New York Jets: Kony Ealy Addition Mean 4-3 Defense?

The New York Jets have claimed defensive end Kony Ealy off waivers from the New England Patriots. Could Gang Green’s newest pass rusher spark a change in the Jets’ base defensive scheme?

If there is one position group that the New York Jets can build a solid foundation around it’s their young defensive line. This stout unit just got better with the addition of recently cut New England Patriot Kony Ealy.

You may remember that Ealy made history in Super Bowl 50 with three sacks as a member of the Carolina Panthers. At the age of 25, he has 14 career NFL sacks over three seasons as a rotational pass rusher for the Carolina Panthers.

With the Patriots releasing him, the Jets got another young potential building block to build around in the form of a pass rusher. However, it also brings up another intriguing possibility that Todd Bowles could be abandoning the 3-4 for the 4-3 defense.

It’s clear that you have to build your team around its strengths, and right now the only strength on the Jets roster is their defensive line. With Ealy now in the fold, Bowles may be hinting that he’s considering moving to the 4-3 base and there are good reasons why the team should do this.

First, it would allow them to get the big three of Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Leonard Williams on the line at the same time. Over the past two seasons, Bowles has experimented with Richardson as a stand up 3-4 outside linebacker, which has been a disaster.

A front four of Ealy, Richardson, Wilkerson, and Williams would be formidable and allow all of them to play at the same time. Keep in mind, this would also eliminate a lot of the double teams that they would get as traditional 3-4 ends and would allow the team to mix and match individual matchups along the defensive front.

Another thing to remember is that if the Jets can get Richardson to have a fast start, it could increase his trade value at the deadline so the team can finally trade him. Don’t forget, they tried to do this last year before the deadline.

The biggest reason why the Ealy signing may be prompting the Jets coaching staff to change to the 4-3 is because of their linebacker situation.

Darron Lee has struggled as an inside 3-4 linebacker and would be better suited as a weak side backer in the 4-3.

With Demario Davis patrolling the middle, the Jets can mix and match the other outside linebacker position. With the lack of a true outside pass rusher in their 3-4 base, it makes sense for the team to use the one strength it has to be a respectable defense in 2017.

Next: New York Jets 2018 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Linemen

Even if the team does not fully go to the 4-3, the Kony Ealy signing will at least add another pass rusher for depth at the end position and would help to cover the Jets’ depth if they do move Sheldon Richardson at some point during the season.