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I asked Aaron Glenn if massive nose tackle Khalen Saunders, signed earlier this week, would be able to play this week to help them deal with Derrick Henry.
It sounds like he might be a week away.
“He has another day, and we have to see if he can pick the things up that we’re going to do,” Glenn said. “Again, like most guys that we have that just come in, I don’t want to force a guy out there and he’s not ready to go if he doesn’t understand everything that we’re doing,” Glenn said.
Also, there could be a conditioning element to this. He might need a little work there before he’s ready to roll . . .
Also asked Glenn about whether they need to step up their tight end coverage a little this week, facing Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. The Jets tight end coverage has not been very consistent this year, but I don’t think he agreed with that assessment.
Den Leberfeld, Jets Confidential: As far as covering tight ends, you guys have probably been a little inconsistent this year. So, what do you guys got to do going against two really good ones in (Mark) Andrews and (Isaiah) Likely to make sure they don’t go off?
Glenn: Yeah, I don’t know if it’s been inconsistent. I think it’s just, defensively, in general, like we’ve been inconsistent with a number of things and those are things we’ve worked on this week to try to get ready to clean up.
Always respect how he has the back of the players, but “inconsistent” is putting it lightly.
In back-to-back games this year, tight ends caught a pair of TDs against the Jets, Miami’s Darren Waller, and Dallas’ Jake Ferguson. In London, Denver tight end Nate Atkins caught a wide-open TD.
While it’s not all on them, the Jets’ pass coverage at linebacker and safety could stand a little improvement, with less see-and-go reacting, and more instinctively seeing things before they happen
Lamar Jackson LOVES throwing to tight ends. Loves it!
And if the Jets don’t execute well with their tight end coverage this week, Andrews and Likely could both have big games. And don’t sleep on the third tight end, Charlie Kolar, who has two touchdown catches this year.
Glenn added about the Ravens’ use of tight ends: “The red zone is where we got to be really, really good because that’s when those two guys really show up. So, man, we have to be on it.” . . .
Most people expect the Jets to lose the game by a wide margin. Vegas certainly does, with the Jets currently a 13.5-point underdog. You generally don’t see a lot of lines that big on the NFL level.
However, if they do hang around, one thing that will help them is their offensive line, which is in a good place right now, after some inconsistency over the first half of the season.
Good offensive lines travel well, and this is a good offensive line now. Earlier in the season, not so much, but now, this talented group, which is now doing a better job communicating on stunts and blitzes, is a good line.
Saw a story on ESPN today about the biggest needs for all 32 NFL teams next off-season, and this is what they wrote about the Jets:
“Quarterback and interior offensive line. It’s clear that Justin Fields isn’t the guy at QB. Tyrod Taylor is also not the guy, plus he’s going to be 37 and a free agent. The Jets are 30th in pass block win rate, and while their young first-round tackles aren’t going anywhere, John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker will be free agents on the inside.”
First of all, I think they will try to re-sign Simpson and Vera-Tucker, and neither will be that expensive.
And secondly, when I think about the biggest off-season needs, aside from adding a QB, I think most of the work needed is on defense.
Also, what the hell does “pass block win rate” mean anyway, and does it factor in a QB who holds the ball too long?
This line is fine.
This team needs a major reconstruction on the defensive side of the ball, with needs on all three levels.
November 21. 2025
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