Can The Jets’ Defensive Line Dominate?

Of the Gang Green’s returning linemen, none will have a more starkly different impact versus the previous season than DE Carl Lawson. Lawson was the Jets’ prized free agent signing in 2021, coming off a career high 64 pressures in 2020. His 32 QB hits were good for second best in the NFL that same year. The Jets believed their $15 million per year pass rusher was poised for a pro bowl season. So did anyone watching him disrupt play after play in training camp. That was until August 19, when Lawson went down with a torn achilles tendon in a joint practice in Green Bay. If healthy, Lawson is poised to be the weak side pass rusher that is essential for Saleh’s “Wide 9” front.

See more on Carl Lawson here: 5 New York Jets who are Trending Up: Defense

Quinnen Williams, DT, #95

Perhaps the most disappointing lineman for the Jets in 2021 was former third overall pick, DT Quinnen Williams. Williams’ rookie year was not particularly impressive, but his development in 2020 had Jets fans eager to see what he could do in a new defense. Williams improved notably from year one, logging seven sacks in just 13 games. He was a clear difference maker on an otherwise dreadful team, and was finally supposed to have real edge rush help. Unfortunately, Williams ended up recording slightly inferior stats in every major category despite playing in two additional games. Watching the film reveals a very impactful player, but clearly not dominant enough to overcome the weaknesses of the roster.

John Franklin-Myers, DL, #91

Franklin-Myers is the most versatile player on the Jets defensive line. He splits his time on the edge and in the interior, mimicking the Arik Armstead role with the 49ers. “JFM” originally entered the league as a 2018 fourth round pick with the Rams, but was released after their 2019 training camp. The Jets quickly claimed his rights on waivers, but Franklin-Myers missed most of that season with injury. 2020 was an entirely different story, when Franklin-Myers broke out as an interior rusher playing about 48% of defensive snaps. His early season play in 2021 continued to impress, to the point that he signed an extension worth $13.75 million per year. Despite losing consistency later in 2021, Franklin-Myers remains one of the most efficient interior pass rushers in NFL.

Sheldon Rankins, DT, #98

Sheldon Rankins is the second of four first round selections on the defensive line. Originally drafted in 2016 by the Saints, Rankins signed with the Jets for $5.5 million per year year in 2021. Rankins was a player who flashed as a key rotational piece in 16 games with the Jets, but he hasn’t been close to his pinnacle 2018 season since his injury troubles began. Rankins has always been a better pass rusher than run defender, so the Jets’ inability to lead games hampered his opportunities to rush and limited his effectiveness. As we will discuss shortly, the Jets believe that a defensive line full of pass rushers will change the game for their run defense in 2022 as well.

Additional returning linemen include Vinny Curry, Nathan Shepherd, Jonathan Marshall, and Bryce Huff.

New Personnel

Jermaine Johnson II, DE, #52

Johnson is the third of the Jets’ first round selections from April’s draft. Johnson is a very intriguing prospect, projected by many to be a top ten pick. The Jets ultimately traded up to pick 26 for the Florida State standout, and there doesn’t seem to be any clear answer as to why he was available so late. The likely answer is pretty simple; Johnson was an older prospect with only one season of elite production, and teams focused on their positional needs.

It cannot be understated how important Johnson is to the Jets’ defensive plan. With optimistic uncertainty surrounding Carl Lawson, the need at DE was significant. Johnson is a top athlete at the position, with an RAS of 9.22, and displayed a developed set of pass rush moves. His most immediately translatable skill set is his strength vs the run, which the Jets edge struggled with a season ago.

Jacob Martin, DE, #54

Martin was a rather under the radar free agent singing from the Texans this past March. While not exactly an immovable object in run defense, Martin is an above average pass rusher with an efficient win rate of 11.2%. Martin plays with his proverbial hair on fire, and that is another key component to the Jets schematic plan. Martin was a sixth round draft pick for the Seahawks before being traded to the Texans in 2019. As a situational pass rusher, Martin developed and had his best season in 2021 as a starter. The Jets signed him to a contract averaging $4.5 million per year, slating his return to a key rotational role.

Solomon Thomas, DL, #94

Thomas is another player with positional versatility on the line. It’s true that Thomas never lived up to his billing as the third overall pick with the 49ers. Fortunately for him, he carved out a role as a pass rusher on the Raiders defensive interior in 2021. Thomas is another player with the same primary traits we have mentioned five times so far. If it isn’t clear, the Jets have prioritized pass rushing linemen far move than run stoppers. Thomas is set to be a second wave rusher for the Jets as a three technique defensive tackle.

Michael Clemons, DE, #72

Michael Clemons is the final key addition to focus on. Clemons is  even older as a prospect than Johnson, and was taken in the fourth round this April. Clemons was a ferocious, impactful edge rusher for Texas A&M last season, but didn’t have the fanfare of other quality prospects. The Aggies season was disappointing, and Clemons was not a touted prospect entering the season. Although his statistics and traits compare favorably to top prospects, his age and questions off the field lowered his stock. Clemons is likely to contribute more than the average fourth round pick as a rookie.

The Scheme

The Jets have clearly favored building a defensive line with pass rush ability. Half of the eight featured players could even be described as average at best versus the run. While most analysts are in obvious agreement about the importance of pass rush, few NFL teams seem to have ignored run defenders quite like the Jets. This begs the question: How do the Jets intend to unleash their front four?

The key to the philosophy is built through three points. The first is the defensive line technique, which does little or no two- gapping or gap-containing. Most defensive lines ask their players to hold a point vs the run, whether it’s one, one and a half, or two gaps. The Jets ask their linemen to essentially mimic pass rush situations, and drive straight into the backfield on run downs. This allows the Jets to dictate which gaps are not filled, thus forcing the ball carrier into specific lanes. This puts tremendous pressure on the linebacker and safety units to fill remaining gaps. Coming downhill to fit the run will be a key part of the defenses efficacy, but that’s not today’s focus.

Achieving consistent penetration demands relentless intensity, which is why the Jets acquired so many with that skill. Lawson, Johnson, Clemons, and Martin all have high motors and intensity ticked off on any scouting report. With a slew of edge rushers setting the aggressive tone, the interior should follow suit. The other component that the Jets are relying on is full unit substitutions. In order to maintain intensity throughout the game, the Jets will substitute their defensive line en mass. The initial wave of starters will likely be Lawson, Williams, Franklin-Myers, and Johnson from weak to strong side. The second wave will probably be Martin, Rankins, Thomas, and Clemons.

The Result

The Jets plan to have one of the most aggressive, attacking defensive lines in the NFL. The success of this plan is no different than any other in football, in that it relies on execution and corresponding play from the other defensive units. The best possible outcome would be a group that will be among league leaders in TFL’s, pressures, sacks (especially in play action), and turnovers. The worst possible outcome would be a defense that gets gashed over and over in the run game, and can’t earn third and long pass rush situations.

The remainder of the Jets’ defensive corps will need to bring the same ferocity and intensity as the front four. The linebackers and defensive backs will have to be aggressive and consistent containing the run. Can the Jet’s defensive line dominate? The scheme is sound, the philosophy is clear, and the identity is present. The requisite talent has been assembled. Everything necessary for a great unit is there, so it’s time for the Jets to execute, and for this coaching staff to prove their ability in year two.