Gang Green Nation
Despite a lot of losing in recent years, Jets fans have become accustomed to defensive lines with depth. The defense has generally been a strong point in recent seasons built around a line full of talent.
The Jets still have talent on the defensive line when it comes to the starters. The depth, however, has withered away quite a bit. Giving the starters some rest can even get the Jets into trouble.
Take what happened in the third quarter of the Week 1 loss to Buffalo.
On this snap, the Jets had their entire starting lineup on the defensive line on the bench. In the game were Micheal Clemons, Jay Tufele, Jowon Briggs, and Tyler Baron.
Aaron Rodgers saw that he had the upper hand and moved to a no huddle offense. The Jets attempted to substitute, but Tufele got off the field late. What followed was a too many men on the field penalty and a free first down for Pittsburgh.
Later in the third, the Jets came out with a different defensive line look.
This line does have Jermaine Johnson and Harrison Phillips but also Briggs and Clemons out there. The Steelers ran the ball for 3 yards, but Rodgers again went no huddle since he wanted to keep Will McDonald and Quinnen Williams on the bench. The next play, Pittsburgh completed a pass for 18 yards.
I am sure that Joe Brady and Josh Allen have caught this as they reviewed the film preparing for Week 2.
It isn’t easy to operate when you only have three above average pass rushers on the defensive line. You do need to get your guys rest. It’s just the Jets are depending a lot on their top guys. I think the defensive line rotation needs to be deliberate with rest schedules. At least two of the three of McDonald, Williams, and Johnson should be on the field as often as humanly possible. When they are not, it will be the most dangerous time for the Jets defenses. Opponents will likely go up tempo to keep the top guys on the sideline.
