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New Jersey – These two visits make a lot of sense. A lot of sense. Let’s take a closer look at these two players on the Jets’ radar . . .
Former St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Kendall Langford is going to visit the Jets.
So is former Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Chris Canty.
The Jets’ interest in these two guys make a lot of sense.
These are two massive, athletic guys right out of central casting to play the 3-4 defensive end position.
Honestly, while Langford played well in St. Louis as a 4-3 defensive tackle, he’s better suited for the 3-4 end spot.
Remember in 2008, Bill Parcells was running the Miami Dolphins, and picked Langford out of Hampton University to play 3-4 end, which he did from 2008-2011. The last three years he was with the Rams playing in a 4-3.
Langford is 6-6, 313 with long arms, a powerful, athletic guy ideally built for the 3-4 end spot. Parcells knows 3-4 linemen when he sees them. That was Bill’s preferred system over the course of his career.
Signing Langford would be a nice coup for the Jets. He just turned 29 and is in his prime.
Canty is another guy perfectly suited for the 3-4 at 6-7, 317.
Like Langford, he’s a massive man who moves well for his size.
Obviously the Jets run defense has been pretty good in recent years, but there are areas in their Front Seven that need to be fortified.
As I’ve mentioned in this space before, nose Damon Harrison wasn’t as good as advertised last year. He got pushed around too much. Too often, he wasn’t as stout as a 3-4 nose tackle needs to be, too often handled by one blocker.
And behind the starters, the Jets are very thin.
T.J. Barnes should not have been on the regular roster last year. He should have been on the practice squad. He was a figment of John Idzik and Rex Ryan’s imaginations. He’s a great young man, but he doesn’t move well enough. He needs to lose another 20 pounds. This idea of plugging in a big guy as a space-eater – those days are over in the NFL. You need to be able to move. Barnes needs to improve his foot quickness.
Kenrick Ellis is another guy who needs to lose some weight and get quicker. While he has improved his pad level, he still has a tendency to play too high on some plays.
Leger Douzable is a free agent, and Rex is probably going to take a run at him.
So the Jets need defensive linemen.
Remember, defensive linemen platoon a lot. These are big fellas that constantly need a breather. Last year, when the Jets platooned their second line in, there was a big drop-off, at times.
Also. Todd Bowles likes big, long defensive ends – just look at who he had in Arizona – 6-8, 300 pound Calais Campbell and Tommy Kelly (6-6, 310).
He obviously feels the Jets need a few of these guys, who not only do a nice job of taking up blockers, but can disrupt passing lanes.
So while there is a perception out there that the strength of the Jets is their defensive line, it’s a unit that needs some improvements, and more depth.
March 4, 2015
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