How the Jets plan to deal with Raiders' game wrecker Mack
Mack is one of the best pass rushers in football, and McCown and the rest of the Jets' offense have spent much of the week getting ready to deal with him.
How the Jets plan to deal with Raiders' game wrecker Mack Mack is one of the best pass rushers in football, and McCown and the rest of the Jets' offense have spent much of the week getting ready to deal with him. Check out this story on app.com: http://on.app.com/2js2muq
@andy_vasquez Published 10:28 p.m. ET Sept. 14, 2017
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Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs while Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) tries to tackle him in the third quarter at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn.(Photo: Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com)
FLORHAM PARK - When Jets quarterback Josh McCown drops back on Sunday afternoon against the Raiders, he'll have a general idea of where defensive end Khalil Mack is.
"We have a plan for him, definitely," Jets offensive coordinator John Morton said Thursday of Mack. "He can wreck a game. So we've got to make sure we account for him, wherever he is at."
It's a fine balance the Jets must manage as they get ready to deal with Mack. They need to have a plan, but they can't be so worried about Mack that he's in their head.
"Like, you can't get so caught up in it like where you're catching the ball and looking to see if he's being blocked or not," McCown told The Record on Thursday. "I trust our guys up front, they'll do their job and we just have to limit his impact on the game, because he's a good, good player."
It's not unusual for players and coaches to rave about their upcoming opponents. It happens every week in the NFL. But usually, it's a little disingenuous and bordering on hyperbole -- for example, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio talked about the Jets defense this week as if it is a formidable challenge.
But with Mack, it isn't hyperbole. He's the real deal, and even the Jets who don't have to face him every down know it.
"I personally think he's probably the best defensive player in the league right now," Jets defensive end Leonard Williams said. "I obviously am a defensive player, so I don't like saying that. I want to compete with him and be the best guy myself. But watching him on film, he's a great player and [I'm] just looking forward to watching him."
So what makes Mack so good? Well, the fourth-year player racked up 15 sacks in 2015 and 11 sacks in 2016. His 2016 was probably the more impressive season because he was facing double and triple teams nearly snap.
But even when he's not sacking the quarterback, Mack finds a way to impact the game.
"He's not just a pass rusher," Williams said. "He's making [tackles for losses], he's making plays, if he doesn't make the play he's freeing up someone else to make the play. So that's what I like about him."
At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Mack is big and strong enough to plug the running lanes, but also fast and athletic enough to get around the outside of the offensive line and to the quarterback.
The Jets' starting tackles, Kelvin Beachum and Brandon Shell, will likely see the most of Mack, who plays on both sides. Shell, a second-year player making only his fifth career start. But he's ready.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge," Shell said. "I don't back down from challenges, I'm all for it. But he's everything that everybody says he is. Great pass rusher, great run stopper. He's a complete defensive player."
But it won't be just Beachum and Shell who are dealing with Mack. He also can come to the inside and rush, which will bring guards Brian Winters and James Carpenter into play along with center Wesley Matthews.
"Everybody's going to be dealing with him," Jets coach Todd Bowles said. "I mean, he goes inside and outside. He runs stunts and everything else. He's a great player, there's nothing you can say about that. We just have to do our jobs, make sure we're aware of where he is and slow him down a little bit where we can make some plays.
"It's not just about the tackles," Morton said. "It's about the running backs, it's about the tight ends, it's about the receivers. We've got to know where he's at and I think we've got a really good game plan."
We'll find out for sure on Sunday.
Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com
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