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What does Aaron Glenn think about his defense which has struggled in all three games?
“I have total confidence in how our guys are going to continue to operate from here on out because of the fact that I know who we got,” Glenn said.
Who does he have?
I’m not being flippant or disrespectful when posing that question. Not at all. I think Aaron Glenn is a very good defensive coach, but not sure what he’s got.
This defense perhaps has some personnel issues.
Defensive end depth is not ideal. With Jermaine Johnson out, there was very little edge pressure in this game.
The Jets’ other starting defensive end, Will McDonald, aside from the huge blocked field goal scoop and score, finished the game with no defensive stats.
When you face a team with three excellent offensive line starters out, and two other starters playing out of position, and you finish with one sack, that is a problem.
Once again, the holding calls were not a big factor after Tampa’s first series, so let’s not blame that.
Sauce Gardner said after the game that he was surprised the Jets’ defense didn’t do better against a team with so many offensive line problems.
Also, the linebackers aren’t making any plays in pass coverage. The echo chamber can choose to ignore this, but it’s a problem.
It just seems like there are a lot of completions inside zone coverage that involve linebackers, who seem a tick late getting over, way too often.
There is no way around it; there are defensive player personnel issues, some of which can’t be fixed until the off-season.
It is what it is . . .
When Justin Fields clears concussion protocol, who will be the Jets’ starting quarterback?
“Justin came in as our starter, and he’s been our starter, so listen, Tyrod (Taylor) was the backup,” Glenn said.
The elephant in the room is that Taylor may be the better player QB, but after giving Justin Fields a two-year deal for $40 million with $30 million guaranteed, they are not going to roll with Taylor if Fields is healthy.
Fields threw for 27 yards in his last start against a team that gave up 40 points in their previous game. Some might find that a little troubling and illustrative of why the QB has a 14-32 record as an NFL starter. Some might not.
But watching Taylor’s gusty performance on Sunday, where he took a terrible beating with all the protection issues, and almost led the Jets to an amazing fourth-quarter comeback, you could make the following argument:
If the Jets pick a QB in the first round next year, perhaps a guy like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Tyrod Taylor would be the perfect QB to “hold the fort” until the kid is ready, so they won’t have to rush him.
That could be a plan . . .
Michael Clemons gives you everything he has, but his lack of range can be an issue, and you saw a little of that on Baker Mayfield’s 33-yard scramble off right tackle in the fourth quarter.
Belief in him is not going to make him faster or more flexible.
With about nine minutes left in the game, Clemons was pushed far inside by right tackle Charlie Heck, and Bucky Irving went for 11 yards in the big hole.
It’s never a lack of effort, but perhaps he doesn’t have the speed and range to be a 4-3 defense end . . .
It was a little strange seeing Braelon Allen returning kicks on Sunday in Tampa Bay.
Unusual to see a bruising 6-1, 235-pound back returning kickoffs. Very good back, but doesn’t have the long speed to take a return very far. Usually, you are looking for smaller, quicker guys for that role.
There is no way around it – the Jets really miss Kene Nwangwu, who has missed the last two games. Isaiah Williams, whom they signed after cutting Xavier Gipson, is more of a punt returner than a kick returner. Williams was not involved with kick returns in Tampa after returning kicks against Buffalo . . .
Just like after the Buffalo game, nose tackle Harrison Phillips was hobbling around pretty bad after the Tampa Bay game.
This tough-as-boot-leather cat is clearly playing hurt, and expect him to continue to do so. That is how the Nebraska-native is wired.
September 22, 2025
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