he can’t step up or roll because JFM has pushed the tackle back onto his toes.
Here is another example of JFM using his power to put the tackle on his heels. This is more a stutter bull that completely rocked the tackle who lost leverage, the stutter almost brings the tackle forward, and then the bull rush does the rest. It’s a good setup power move.
It would be impossible to look at JFMs day and not focus on the three key plays. On the interception, JFM just absolutely destroys the tackle with his pure power and then does what you’re taught to do if you’re not going to get home. You get your hands in the air and make a play on the ball, he does exactly that.
Then we have this sack where his lateral movement off the ball is excellent, he comes around and closes the only gap that Taylor has available. This is a good sack from JFM, but it’s a good team sack. You have the pressure up the middle, you have the pressure from the edge and then you have the movement of JFM to finish it.
I really like this stutter swipe sack by JFM for several reasons. The footwork of the stutter confuses the tackle, the swipe ensures there’s no way the tackle can get his hands into JFMs chest, and then you have the speed to get to the QB. This is one of my favorite plays of the season for JFM.
Sunday was a really good defensive team effort and while I’d say JFM was the 🌟, there were two other plays that really caught my eye.
The first one is from a player who’s quickly becoming my favorite linebacker, Quincy Williams. I just like his ability to find the ball and then to punish the ball carrier, he hits like a Mack truck and getting popped sticks with you.
Then you have CJ making plays in coverage. I liked this play at the time and I love it now.
📰 News & Notes 📝
The Jets signed Dan Brown to the practice squad and released James Morgan. Brown was previously with the Jets before being traded to Kansas City for Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff. The Chiefs cut him because quite frankly he’s awful. While I understand the familiarity and knowing the system, I can’t help but think it may have been worth trying someone else than going back to someone like Dan Brown.
Joe Flacco has been activated from the COVID Reserve list and will likely be the backup QB this weekend. Mike White is still out.
Denzel Mims will return to practice today. He was just starting to gain some traction before getting COVID, so let’s hope he can pick up from where he left off.
TE/FB Trevon Wesco will miss 2-4 weeks with an ankle injury.
The Jets have protected three players on the practice squad this week. RB Austin Walter, DE Ronald Blair and K Alex Kessman.