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It was nice to get a straight-answer today . . .
. . . from a Jets coach on inside linebacker Darron Lee’s struggles against the run.
What does Lee have to do to improve his run defense?
“Just keep working on his technique,” said Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers. “Use his hand a little better, get off the block and make the play’s he’s supposed to make when he’s there.”
Bingo.
I like Todd Bowles personally. He’s a great guy. But to act like there is nothing wrong on the Lee front, which he did yesterday, is a little Pollyanna. Downplaying the issue isn’t going to make it go away.
The New York Jets are last in the NFL in run defense. A number of the big plays in the first two games have come at holes that were created after the linebacker was pulverized by an offensive lineman. I’m not looking to pick on the player, but I cover the Jets, and anybody who doesn’t want to admit this is an issue, needs to take off the rose-colored glasses. It’s right there in plain sight.
I keep writing this because it’s a HUGE problem for Gang Green, and I cover Gang Green.
This needs to get fixed.
Bottom line.
Jay Ajayi is coming to town . . .
The Jets continued their decade-long search for a difference-making edge rusher by signing David Bass today.
He had a school-record 40.5 sacks at Missouri Western, but that was on the Division II level. And he’s now on his fifth team in five years – Oakland, Chicago, Tennessee, Seattle and now the Jets.
Bass had a pretty good preseason for Seattle this summer, including a sack of Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in the Seahawks’ third preseason game. He liked playing in Seattle’s 4-3 defense as an end.
“I always told myself it didn’t matter (if I played OLB or DE), I always said if I was an outside linebacker, I’d have more opportunities, whether it was getting a sack or dropping in coverage and catching a pick,” Bass said. “But everybody around me tells me, ‘My roots are in the 4-3 (defense), go back to the 4-3.’ So I managed to come to a 4-3. It is like second nature.”
Bass was signed to be a 3-4 outside linebacker by the Jets. Doesn’t sound like it’s his preference . . .
Jets get back special teams whiz Rontez Miles from an eye injury this week.
“He’s my guy, him and Josh (Martin),” said Jets special team’s coach Brant Boyer.
Remember, the Jets had kick return issues against Miami last year. They lost to the Dolphins in Miami last year on a Kenyan Drake’s 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on November 6.
Martin wasn’t on the field for that play. He suffered a concussion at the end of the first half. Kind of shows you how important Martin is to the Jets’ special teams.
Martin is so good on kick and punt coverage, he should get consideration for the Pro Bowl this year.
September 21, 2017
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