With only two weeks to go in the Jets' preseason slate, including the utterly meaningless fourth game when no one of any value plays, this is a good time to take a look at where the club stands. Click here to read my take on the offense.
As for the defense ...
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been given the keys to this unit by head coach Adam Gase. He has his work cut out for him. You just can't scheme away the talent deficits this team has at key spots. Not in the modern NFL.
He's trying. While you'd have expected the Jets to keep things vanilla in the preseason, they've shown multiple looks in their two games. They blitzed on 18 of 48 Atlanta pass plays Thursday night, per ESPN. They've played both 4-3 and 3-4 fronts. Mostly, though, they've been in some form of the nickel (102 of 131 defensive snaps). In some of those cases, the Jets lined up with as few as two natural linemen.
Williams is insisting that each Jets defender be fluent at two positions. Let's review his options.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Williams mentioned to the press that he prefers to rotate his linemen to keep them fresh. He has the bodies to do it. Among the holdovers from last season, Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson should see the most snaps, with veteran leader Steve McLendon likely to be used mostly on early downs. Third overall pick Quinnen Williams has been rotating in at various spots, including nose tackle, during training-camp drills and the exhibitions. To me, he would seem to flourish best as a 4-3 tackle, where he could use his quickness to wedge through seams and wreak havoc.
Two surprises this summer have piqued Gregg Williams' interest. Tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, who was presumed to be on the roster bubble, subbed in on the first-team base unit while Leonard Williams was sidelined with a hip injury. The Jets seem to like his stoutness versus the run. In addition, Bronson Kaufusi, who spent most of last season on the Jets' practice squad, has been all over the field in the two preseason games. The 6-foot-6 end has a sack, two batted passes, three run stuffs and a forced fumble in 65 snaps. His ProFootballFocus.com defensive grade is ranked sixth in the league among defensive linemen with at least 50 snaps this preseason. Take preseason stats with a grain of salt, but he has to make this team.
This regime has no ties to end Nathan Shepherd, prior general manager Mike Maccagnan's third-round pick in the 2018 draft who has had few moments in the limelight this summer aside from an altercation with guard Alex Lewis at a practice last week. I don't see how he's not the odd man out.
LINEBACKER
The Jets had better hope they get a pass rush up the middle because there's not enough coming around the edges. After Minnesota's Anthony Barr reneged on a verbal commitment in free agency, Maccagnan did not have a Plan B for this season. He drafted Jachai Polite in April's third round, but Polite has not shown in practices and games that he is ready to make an immediate impact. He has recorded zero pressures in 40 pass rushes this preseason, per PFF.
As such, the Jets are stuck with incumbents such as Jordan Jenkins, Brandon Copeland, Frankie Luvu and Tarell Basham. In an intriguing development, Gregg Williams has been using Jenkins, who tied with Anderson for the team lead in sacks with seven last season, on the opposing quarterbacks' blind side (all 22 snaps this preseason versus just 159 of 652 snaps in 2018, per PFF). He's probably a better option there than Luvu or Copeland, who was seen in fourth-quarter garbage time in Atlanta on Thursday, fueling speculation that the Grim Reaper is coming for him. Like Kaufusi, Basham has fabulous preseason numbers (seven pressures in 31 pass-rush attempts, per PFF), and is on track to earn a role as a 2-4-5 rush linebacker.
The inside was supposed to be set, with big-money free-agent pickup C.J. Mosley joining Avery Williamson to form an imposing duo. They were ranked 15th and fourth, respectively, in run defense grades (minimum 500 snaps) by PFF. Unfortunately, Williamson's torn ACL on Thursday derailed that plan. Neville Hewitt is currently slated to absorb many of Williamson's responsibilities, but I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of rookie fifth-round pick Blake Cashman once he recovers from his leg injury. The Jets seem to be enthralled with his coverage skills.
CORNERBACK
Help!
The Jets, who entered training camp with an appalling lack of depth at this position thanks to Maccagnan's inattentiveness, are nearing flat-line territory due to a slew of injuries. We've reached the point where the replacement (Arthur Maulet) for the replacement (Kyron Brown) for the starter (Trumaine Johnson) is banged up. Anyone on the waiver wire who can cover for two Mississippis should be getting a call from new general manager Joe Douglas. Gase said he is hopeful that No. 1 corner (or, at least paid like a No. 1 corner) Johnson will be ready to roll versus Buffalo in the season opener Sept. 8.
Darryl Roberts and Tevaughn Campbell, the CFL transplant who KO'd Williamson with a diving pass breakup attempt in Atlanta, were the starting outside corners at the Green and White practice at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night. Free agent pickup Brian Poole manned the slot. Woof.
Williams' blitzes, therefore, run the risk of amplifying the Jets' coverage woes -- there are no guarantees that each rush will get there in time.
Want more bad news? Arizona and San Francisco, the two teams whose waiver claims trump New York's, are both also hurting at cornerback.
SAFETY
At last, we have a department that, barring injuries, should be settled for the foreseeable future. Jamal Adams is simply the Jets' best player. No safety in the NFL is better at attacking the box -- his 28 run stops when lined up within 8 yards of the line of scrimmage led the league last season, per PFF. In addition, his 50% completion percentage allowed when targeted was tops in the league among safeties with over 500 snaps.
At free safety, Marcus Maye was back on the practice field Sunday more than eight months after shoulder surgery, a huge development for Gang Green. His presence allows others in the secondary to play their natural positions.
With their corner issues, Williams has been using backup Rontez Miles in some three-safety looks, though he's been better versus the run than the pass. Santos Ramirez appears to have an edge over incumbent Doug Middleton for the last roster spot.
This is a key area. With so many opposing receivers expected to roam free in the secondary given the underwhelming talent on the corners, the safeties are going to be counted upon to clean up those messes.
For a FAN's perspective of the Nets, Devils and Jets, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1.
