Considering the free agent signings (or the lack of solid free agent signings!), it's hard to say which D line area is weaker. Is the DE depth (Clemons, Watts, McGregor, and Weaver) more disastrous than the DT depth (Taylor, Cowart, Nnadi, Mathis, Tufele)? I think that there is some hope based on last year's play that the combination of Cowart and Taylor might be able to improve upon what Kinlaw and Solomon Thomas gave us. But, let's face it, we need to draft both a DT and a DE with starting potential. You might say that Johnson and WMD are fine starters at DE. I would agree if Johnson weren't coming back from major surgery and WMD weren't such a run-down liability. Writers like Nania have pointed out that WMD was close to the worst DE in the NFL last year against the run. Posters on this board have also noted that he will be 26 years old this season and doesn't have a frame to add much more weight. For me, that sounds like asking for ongoing trouble stopping the run at DE this year unless we can draft a well-rounded DE for run downs and bring in WMD as our designated pass rusher. Just as this is a deep year to draft a DT in the middle rounds (i.e., after OT, TE, and WR are taken), it's also a good year to consider drafting (beginning in round 4) a DE who can play run downs better than WMD,
Nice post. Unless and until Glenn accepts the fact that McDonald is a 3rd down rusher only, the jets are in trouble. With featherweights like Sherwood and McDonald in there, the jets can be run on at will. Successful teams don't keep playing guys like McDonald just because of their draft pedigree. They move on. The jets wasted three years trying to convince themselves that #2 overall pick Zach Wilson was a decent NFL QB.
I’m pretty concerned about how good JJ will be coming back from his injury…that’s a brutal injury for a position that relies on quickness and burst. I’m not sure how long it will take JJ to get back to his full potential, or even if he ever will. I think we are weak at DE for sure until proven otherwise. And yes, I also think we need another starting DT next to Q.
Yes, we need to stop fooling ourselves about our early draft choices. Trying to keep optimistic, I tend to give our draft picks the benefit of the doubt initially, based on the understanding that if the picks suck more losing seasons are on the way. But sometimes the incompetence is too extreme to deny (e.g., how many people besides Maccagnan believed in Hackenberg?).
He's a fine pass-rusher, but he's terrible against the run. Let's hope he improves his overall game this season.
It never ceases to amaze me how FAST that defense went backwards. Freakin' shame... They've thoroughly wasted Quinnen Williams. Hell, in a blink he's going to be on the downside. JSMH sometimes...
