For all the talk about our supposed lack of speed at OLB, the Jets are currently leading the league in sacks with 10 as well as being the #1 rush D. Quinton Coples has looked good too... This won't stop complainers from complaining but the D line couldn't have a better start.
This is great but given it's only week 3 I have to temper my enthusiasm a little. We're also the #1 rush defense and #9 against the pass but 20th in points against. Points against is obviously more of a factor of the team as a whole but it's also the most important since it directly correlates with w's and l's. It would be a real shame to waste another strong defensive season.
I can't remember anyone saying that the defensive line is slow and plodding. As far as Coples goes, he hasn't exactly been a bright spot. Decent in run protection.
This was my first posts, but I've lurked for a few years here and a few other places. MANY fans have complained about line speed, the need for a speed rusher, the lack of sacks, etc. I've seen people people criticize the pass rush during the GB game, where we had 4 sacks. Which is incredible.
The pass rush stopped being effective around the middle of the second quarter, although the refs were keeping their whistles in their pockets for a lot of the holding that was going on in that game. Rex didn't help by using mainly overload blitzes and minimizing the stunts he used early. And I'm not sure what other forums you lurk, but I sincerely doubt you read a lot of complaints on this one about line speed.
Might not be the only reason, but I think the reason the pass rush slackened in the GB game is that Rodgers was starting to find seams to run through. There were some plays where Jets' rushers worked their way upfield and applied pressure, but Rodgers stepped up and just ran for first downs because those guys werent containing any longer. After a couple of those, seemed like the D-Line and Coples/Pace took the foot off the accelerator.
I think Coples' pass rush production is getting hurt by Rex's strategy of having him bump receivers at the line of scrimmage. Obviously he only does that in blatant passing situations, which also happen to be the best opportunities for sacks. He's essentially being taken out of the play in situations where he has the best chance to rush the passer.
It's great that our DLine has 10 sacks. It would REALLY be great if we got those sacks on 3rd and longs and got off the field. Our defense plays a lot of minutes because for whatever reason, we have some issues with 3rd down stops. We may be #1 against the run, but teams really don't run on us because they don't have to. Our secondary is so bad that teams go after the weakest link first until it stops working. Usually, it stops working when the game is over.
That stat is really misconstrued. About half of the sacks have come on all out blitzes. I would like to see the stats on sacks where our guys just flat out beat their man and get the sack. That rarely seems to happen and when it does, the QB calls a quick pass.