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In this space recently we defended Darren Mougey from a predictable criticism you hear in the echo chamber.
The criticism is the Jets don’t have enough talent in the wide receiver room to complement Garrett Wilson.
That is utter nonsense, and in the Jets’ loss to Dallas, you saw it was utter nonsense watching Josh Reynolds.
On a long drive in the second quarter, which ended with a Breece Hall fumble, Fields hit Reynolds, not one, not two, but three times.
This was a smart strategy by OC Tanner Engstrand to counter the extra coverage Wilson was getting to feature Reynolds on this drive, and he delivered.
Reynolds is a good #2 or #3 receiver. He was with the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions, and he still is.
Aside from missing a couple of games with a hamstring injury, his issue this year, until that drive, was they just weren’t throwing him the ball.
The 6-3 Texas A&M product is a pro’s pro who knows what he’s doing out there.
As Santonio Holmes once said, “I can’t throw the ball to myself.”
If they dial up plays for Reynolds, like they did on that one drive, he’s more than capable of getting the job done as the Jets’ #2 receiver.
As for the #3 spot, it’s clearly time for the Jets to get Arian Smith, and his world-class speed, more involved in the offense . . .
In the second quarter, on the drive that put Dallas up 17-3, here is what happened on the last two plays of the Cowboys’ 7-play, 91-yard possession.
On first-and-10, on the Jets’ 16, Dallas RB Javonte Williams ran for 11 yards off left tackle. On this play, Jets defensive end Braiden McGregor went inside on the left tackle, leaving the edge not set. I don’t know what his assignment was on this play, so it’s hard to criticize. Just saying, by going inside, the edge wasn’t set.
And then on the second level, LB Kiko Mauigoa missed a tackle. I’m going to lay off him today. We wrote about him early this week. He’s struggling, but he was forced into action before he was ready. Zaire Barnes should have been the fourth linebacker. It is what it is.
Then, on the next play, a 5-yard TD run to the right side by Williams, Jets defensive end Tyler Baron did the same thing as McGregor, going inside the tackle, leaving the edge not set.
Not sure why they do this, but it’s unfair for me to criticize McGregor or Baron for doing this, without having access to the playbook, and not knowing what they are being asked to do.
Last year, a reporter asked Jeff Ulbrich why Michael Clemons did the same thing on a big run, and gave a complicated answer that was hard to understand, perhaps on purpose.
Look, it doesn’t look right, but the defensive coaches must have their reason for this strategy.
However, one thing to consider about McGregor and Baron doing this, is they are both on the slender side, so perhaps they are trying to beat the offensive tackles, who generally outweigh these guys by 60 pounds, into gaps, because it’s going to be hard for them to shed blocks once the massive tackle gets his mitts on either one of them.
McGregor and Baron look like two guys who might need to get a little stronger. Remember, McGregor also had two plays against Dallas where Williams bounced off him, one where he had a chance at the runner in the backfield on a third-and-one, but it turned into a two yard gain, and then on Williams’ 66-yard scamper . . .
While on the topic of defensive end, the Jets will get Jermaine Johnson back, after he missed three games with a high ankle sprain.
This is huge for them. Without Jermaine Johnson, their end position was lacking. They had only three sacks in their last four games, against opponents like Tampa Bay and Dallas with ravaged offensive lines. Miami wasn’t in great shape either, with their starting right tackle out (Lefty Tua’s blindside protector), so they were forced to start a journeyman Larry Borom. Their starting right guard was also out – James Daniels. Didn’t matter. The Jets’ pass rush wasn’t good in this game either.
Some personnel mistakes were made at this position that Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey should learn from. I don’t want to belabor the point.
“We have to find a way to get to the quarterback and affect the quarterback because I think that’s the No. 1 thing that’s going to help this defense ascend and go to the next direction,” Williams said. “We haven’t been doing that.”
Getting Johnson back should help.
October 10, 2025
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