Interestingly enough on espn, I had heard a perspective that I hadn't heard before. That our biggest problem next season wasn't our qb, or recievers, or Ol, but rather our rush defense. And if it doesn't signficantly improve were effed. Now I have to say that looking at our 3-4 I can't see us being better vs the run now than last year. Our lbers are older and slower, our nt is older (and coming off a monster year), then I can't imagine whoever is opposite wilk being much better than devito vs the run last year. Obv our safties are a little better but still. Our 4-3 defensive line is gonna be nasty, but there's def concerns about our backers in the 4-3 So I'm curious what do you thinks gonna happen with our run defense next year?
I don't know, the Jets were ranked 7th last year in yards per attempt on defense against the rush at 3.9 yards an attempt. It's true we were ranked #13 in rushing yards per game, but teams also ran more against the Jets as they ranked 11th in the number of times teams ran on them. So in those regards no, I don't think the rush defense is a problem. That changes a little bit in one category, we were close to dead last in number of rushing TD's given up which says our short yardage/goal line run defense wasn't very good. So that is an area of concern.
Tebow's 95 yard march to victory against the Jets run D in the final minutes capped by his 20yrd 'scamper' probably had something to do with the article. That being said, bringing in 2 Strong Safeties with a reputation for decapitating ppl will play well for us when we play Landry in the box or both safties up in goal line. Plus with Ellis developing we'll have two NT's with Pouah. We have no choice but to get our run D better....with Revis Island shutting down half the field most teams will come in with a run heavy offensive plan.
Pouha was like the #1 rush stopping NT I believe, so it'll be hard for him to repeat that. And no way Ellis can come out and be an elite rush stopper right off the bat. And teams like Oakland and new england beat us pretty good on the ground as well as Tebow.
If Bryan Thomas is healthy, our rush defense improves. If Bart Scott really is in better shape than last year, it improves. If Wilk progresses, and Coples is the real deal, it improves. If Demario Davis plays as fast as his combine numbers, and is as good as Rex claims, it improves. If Landry and Bell stay healthy, it improves.
I believe you need to be a little more precise when you say run defense. Jets run defense has been very stout up the middle for some time as a matter of fact. While I do not like Pouha, I do not deny that Pouha and Scott/Harris have been getting the job done up the middle for the past few years. The problem last year was the run off the edges - specifically, to the left, where Thomas was supposed to seal the edge. It was all nice and dandy until Thomas went down; and his presence was sorely missed. The switch to 4-3 has some element related to the injury Thomas has sustained, I would like to think. Either way, Coples and Wilkerson will have to learn how to seal the edge effectively and reroute the run plays toward the middle where Pouha, Scott and Harris can devour the runner.
Plus Sparano's new high powered offense will put up so many points every team we play will have no choice but to abandon their run game early and often!!!
Put it this way. In Rex's first 2 years here teams getting over 70 rushing yards a game on us was an impressive feat, and teams breaking 100 yards RARELY happened. Last year we gave up 111 rushing yards per game. That means on AVERAGE teams got OVER 100 yards per game on the ground, which is a HUGE step back from what you expect from a rex ryan defense. To make matters worse, only 4 teams in the ENTIRE nfl gave up more rushing TDs than we did last year. Thats absolutely horrific for a Rex Ryan defense. Building your team through the cornerback position only works if you can force teams to throw the ball. And you cant blitz the pass like fuck if teams are continuing to run the ball with success. Fact is Thomas isnt going to be as good as he was 2 years ago, Scott aint the dominant force he was when he got here, and a tremendous amount of the success of our defense is going to depend on a rookie and a second year vet. I think we all know what you can expect from our offense (mediocrity), and our pass defense (elite). So our playoff fate can truly come down to our rush defense. Hell I think our run defense was the difference between us going 10-6 and 8-8 last year.
