FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- There was a lot of speculation last week on Sheldon Richardson and how he'd be deployed in his season debut for the New York Jets. Would he play a lot or a little? Base or sub packages?
The answers: A lot and neither (kind of).
Reaching into the not-too-distant past, Todd Bowles employed a game plan from last season that worked for his Arizona Cardinals against the Dallas Cowboys. On Sunday, Bowles scrapped his 3-4 base defense in favor of a 4-3, adding Richardson at defensive tackle to the already formidable trio of Muhammad Wilkerson (end), Leonard Williams (end) and Damon Harrison (tackle). Richardson wound up playing 49 of 63 defensive snaps in the 34-20 win over the Washington Redskins, far more than anyone anticipated.
The immediate reaction to the tactical switch: This was just Bowles adding another defensive lineman to the scheme so he didn't have to cut playing time for one of his three regulars -- i.e. the easy way out. Afterward, he explained that wasn't the case.
"It wasn't just to accommodate Sheldon from a game-plan standpoint," he said. "Most of their run game is based off the double-team and people getting up to the linebackers on the second level. We thought we could take that away and put another guy down. They couldn't handle all of them. [It was] just to try to combat them."
It worked. Known for their power-running offense, the Redskins rushed for only 34 yards on 17 carries. Naturally, it helped that the Redskins were missing two starters on the offensive line, including Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams. What's more, the wrinkle will give the New England Patriots something else to think about this week as they prepare for Sunday's showdown.
Veteran Bowles watchers will recall he did the same thing last season as the Cards' defensive coordinator. Facing the eventual NFL rushing champion, DeMarco Murray, he used a 4-3 front against the Cowboys, straying from his beloved 3-4. That worked, too. They held Murray to 79 yards on 19 carries, and the Cards won the game, 28-17. Naturally, it helped that Tony Romo was injured; Brandon Weeden started for the Cowboys.
On Sunday, Kirk Cousins played the role of Weeden, a non-threatening quarterback who didn't have his No. 1 weapon, wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The Jets intercepted Cousins twice, holding him to a 57.9 passer rating.
In their 4-3, the Jets deployed David Harris as a true "Mike" linebacker, with Calvin Pace (strong) and Demario Davis (weak) used as on-the-line linebackers. The odd-man out was outside linebacker Quinton Coples (nine snaps), who played only when they used a 3-4. In the nickel, Williams slide inside with Richardson, with Leger Douzable (subbing for Harrison) joining Wilkerson on the outside. On a handful of plays, Wilkerson and Richardson rushed from a stand-up position, allowing them a running start.
"Every defensive lineman likes to stand up," Richardson said, smiling. "That's a universal thing."
The Jets recorded only one sack (a Wilkerson-Richardson split) and five quarterback hits, but that could be attributed to Washington's short-passing game. Cousins got rid of it quickly, if not accurately. Richardson, returning from a four-game marijuana suspension, was credited with a half-sack and three assisted tackles in his return.
A look at the Jets' snap counts:
DEFENSE (based on 63)
Line: Wilkerson 59, Williams 57, Richardson 49, Douzable 33, Harrison 25, T.J. Barnes 5.
Linebacker: Davis 63, Harris, Pace 25, Coples 9, Trevor Reilly 7, Lorenzo Mauldin 6.
Secondary: Marcus Gilchrist 63, Darrelle Revis 63, Antonio Cromartie 63, Calvin Pryor 55, Dexter McDougle 25, Buster Skrine 23.
OFFENSE (based on 67)
Quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick 67.
Running back: Chris Ivory 34, Zac Stacy 25, Tommy Bohanon 18, Bilal Powell 8.
Wide receiver: Brandon Marshall 57, Eric Decker 56, Quincy Enunwa 49, Devin Smith 16, Jeremy Kerley 8.
Tight end: Kellen Davis 40, Jeff Cumberland 21.
Line: D'Brickashaw Ferguson 67, James Carpenter 67, Nick Mangold 67, Breno Giacomini 65, Willie Colon 42, Brian Winters 25, Brent Qvale 5.