New York Jets Midseason Report: Defense

When your team is having a down year, there are no bright spots worthy of praise. Perhaps a few accolades here and there, but a 1-7 record is not the fault of just one unit on a team. In the case of the New York Jets‘ defense, they have looked extremely talented at certain spots and clueless at others. But in either case, sloppy penalties have hurt them on a regular basis.

OVERALL (C)

The Jets’ ranking at 27th in the league by surrendering an average of 28.5 points per game cannot be blamed on their struggling offense. Sure, there have been times when turnovers put the defense in a position guarding a short field, but they have also given up time consuming long drives for scores.

DEFENSIVE LINE (B)

This is a talented, young and fairly deep unit and when you see the likes of Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson being a constant presence getting into the backfield, it makes it even more of a head scratcher why the results are not better than they are.

Wilkerson (4.5 sacks) and Richardson (3.5 sacks) have done their part but both have also committed personal foul penalties at inopportune times.

Rex Ryan is a 3-4 guy and has surrounded himself with the right players to make this defensive scheme the correct one to run. But did his obvious insistence on drafting on this side of the ball – and more specifically, the line – have a ripple effect on the rest of the roster?

There are three former consecutive first round picks (Wilkerson in 2011, Quinton Coples – who was moved to outside linebacker – in 2012 and Richardson in 2013) on the d-line and while they are playing well, Ryan’s infatuation with this position (and convincing argument to general manager John Idzik and his predecessor Mike Tannenbaum) has exposed the rest of the roster.

LINEBACKERS (B+)

Another group that has brought it every Sunday, the linebacking corps is led by David Harris (64 tackles, two sacks) and Demario Davis (62 tackles, two sacks). Veteran Calvin Pace has four sacks and Coples has chipped in 2.5 in limited duty.

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SECONDARY (D)

Cornerback Dee Milliner has earned the tag as an injury-prone player and the former first round draft pick needs to stay on the field if he is to back up some of the trash talking he does in the media. But his absence does not excuse the lack of depth or overall poor play in the defensive backfield.

Idzik did not address this unit properly in the offseason (such as allowing Antonio Cromartie to leave as a free agent and then signing the since-released Dimitri Patterson as his replacement) and regardless of that fact, the players currently on the roster need to step it up and take advantage of this opportunity.

Miscommunication and blown coverages have become commonplace in every game this season and the result has been giving up big plays, a recipe for disaster in the NFL. Antonio Allen was switched from safety to corner and has done an admirable job.

Safety Calvin Pryor has not been the ‘Louisville Slugger’ as he was advertised on draft night but the rookie has still been a semi-bright spot for this atrocious unit. Part of the rookie’s lack of production can be attributed to him having to play a different style than originally expected due to the weaknesses of the current cornerbacks and not addressing the position with a qualified veteran, something that Idzik sidestepped in his mid-year press conference.

"It effects everybody (injuries and other personnel moves). When you’re hit pretty hard at a position, it effects everybody. But that’s not unique to the New York Jets. You need to be able to adjust and move on from that. We’ll continue to evaluate each position [and] enhance where we need depth and better play."

Career back-ups like Darrin Walls and former first round busts such as Kyle Wilson are not the answer and Idzik’s lack of perception here has been one of the main reasons why the Jets have lost seven games in a row and counting.

YESTERDAY: Offense

TOMORROW: Special Teams

THURSDAY: Coaching Staff, Front Office

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