I know what you are saying, but consider this: 1. DeVito is not as good at sealing the edge as Bryan Thomas. Yes. That IS a fact. 2. Teams rarely gashed the Jets run defense up the middle. Unlike the other team playing in MetLife Stadium. (Fucking Schottenheimer. Damn it.) Recall how Raiders gashed Jets run defense for instance. Once Thomas went down, McFadden shot to the edge on nearly every rushing attempt - and with a good success. Or Tebow scamper at the end of the game; it wasn't up the middle either. 3. It stands to reason that, if Jets run defense can contain the outside runs like it has during the first two seasons (which is a very strong possibility, with a change to 4-3) then the run defense will be strong again.
the only part of the defense that worries me is defending the t.e. nothing else will be an issue this year barring injury
We had one of the best pass defenses in the nfl last year And our pass defense cant be any worse than it was last year.
yes but we did have trouble against the t.e. as stated b.thomas being out hurt us on the edge. the t.e. is our only weakness right now as far as i am concerned
111 YPG on the ground is a real concern. Elite defenses rarely give up over 100 rushing yards a game. If teams can run the ball, that opens the pass. Which is our teams greatest strength, so Id consider that a legit concern.
our run D can't be any worse than it was a few years back when the Raiders ran the ball 22 straight times on us and laughed after every play. Now 'that' was a bad run D.
The response to this is really quite simple. Bell and Landry really aren't serious upgrades in coverage over Leonard and Smith....Smith gave up some big plays, but Bell will, too. They are both significant improvements in run D, though.
You mean like when we played the Raiders in week 3 this recent season, and McFadden had 171 yards with an absurdness obscene ridiculousness 9 YPC And as a team they finished with 234 rushing yards for 7.3 YPC And mind you this game was with a perfectly healthy Jim Leonard AND perfectly healthy Bryan Thomas. So that game alone should send off massive massive warning signs all over the place about our run defense. No excuses about injuries or anything, and it was one of the most horrific performances of Rex's lifetime im sure. And its not like our run defense was much better at the end of the season, getting beat up pretty good by some bleh teams. I really dont think our 3-4 run defense can improve THAT much over last year, especially if Pouha takes a step back (he was playing at a ridiculous level last year). So that 4-3 against the run, can really make or break our season
I feel like I am talking to a wall. LISTEN, GOD DAMN IT. 1. Bryan Thomas went down DURING THAT RAIDERS GAME. And that's when the flood gate opened. I repeat. THOMAS DID NOT FINISH THE GAME. So don't even bother raising that healthy Thomas bullshit. That is not even remotely true. 2. Jets are not going to go 3-4 this season. Pettine basically ruled that possibility out. And for a good reason. 3. Last, but not the least, Pouha was playing pretty well at NT, but he was not the presence that Kris Jenkins was. Without such a fearsome presence up front, your 3-4 is not going to work effectively. Look at other 3-4 teams (Wilfork/Hampton etc). Change to 4-3 is both necessary and logical.
1)Thomas started the Ravens game the following week, which was when he had his season ending injury. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/20110...enu=highlights&tab=analyze&analyze=playbyplay Thats the play by play for the WHOLE game. Bryan Thomas had a tackle with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter (this was the Raiders last drive of the game not counting them kneeling the ball) So you have no idea what youre talking about 2) If the Jets arent using a 3-4, then someone should let Tanny know hes a fucking idiot for giving Pouha a 3 year extension with 15 million guaranteed. Because im pretty sure he wouldnt make a good 4-3 dt 3) And I agree 100% on this. I just rewatched our 09 season on rewind, and Jenkins was without question the best most dominant player on our team. The guy was an absolute monster, and if the Jets could get someone even remotely close to him (cmon Ellis) this team would look really damn well in the future. However Pouha has been one of the best ranked NTs in the LEAGUE against the run, he just wasnt no Kris Jenkins T
This defense is pretty good. The run D had some bad games (Oakland, @NE, Philly) in 2011 but had some good stretches as well. Covering the TE is this D's weakness, and passrush but that could change soon.
