INDIANAPOLIS — Former Patriots Super Bowl champion Rodney Harrison knows how coach Rex Ryan and the Jets must defend Peyton Manning today.
“He just can’t sit back and that’s not his nature,” NBC’s tell-it-like-it-is “Football Night in America” analyst told The Post “He’s gonna have to blitz Peyton, but he’s gonna have to blitz Peyton up the middle. You have to get him off that spot. You have to force him outside the pocket to his left. He’s just like Tom Brady. If you pressure Tom from the outside, Tom has no problem stepping up inside and letting the ball go.”
The Patriots, when they were in Manning’s head, were able to disrupt the timing of the Colts offense before the chuck rule was implemented.
“We were very physical with the receivers,” Harrison said.
Harrison said he believes the Jets have a matchup problem with Dallas Clark. As Bill Belichick’s trusted strong safety, Harrison always handled Dallas Clark.
“When I played Dallas Clark, I had him man-to-man,” Harrison said. “Everybody in the stadium knew I had him. I don’t think the Jets have a guy that can match up with Dallas Clark.”
But Harrison does know this: “You can’t let him release upfield without physical contact. You have to make sure someone’s on him at all times. You have to saddle the guy. If you jam him, he’s gonna keep working.”
The Colts are not as one-dimensional as people may think.
“People say their running game is non-existent,” Harrison said. “Well, that’s not true. They’d rather have [Joseph] Addai come out of the backfield and catch a 3- [or] 4-yard pass [than run the ball].”
It won’t be easy for Gang Green.
“This is a defense that doesn’t get a lot of credit,” Harrison said. “But this is a fast, aggressive, very physical defense.” Harrison said he likes how Ryan motivates his players.
Rodney Harrison’s pick: Manning and the Colts.
