Content available exclusively for subscribers
It was kind of interesting
that these two former Jets defenders signed with other teams on the first day of Robert Saleh’s first camp as Jets coach.
I’m talking about linebacker Neville Hewitt signing with the Houston Texans, and defensive back Arthur Maulet inking with Pittsburgh. Hewitt was on the Jets for three seasons (2018-20) and Maulet the last two years (2019-20).
The are both super-tough players who gave the Jets everything they had.
However, do to no fault of their own, neither is super-fast.
And the reason I’m connecting these two signings to the first day of the Jets’ rookie mini-camp, is that an absolute mission for the Jets under Saleh is to get faster on defense, and you saw some of the new additions on the practice field today.
So with rookies taking the field today, you had players like drafted corners Michael Carter II (4.30 forty), Jason Pinnock (4.45 forty) and Brandon Echols (4.35 forty), along with two safeties being moved to linebacker – Jamien Sherwood and Hamsah Nasirildeen, who will help the Jets’ cover tight ends better with their safety cover skills. The mission is pretty clear.
Hewitt and Maulet, two high character men with great motors, were part of a pass defense the last two years that struggled somewhat. That unit the last two years had too many players who just couldn’t consistently keep up with offensive players, often playing catch up, t and not being able to stay in the hip pocket of offensive targets.
Playing pass defense in the NFL is hard enough with the rules favoring the offensive player, without putting yourself further behind the eight ball by fielding a defense that has speed issues.
One report has Maulet being signed as a safety with the Steelers, so that is great news for him, because that is the position he should have played his entire time with the Jets. He doesn’t have ideal speed for corner, but he’s fast enough for safety, and all know he will hit you, now.
Hewitt should make the Texans, and contribute at linebacker and on special teams. He’s got good instincts and is a big-time hitter. He had perhaps the biggest hit we’ve seen on Lamar Jackson since the talented Baltimore QB entered the league. On December 13, 2019, in a Jets loss to the Ravens on Thursday Night Football, Hewitt hit a scrambling Jackson so hard, you could hear the air get sucked out of the stadium. The Ravens faithful don’t like seeing their franchise QB hit like that. It was a totally clean hit in the open field.
Maulet and Hewitt should do well with their new teams.
But Jets are putting in a run-and-flow defense under Robert Saleh and DC Jeff Ulbrich, and need speed, speed and more speed.
They made that clear, especially with the selection of speedsters Carter II and Echols, and picking two safeties, and making them linebackers.
And let’s not forget, they also signed two linebackers in free agency, Jarrad Davis and Del’Shawn Phillips, who both run 4.5.
“Operation Defensive Speed” is underway in Florham Park.
May 7, 2021
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Monday.