Super Bowl: Message from Jets: Ravens' 'D' overrated
01/21/01
BY PAUL NEEDELL
STAR-LEDGER STAFF
TAMPA, Fla. -- The numbers speak for themselves. On the final day of the regular season, the Jets scored 20 points, racked up 524 total yards and 22 first downs, and totally ambushed the supposedly immovable force that is the defense of the Ravens to jump out to a 14-point lead. In Baltimore, no less.
Of course, the Jets ultimately lost the game, 34-20, after quarterback Vinny Testaverde self-destructed by committing four of the team's six turnovers and the special teams allowed two touchdowns on punt returns by Jermaine Lewis. But by the end of the game, the Jets felt they had largely exposed the vaunted Ravens' defense as a myth.
"They're overrated," Jets Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae said disdainfully. "The Ravens don't have the best defense in the history of the NFL. If we didn't commit those turnovers, we would have killed those guys."
In preparation for Super Bowl XXXV against these same ravenous Ravens Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, Giants coach Jim Fassel and offensive coordinator Sean Payton no doubt have tried to go to school on the videotape of that Jets-Baltimore game. After all, in three playoff games since, the Ravens have allowed a total of only 16 points.
How did the Jets do it? And do the Giants have the personnel to attack the Ravens in similar fashion? Those are the key questions.
"I don't know that it serves any purpose to go over that," said Dan Henning, who stepped down as Jets' offensive coordinator Thursday but was the mastermind of the Baltimore blueprint. "We didn't win, so as far as I'm concerned, it's all moot."
Au contraire. The Ravens allowed the fewest points in NFL history during the season, a scant 165 points, so when a team moves up and down the field with apparent ease, it is not moot. Even the Jets were taken aback by their success.
What, exactly, did Henning and the Jets do? For starters, the Jets opened the game in a no-huddle offense. Not a hurry-up attack, mind you, just enough of a no-huddle to prevent Baltimore from substituting its personnel.
Then, featuring a spread offense with five receivers -- running against Ray Lewis and company is an exercise in futility -- Testaverde attacked Baltimore's secondary, especially with passes to running backs Richie Anderson and Curtis Martin, who combined for 19 receptions. The Ravens are so hellbent on stopping the run, it makes the linebackers susceptible to play-action passes.
"We had some things we thought would work, and we did them," Henning said. "If you look at the statistics, we moved it better than anybody. I don't mean good, I mean exceptionally."
Before the Ravens knew what hit them, the Jets were up, 14-0, on a 37-yard flea-flicker to wideout Dedric Ward and a 70-yard, seven-play drive. The master plan went up in smoke, however, the next time the Jets got the ball. Still ahead by 14, Testaverde lost a fumbled snap, leading to a Ravens' TD. Before that turnover, the Jets intended to switch back to their normal, ball-control offense to dare Baltimore's offense to play catch-up.
"Oh, if we don't fumble that ball and let them back in it," Henning said, still lamenting the moment, "then we would have really shut down the offense and made them beat us."
Up until that moment, however, the plan had worked to perfection.
"We were able to spread 'em out with the five receivers and threw the ball really successfully," Testaverde said. "But the turnovers really hurt us. Unlike most teams, though, we were able to move the ball through the air. The Ravens pretty much make up their minds that no matter what, they're going to shut down the run."
Said wide receiver Wayne Chrebet: "The key to it was keeping them on their toes. The no-huddle created some mismatches. It limited them in their defensive signals, prevented them from changing their defense, because they couldn't sub in and out. And maybe getting them a little tired helped us."
If this game plan was so easy to copy, though, why didn't the Broncos, Titans and Raiders follow suit in the playoffs? Simple. Not all teams are equipped to run the same offense. Football is a game of matchups. The Jets thrived in no-huddle situations all season and feature two gifted pass receivers at running back who are adept at lining up as wideouts.
Do the Giants excel in the same areas? Well, the no-huddle may not be their forte. However, running backs Tiki Barber and Greg Comella are excellent receivers. Both have lined up outside in the team's multi-formation sets. And the wide receiving corps of Amani Toomer, Ike Hilliard, Joe Jurevicius and rookie Ron Dixon seems to be peaking in front of Kerry Collins' eyes.
"Let me put it this way: I watched the Giants the other day (41-0 romp over the Vikings), and I can tell you unequivocally that these Giants are better in all phases of the game than I've seen them in four years here," Henning said. "They look like they're primed and ready to play anybody."
Henning paused. "But hey, I can tell you, Baltimore's not just anybody." |
