Content available exclusively for subscribers
They were called pitiful. What it means . . .
In a headline, NJ.com called described the Jets’ offensive line as “pitiful.”
Is this unfair?
A little bit.
Yes, they need to play better, but the Jets’ protection issues go beyond their offensive line.
But before we get into the other factors, let me say a few things about the culpability of the line in the protection issues.
Obviously, the biggest protection issue the Jets had in their first three games was Kelvin Beachum’s inability to deal with Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett in Week Two. Garrett “wrecked the game” to use an old Bill Parcells terms. This wasn’t a lack of effort by Beachum, who has great football and personal character. It was just one of those lopsided one-on-one match-ups you often see in sports. Beachum isn’t a bad left tackle, but he had no answer for this player. It happens.
Lefty-hitting outfielder Bill Virdon was a .248 lifetime hitter vs. all left-handed pitchers. But he was 21-for-52 (.404) against Sandy Koufax. No lefty with that many at bats (40-plus) hit better against Koufax.
I personally think right tackle Brandon Shell has not been the problem. He gave up a sack against New England that wasn’t his fault – on a stunt where he got no help and New England had two guys rushing over him.
Some of the Jets’ biggest issues have involved the interior players not being on the same page on switch-off blocks.
And I can give you a huge factor that has contributed to this, and I have mentioned this before. The Jets beamed in a new center in early August after the line worked with Jon Harrison the entire off-season, and camp, until early August when Ryan Kalil arrived. Also, a lot of the linemen worked with Harrison late last season. And then when Kalil finally started practicing with the starters in middle August, both starting guards got hurt, and were both out a couple of weeks. What a disaster – a new starting center is brought along slowly in the summer to get him in shape, and when he finally starts practicing, the two guards are both out for a few weeks. So this probably has contributed to some of the communication issues on the interior early.
Also, I don’t think Le’Veon Bell has been the best at helping with blitz pick up. While Bell is a rare talent, you can see at times he’s not totally comfortable with the Jets’ playbook, and this has manifested itself at times with with chip blocks, blitz pickup and things of that nature.
I don’t think this is a bad line from a talent standpoint. I think a lot of the problems have been mental, and related to poor line chemistry.
Should they make a lineup change?
Well, it probably wouldn’t help matters to make a change at left tackle because at this point, Chuma Edoga, probably wouldn’t be an upgrade, and his better position might be right tackle anyway.
The one change I could see them considering is putting in Alex Lewis (pictured above) in for Brian Winters.
Winters is tough as boot leather, but he’s been a tad been inconsistent over the years, including this season.
September 27, 2019
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Monday.