Baltimore Beatdown
Welcome back to another edition of 5 Questions, a weekly collaboration with other SB Nation sites to preview the Ravens’ upcoming matchups. This week, the Ravens are playing the New York Jets so MacGregor Wells of Gang Green Nation is on hand to answer Baltimore Beatdown’s questions about Week 12.
1. Since 2009, when the Jets hired ex-Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as their head coach, they have generally fielded strong defenses. It seems like the team still has a defense-first philosophy based on their last few head coach hires, but how does that comport with trading away two of their best defenders?
I’m not sure we can assume the Jets have a defense first philosophy because new head coach Aaron Glenn is a former defensive back and former defensive coordinator in the NFL. Glenn seems more inclined to focus on the offense than prior defensive coordinators hired to be head coaches for the Jets. My impression is he is more focused right now on getting the offense right. The Jets spent their first two picks and three of their top four picks under the new regime on offensive players in 2025. They also signed two top players to big new contract extensions in the offseason. Cornerback Sauce Gardner and receiver Garrett Wilson got extensions; only the offensive player, Wilson, remains. We’ll see what happens in the next two drafts, but I’m pretty sure some of the five first round picks the Jets have over the next two years will be spent on a quarterback and a receiver. In short, I don’t think the Aaron Glenn regime is focused primarily on rebuilding the Jets defense. I think the current focus is much more on rebuilding the offense.
2. Speaking of the Jets’ massive moves at the deadline, how do fans feel about trading away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams? Is there more frustration about one player or the other, or are fans upset about the general idea of trading away beloved, talented players at premium positions?
I think Jets fans are mixed in their feelings about the Williams and Gardner trades. Those were arguably the two best players on the team. Some Jets fans are upset the Jets are being stripped down to the studs, so to speak, and do not appear likely to be competitive until 2027 at the earliest. Others may miss Williams and Gardner, but they believe this was likely the best way to gain the draft assets necessary for the total rebuild the Jets have often seemed to need but rarely have committed to.
3. The Jets will be starting Tyrod Taylor on Sunday, who will be familiar to Ravens fans as one of Joe Flacco’s former backups. Justin Fields has better numbers as a passer and a runner for both traditional and advanced stats. Why is Taylor getting the nod? Have the Jets given up on Fields?
Taylor is replacing Fields because Fields has looked completely lost in too many games this season. He has...
