Five reasons New York Jets should go to a 4-3 base defense

The New York Jets should transition to a 4-3 defense from their traditional 3-4 base defense.

The New York Jets, for years under head coaches Eric Mangini, Rex Ryan, and current head coach Todd Bowles have utilized a 3-4 base defense. While this defense has helped New York have one of the better units in the NFL over that span, it’s time for the team to consider a change on defense.

While the team has the flexibility to play both fronts and play multiple sub-packages in Bowles’ scheme the current makeup of the roster suggests that New York is better suited to now operate a 4-3 defense.

Here are five reasons why this change of scheme would help the defense rebound in 2017.

Getting the Big Three on the field 

The strength of the Jets defense is the defensive line with three first-round draft picks invested in this unit over the past few years. However, their ability to make an impact on every snap is hindered by the 3-4 defense.

Leonard Williams, Sheldon Richardson, and Muhammad Wilkerson all play the five technique in the 3-4 base which has one of their vaunted linemen playing out of position. One solution to this conundrum was the  Jets trying Sheldon Richardson at outside linebacker.  However, the results were terrible with Richardson only having 1.5 sacks in 2016.

Instead, all three could be playing on the line in the 4-3 and could alternate between the DE and DT position based on matchups. That way, New York can line up three of their best players in matchups in the trenches while reducing the number of double teams.

A team needs to utilize its strengths, and for New York, they need to get as much production out of their vaunted defensive line as possible.