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It’s not the same, but it’s not bad.
With defensive ends Carl Lawson (achilles) and Vinny Curry (blood disorder) out for the season, many people think that the Jets’ line is in shambles.
But perhaps not. The starting defensive line is probably going to be John Franklin-Myers and Bryce Huff at end, with Sheldon Rankins and Quinnen Williams at defensive tackle. First off Franklin-Myers and Huff are underrated players. While Franklin-Myers might be a little better on the inside, he’s not a bad end, and will likely swing inside in certain rush packages. Huff had two sacks against the Giants in the Jets’ first 2021 preseason game. He’s very good at bending the edge with his flexibility.
As you know by now, the Jets traded a sixth-round pick to Houston for defensive end Shaq Lawson. What is my reaction to this? I really don’t have one. Teams don’t let pass rushers out of the building they think can help them. It’s just like cornerbacks.
I’m not saying he won’t get a few sacks, but he was beat out by Jordan Jenkins in Houston, a player the Jets moved on from after last season. Jenkins is a try-hard player with a great motor and character, but lacks quickness and twitch.
The key to the Jets’ defensive line will be the two defensive tackles – Williams and Rankins, two freakish athletes who can wreck games as interior rushers. If those two can stay healthy, they will be the straws that stir the drink on the Jets’ defensive line. If both play to their potential, they will draw double teams, and free up the ends to be blocked by just one guy, and make things happen . . .
The Jets activated Ashtyn Davis off PUP.
What does that mean for the Jets?
I have no idea.
He started six games last year and had 1 PD. His was rushed into the starting lineup last season and struggled.
Yes, he was a third-round pick in 2020, but that has nothing to do with anything. He’s got to make more plays on the ball than last year.
Yes Davis has a lot of potential, but as we sit here today, I can’t say he’s better than J.T. Hassell, who made a lot of plays this summer, and got cut today.
Right now, Davis over Hassell looks like a case of confirmation bias.
So I have no idea about what the Jets getting Davis back really means at this point. Let’s see how he plays and forget about where he was drafted. He could be really good, but last year he was a tick late reacting in coverage and didn’t seem to trust his eyes, Perhaps that game experience from last year will help him moving forward. We will see . . . .
It’s going to be interesting to see what the Jets do with their six tight ends, all with the talent to help him – Tyler Kroft, Ryan Griffin, Daniel Brown, Trevon Wesco, Kenny Yeboah and Chris Herndon.
You might see some movement on this front tonight, but this will be a tough position for Joe Douglas because the Jets like all these guys, and many of them are important special teams players for the Jets, especially on the kick return wedge . . .
Corey Levin was battling Dan Feeney for a backup swing job on the offensive line. Levin was cut today. Feeney was a little up and down this summer in practice and games, but a big one advantage he had over Levin in this battle was guaranteed money. Levin had none, and Feeney got $3 million guaranteed for this year, so let’s be honest, who are you going to go with, considering that?
August 30, 2021
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