Jets' O-line again put to test

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- D'Brickashaw Ferguson is all too familiar with the Washington Redskins' pass rushers, particularly linebacker Brian Orakpo.

Orakpo has co-starred with GEICO cavemen in several TV spots, including one in which he uses "Orakpoed" in a scrabble-like board game.

"I've seen the GEICO commercial, so I'm very aware of Orakpo and I think he's doing a good job as an actor," the Jets' left tackle said with a smile. "He has a future there."

Come Sunday, the Jets will see firsthand if "Orakpoed" is in fact another word for "sacked.''

The Redskins (4-7) are tied for first in the NFC and third in the league with 33 sacks -- four more than they had all of last season. And it'll be up to Ferguson and the rest of the Jets' offensive line to protect Mark Sanchez.

Last week the third-year quarterback threw four touchdown passes against Buffalo and his offensive line was named best in the NFL for Week 12 by John Madden.

"We have full confidence in our line, our blocking unit," guard Matt Slauson said. "We don't think there are going to be issues. We had a good game [last week], but we aren't going to rest on that. We feel like we need to have that kind of performance every week. Everybody's meshing really well right now. We're playing at a high level as a group."

But the unit's cohesion and consistency will be put to the test against Washington. From a pass-rushing standpoint, Jets coach Rex Ryan said Sunday's road game will be the team's toughest challenge since Week 4 against the Ravens.

Rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan has 49 tackles and 61/2 sacks and Orakpo has 43 tackles and six sacks. And 6-6, 315-pound defensive end Adam Carriker (five sacks) gave Slauson fits when both played for Nebraska. "That guy haunted my dreams for three years," Slauson said. " . . . You line him up at a 4-3 defensive end spot and me at tackle, it was scary. He was a freak."

But despite the Redskins' propensity for pressuring the quarterback, Slauson matter-of-factly said, "We've blocked better fronts, so we don't put any extra pressure on ourselves."

Ryan said the offensive line's performance against the Bills has bolstered its confidence -- and rightfully so. "It's going to be a huge challenge but I think . . . we'll be up to it. I really do," he said. "I think they won that Madden deal for the best offensive line of the week, and they deserved that. There's no question, our offensive line deserved that, but I think that's the kind of line we have. And now, just be consistent. We've had a great group of practices, so I expect them to play well."

Containing Orakpo, Kerrigan, nose tackle Barry Cofield and defensive end Stephen Bowen (Half Hollow Hills West, Hofstra) is no easy feat, but the Jets (6-5) believe they'll pass this test.

"I respect their D-line, I think they have a lot of great components, but we want to win," Ferguson said. "So we're going to do everything we can to make sure we stop those guys and we execute our jobs. . . . Week in and week out, we always face top defenders. Some guys you know, some guys you don't, and it's just our job to stop them. We'll be ready."