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It’s well-documented that the Jets had some protection issues in their loss to Tampa Bay, with Todd Bowles’ strategy of prolific blitzing creating considerable chaos.
Aside from their running backs struggling with blitz pickups, this wasn’t one of the better games for their offensive line in pass protection, and some of it wasn’t necessarily related to the myriad blitzing.
Their first-round offensive tackles were somewhat inconsistent in this game.
Olu Fashanu was called for holding twice and a false start. On the second hold, end YaYa Diaby beat Olu Fashanu off the edge, wrecking the pocket, and Olu was also called for holding on the play, which was declined.
On the failed fourth-and-one in the second quarter, Braelon Allen was stopped by Haasan Reddick, who beat Armand Membou with an inside move.
In the fourth quarter, Diaby beat Membou for a sack.
This contest provided a lot of teachable moments for the team’s offensive line coach, Steve Heiden . . .
The Jets will be without starting linebacker Quincy Williams, who was put on IR with a shoulder injury.
While you feel bad for the player because you never want any player to get hurt, people might find this hard to believe, due to the hype, and the soft coverage of the team, but they should be okay at linebacker while he’s sidelined.
Williams is a great blitzer and big hitter, but in between some of these highlight film plays, his game could use a little work.
For a linebacker as fast as he is, he doesn’t make enough plays in pass coverage, and in run support. While he has some impressive hits at times, he too often runs around blocks, taking himself out of position.
None of this is a lack of effort or will, which is never an issue with this player, but there are things he needs to work on, and remember, in the spring, Aaron Glenn said as much:
“I told Quincy when he first came and met with me, there are some things that I want him to work on,” Glenn said, “and he is doing everything he can to get better at those things. Listen, I don’t lie to players, and he’s a really good player, but there’s also some things that he’s got to get better at, and he understands that.”
So while the Jets could miss a few nice plays on blitzes and some big hits, they should be okay with Kiko Mauigoa.
What they do need is more plays in pass coverage from the other starting linebacker, Jamien Sherwood – no PDs or picks in his first three games, and 3 PDs in his first season as a full-time starter last year. This is from a former safety . . .
Aaron Glenn brought up “Same Old Jets” again today. This is the second time he’s done that in less than a week. And it was not in response to a question that referenced that moniker. He brought it up to assure people his team is not the “Same Old Jets.”
Personally, I would not do that, but surely he has his reasons.
After Glenn brought this up following the Jets’ loss in Tampa, this led WPIX sportcaster Joe Mauceri to ask me on Channel 11’s Sunday night sports show if I thought they were the “Same Old Jets.”
I told Joe that I don’t ever use that phrase, but did state an opinion that, so far, the 2025 Jets are not better than last year’s team.
That isn’t a shot in any way, just based on what we have seen so far. That could change, but based on what we have seen so far from the 0-3 team, am I supposed to say they are better? Glenn’s mentor Bill Parcells, always liked to say, “You are what your record says it is.” . . .
New Jets cornerback Jarvis Brownlee talked to the media today and said the Titans never told him why they traded him.
Brownlee started 14 games for the Titans last year and the first two games this year, before missing the last game with an injury, so he went from the starting lineup to getting traded for a sixth-round pick.
This is flat-out strange, and there has got to be a back story.
People say it’s because of penalties, but are the three penalties in two games this year a reason to trade a promising cornerback in a league when there is a shortage of quality players at the position? Sauce Gardner had three penalties in one game last year.
This story doesn’t pass the smell test. I’m going to continue to dig on this one, but there is something amiss with this story.
It’s quite possible that the 0-3 Titans were trying to send a message, like the Jets did by cutting Xavier Gipson after Week 1.
But cutting Brownlee will not help rookie QB Cam Ward see the field better.
The Titans’ biggest issue is that they are starting an incredibly raw rookie QB who is not instant coffee.
Maybe Aaron Glenn will be a better coach for this player than Brian Callahan – we shall see.
September 25, 2025
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