The Jets are the only team this season to rush for over 100 yards against the Dolphins and they'd like to experience similar ground gains Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
"We want to run it," said center Wes Johnson of an offensive line that helped the paved the way for 103 rush yards during a 20-6 victory in Week 3. "Our job as an offensive line is to make the offense flow and as offensive linemen, we want to run the ball more. When you run, you can attack a little bit more and I feel like we do a pretty good job, but we do need to get better. We need to get our run game going a little bit and make bigger holes for the backs."
Johnson and the rest of the O-line will face a tough test this weekend as the Dolphins allow an average of 80 yards a game on the ground, which ranks No. 4 in the NFL. Their unit is led by DT Ndamukong Suh, who has racked up 16 tackles and 2.0 sacks in five games this season. The 6'5", 297-pound Johnson said Suh predominantly lines up on the right side of the line, but moved around during the clubs' first matchup.
Jets Returned to the Practice Field on Wednesday to Begin Prep for the Week 7 Trip to Miami
"The goal is to keep it as simple as possible," Johnson said. "It's a little bit of a chess match, but the real match is coming off the ball and hitting the guy as hard as you can."
The four-year veteran, who's done a nice job in the Jets' first year since 2006 without Nick Mangold, believes the offense has played well. But Johnson says improvement is necessary for a unit that ranks No. 18 in rushing and relinquished a 14-point lead against the Patriots Sunday.
The Jets hope to have Powell, who didn't play last week because of a calf injury and didn't practice Wednesday, back in the mix for Week 7. Whether it's Powell, who leads the team with 51 carries and 240 yards, the elder statesman in Forté or the young McGuire, the O-Line's mentality remains the same.
"We're not going to change the way we block because of one running back," Johnson said. "Plus they all run hard, so you don't need to change anything. Matt and Bilal are experienced and Eli has picked it up real quick, so there's no change."
