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This is a must for the Jets moving forward . . .
They have got to get faster on defense.
Overall, they weren’t fast enough on defense this year.
Obviously, we aren’t saying they have no speed on defense. For the safety position, Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye are fast enough.
But at some of the other spots, they must get faster.
One of the reasons the San Francisco 49ers improved so much this year is their defense isn’t just loaded with talent, but speed.
You have two fast edge-rushers in Nick Bosa and Dee Ford to go along with a linebacker corps all with great wheels. Linebackers Kwon Alexander and Dre Greenlaw run like defensive backs.
The bottom line is – the Jets front seven just wasn’t fast enough in 2019.
Too often you saw running backs “take the edge” which is a no-no if you want to have a top-shelf defense.
Bill Belichick is obsessed with setting the edge, as are most great defensive coaches. You want to make sure that runners don’t get outside the defensive ends and outside linebackers. You want to funnel things back inside.
One of the big issues for the Jets in terms of setting the edge was having defensive ends who could get outflanked on outside runs because they don’t have great speed, due to know fault of their own. The tools you are given by God, or whatever you believe in, are what they are.
Jordan Jenkins gives you everything he’s got on every play, and is tough as boot leather, but there were too many plays where running backs got outside of him and took the edge this season. It was not a lack of effort, but more of a lack of speed, which isn’t his fault.
The same happened to Henry Anderson on occasion. Once again due to no fault of his own. This is a player who ran a 5.03 forty at the combine, so what do you expect from him? Anderson is best used as an interior player, like the Jets did in 2018, and he had his best season as a pro.
If you are asking Jenkins and Anderson to set the edge, with their speed limitations, you are asking for trouble.
One player who does have the requisite speed to deal with the edge is defensive end Tarell Basham, who was a pleasant surprise for the Jets this year. You saw his top-shelf athleticism on his interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They need more edge players like this. Kyle Phillips has potential as well.
So the Jets not only need to improve their edge-rush, but also their edge-setting.
The Jets could also use a speedy linebacker in the mix, guys who run like the aforementioned Alexander and Greenlaw. Getting C.J. Mosley back should help. He runs fairly well unless his serious groin injury takes away from that moving forward, though he did have it surgically repaired.
The Jets also need to get faster at cornerback. Too often this past season we saw fast receivers pulling away from Jets corners. Trumaine Johnson, who doesn’t have ideal speed, could be a cap caualty. Art Maulet, who filled in late in the season as a starter, is probably a better fit at safety. Speedy receivers gave him issues late in the season.
So along with all their other needs, GM Joe Douglas needs to focus like a laser on building a faster defense.
Especially with the road to the Super Bowl likely going through Kansas City the next few years. As we all know, the Chiefs’ offense is loaded with speed.
January 21, 2020
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