Hard to compare a 3-4 DE to a 4-3 DE (Coples/Jones) although I do agree Jones has looked good. Coples usually looks really good when they put him in, he's almost always disruptive and has looked great against the run, but for some reason the coaches have usually decided to go with DeVito over him in most instances this season. I don't get it. Irvin looks like the real deal, and although he was taken prior to our pick we could have really used a good passrushing OLB.
I think with a few moves next year our LB core will be upgraded with speed and youth which is exactly the right direction this team should go. Our LB are old and slow and the addition of Demario Davis was just a sign of things to come. Youth and speed, is a must in todays game and speed is a huge issue right now. I also have faith that our front 3 of Wilk, ellis and coples will be dominant for years to come as all three have shown great potential and will all be around for the next 5-10 years. If they continue to improve we might see glimpses of what the New England Patriots used to have in their early Superbowl run in their front three. This is not our year, plain and simple we are in a rebuilding mode but we are getting by with the core players already signed. I think it is important we continue to add to our Defensive unit until speed is added to our LB core. Our Offense needs a signing or two at runningback and draft a lineman in the mid rounds who must pan out. Let our young recievers grow some more and look foireward to the next few years. All this doom and gloom is right on schedule but it is because we are building for the future. We have a good coach in Rex and should keep some continuity going foreword. A few moves here and there and we will be built as a playoff contender for years to come. Keep the faith see the positives and be patient.
FYI - I think they are closer than you think. Unlike most teams in the Pats 4-3 the DE's use the 2 gap technique, unlike the 1 gap most teams us. I was surprised when I read a report that said the Pats are using the 2 gap technique, but it makes sense since BB is still wedded to the 3-4 2 gap philosophically and only moved to the 4-3 because he didn't have enough of the the 3-4 2 gap DE's like Warren and Seymour. If he eventually gets a few of those rare 6'5, 300lb athletic freaks I wouldn't be surprised to see him go back to it as a base. Maybe when Wilkerson's rookie contract runs out.
I agree with JetBlue. There are a lot of yards being given up in the first half of games. Would it help if the offense could run the ball and eat more clock? Sure, but the things I'm seeing such as the inability to tackle has nothing to do with the offense. As bad as Wilson might be, its the LB run defensive that is worse. It be a different story if we were talking about a team like the Saints who are know for their offense, but this is the Jets who pride themselves on being a top defensive team. With all the defensive emphasis on draft picks and a coach who is supposed to be a defensive genius, I got to say it's surprising. Better franchises develop their backups better than the Jets so when there is an injury they're ready to fill in so the team doesn't miss a beat. The Jets always seemed ill equipped to handle the absence of their starters.
Our offense has a hard time staying on the field because it's hard to convert on 3rd a long all day after getting stuffed on 1st and 2nd down. Blame the lack of running game for putting Sanchez in 3rd and long time after time. Defense? We can't get off the field on 3rd down because it's hard to defend 3rd and short all day. When you give up 4+ yards per carry on 1st and 2nd down, you face a lot of 3rd and 2 all day. Which means you can say good buy to a pass rush since 3rd and 2 could be run or pass. In summary: If you can't run the ball on 1st and 2nd down, your going to get killed all day long on 3rd and 8. And if you can't stop the run on 1st and 2nd downs, you ain't coming off the field too many times when facing 3rd and short all day. Run the ball. Stop the run.
No pass rush, and no outside containment on running plays. Rex and Petine said the mantra for this season was "one step quicker", but it appears what they're getting is " two steps behind".
