Forget about running the Wildcat, tomorrow the Jets may have to stop it.
Because of old pal Brad Smith, the Bills’ offense features the gimmick, and the Jets have been preparing to handle it.
But if the Jets stop the Bills’ Wildcat, they might provide an in-game blueprint on how to stop their own version, featuring Tim Tebow.
The Jets believe they are prepared to defend against Smith (who is dealing with a groin injury, but is probable for tomorrow) and the Buffalo Wildcat.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said facing the Wildcat during practice has been beneficial.
“I think it’s helped us because otherwise we would have had to manufacture those reps against a scout team, and you’re not always going to get the best look,” Pettine said. “Whereas when a team is running it and it’s in training camp or it’s post-training camp and you’re going good against good, it’s a much better look. It’s full speed.
“Having a guy like Tim here I think has been tremendous for us, just in preparation for that. Now, people said, ‘Well, I’m not sure if Brad Smith’s going to go.’ They’ve run different forms of it, so we’ve prepared for it for what they’ve done and anticipating some things they might do.”
Added coach Rex Ryan, “We know Brad pretty well. He’s a tremendous player. The good thing is, going against each other, going against Tim and running our Wildcat … we’re ready for it. We think we are. They may have something up their sleeve for us with Brad as well.”
Just as the Jets didn’t unveil their Wildcat plans in preseason, it’s possible the Bills might have devised new plans this season for Smith, in his second year with the team after five with the Jets.
Yesterday on ESPN’s Mike & Mike radio program, Ryan — speaking generally about the Wildcat — said it is difficult to stop, but he has successfully defended it in the past.
“You have to be assignment-sound and you better tackle, and I think those are things that are challenging on a defense,” he said. “As a coordinator and things like that, look, I’ve stopped the Wildcat before, I’ve had to go against it, all that type of stuff, but from a preparation standpoint, I think it takes a lot more than as some people have said, 10 percent of your practice time or your prep time.”
Last year, Smith threw just one pass (he didn’t complete it) and rushed 20 times for 87 yards, not all of them out of the Wildcat formation.
Ryan raved about Smith yesterday, but the Jets failed to re-sign him two years ago, asking him — unsuccessfully — to wait until Nnamdi Asomugha picked a free-agent destination. Smith didn’t wait, signing with Buffalo. In two games against the Jets last season, he had one carry for three yards and four catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.