Make no mistake about it. The New York Jets young and energetic defense is one studly element away from NFL dominance that could take the organization a long way and today, we grade each personnel package.
It was the night of Thursday, Nov. 2, 2018. The New York Jets placed a proper spanking on the eventually playoff-bound Buffalo Bills—a 34-21 home victory featuring 194 total yards on the ground and a rabid Jets defense ready to move to anything.
The Dancin’ Jets Defense had taken over the internet.
The boys enjoyed the primetime affair that sent them to a record of 4-5. Social media enjoyed the Dancin’ Jets enjoying it.
Unfortunately, the rest of the season didn’t quite work out for those dancin’ fools in green.
By the time it was all over and done with, Todd Bowles’ pride and joy (defense) finished 25th in the NFL in total defense (352.2 yards per game). Additionally, neither the rushing (24th) or passing (20th) defense was stellar. So how in the world could a defense who performed so poorly in one season find themselves on the brink of dominance the next?
It’s quite simple, really. Young talent is developing while covering all bases involved. The only thing missing is a legitimate edge pass-rushing threat.
Due to the nature of this massive hole—one that rivals the worst in the league—the Jets defense could never possibly labeled as even “solid.” It wouldn’t make a sound difference if Pro Football Hall of Famers lined up four across in the secondary and four deep within the interior of a 3-4 scheme (three interior defensive lineman and two inside linebackers).
Without the ability to pressure the opposing QB with a conventional four-man rush, everything suffers.
The interior rushers (hello, Leonard Williams) face unbeatable double-teams. The middle backers suddenly have a tougher time in terms of picking up backfield routes and filling the game sideline-to-sideline. The corners have to cover for that much longer while the safeties lose valuable opportunities to make plays.
As bad as this one element is, makes it that much impressive that the middle-to-backend of the defense was able to at least hold its own.
New York finished with 28 sacks a year ago. This was awful enough for 28th in the NFL. Only four teams finished with fewer. The defense also finished with the fourth most plays from scrimmage in the entire league with a cool number of 1,052.
It won’t happen in 2018 unless premiere edge talent is suddenly plucked from thin air, but make no mistake, this young defense is coming.
Just assess each personnel package and grade out each young talent at every one of the 11 positions and senses start to become a little clearer.
We begin with the standard 3-4 base:
Jets 3-4 Base Defense
We first start with the standard base defense and in Todd Bowles’ world, it’s the aggressive and attacking 3-4.
Don’t be fooled. While this is the defense you see your names populate the starting lineup on Sunday afternoon via CBS and FOX, it’s neither the most critical nor most used. That distinction is for the defenses facing the 11 personnel (3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB).
Either way, check out the base above. Of course, the fatal flaw is the edge. We already mentioned it as the desperate missing piece and will remain that way throughout. However, the Jets top guy, Jordan Jenkins, is actually best when playing out of the base.
The 23-year-old two-year pro is an excellent edge-setter and run defender from his strong-side outside backer spot. The weakside edge with Lorenzo Mauldin is the area of great concern via the rushing attack.
In the middle, it’s stout. Steve McLendon and Leonard Williams account for 66 percent of the interior line and do a terrific job. The last spot is still up in the air as Nathan Shepherd, if he turns out as the real deal, can make everybody forget about the lost causes named Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson in a hurry.
The second-level is also stout. It’s not NFL top-shelf, but it’s banging on the door. Of course, the four-man secondary is excellent.
When looking at the names above, what more would any defensive mind want (other than the two edge spots)? Two really good corners, two really stoud inside linebackers, a star defensive lineman with plenty of depth, a superstar safety with another excellent centerfielder—the elements are save for the missing element.
Overall 3-4 Base Grade: A-
Jets 2-4-5 Nickel Defense
Here’s when we enter the good stuff, the three wide receiver sets, the personnel that rules the NFL.
Unlike a decade ago when the Greatest Show on Turf and several other offensive minds started to tinker with four and five wide receiver sets, the standard use of a tight end and back has spread rapidly through the league the last few seasons. Though variations differ dramatically, the 11 personnel has quickly become the true base look.
How the defense attacks it is still unique.
Unless a safety is so talented with his cover skills (i.e. Tyrann Mathieu out of the slot), hardly can that fifth defensive back be a safety. Rather, the fifth DB is almost always a corner. It has to be.
Again, the secondary is legit. Rough grades for each would consist of:
- Jamal Adams: A
- Marcus Maye: B+
- Trumaine Johnson: A-
- Morris Claiborne: B+
- Buster Skrine: C+
Buster Skrine versus Juston Burris and rookie Parry Nickerson will be a huge topic come camp. Big Cat and McLendon with plenty of depth absolutely get it done in the middle as done the two backers in Darron Lee and Avery Williamson with solid veteran and newcomer, Kevin Minter, as the third LB.
Unfortunately for the depth chart, the longer the distance, the worst their edge situation becomes which further handicaps this potentially excellent secondary. Therefore, the grade cannot be a solid one.
Overall 4-2-5 Nickel Grade: C+
Jets 1-4-6 Big Dime Defense
We touched on this specific look just a few days ago when the report that free agent Kenny Vaccaro would be visiting the Jets this week.
Should Vaccaro enter the fold, watch out. The big dime package with Vaccaro and Adams on either side and in the box or on the edge would be one serious package.
The only thing a defense can do in overcoming poor one-on-one pass rushing talent is to beef up the second level and secondary. Doing that with a sneaky, interchangeable look with three excellent safeties would prove to cause offensive coordinators headaches all season long.
Early in the 2017 season, Terrence Brooks filled the third safety spot and was tremendous playing the deep half with Marcus Maye. If it’s Vaccaro, a ton of single-high safety looks out of the big dime could be used with both Adams and Vaccaro down low on both sides. Moreover, each would blitz a ton due to their conventional pass-rushing woes.
The reason the big dime’s grade beats the nickel is simple: that third safety allowing Jamal Adams more freedom to wreak havoc anywhere he pleases.
Overall 1-4-6 Big Dime Grade: B+
Jets 1-3-7 Quarter Defense
Speaking of those crazy four and five-receiver sets the Greatest Show on Turf used to throw out, we get to the defense that combats such a look.
Rarely does Todd Bowles like to get to a quarter defense. In fact, I’ve been one of his biggest critics when it comes to matching up lighter.
In 2016 with David Harris and Darron Lee at the two inside backer spots, Bowles would rarely move to a dime defense, taking Harris off the field. This would crush and integrity of the entire pass coverage scheme as Harris couldn’t cover your grandmother out of the backfield.
It’s since been exposed and Bowles has, thankfully, moved away from stubbornly sticking to his nickel defense in all three WR looks. A year ago, he’d oftentimes make the right call in moving to the six DB look when the down and distance called for it.
In any event, the quarter D for the Jets would be phenomenal given one element, but simply isn’t up to snuff. The lack of a conventional pass rush and taking one of the two (now) talented inside linebackers off the field hurt.
Overall 1-3-7 Quarter Grade: B-
NEXT: Jets Goalline Defense
Jets Goalline Defense
Where’s the beef? Oh, yeah, it’s right here.
Though Todd Bowles is that old-school “throw the three tight end-two running back” team out there and ram it down the B-gap, he’s far from the only one left in the league.
Defensively, New York is pretty comfortable playing big-boy football. The pass rushing element is taking out of the equation. Though the Jets corners are talented, Adams and Maye in the goalline is as good as it gets in the league.
Adams will not only secure the strong-side edge behind the outside backer, he’ll run down a beastly back from the weakside with pure heart and effort (i.e. Marshawn Lynch in Week 2 of 2017).