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These two positions are so important to this defense, so where do things stand for the Jets at these spots? Let’s take a closer look . . .
We have written about the import of the outside linebacker positions in the Jets’ defense, and how they need to get more production from these spots.
Will they in 2016?
Not sure because I don’t have a crystal ball, but here are some things I gathered from the spring practices.
Jets outside linebacker coach Mark Collins said something last week which gave us some insight into how the team felt about the pass rushing of their outside linebackers last year.
“What we need to do a better job of at that position is winning one-on-ones,” said Collins.
Exactly.
When you have a defensive line featuring talent like Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams, the outside linebackers are going to get a lot of one-on-ones. This is because defensive linemen with this kind of talent are going to get a lot of double teams.
And the Jets’ outside linebackers last year didn’t take advantage of these one-on-ones enough.
Calvin Pace, who wasn’t re-signed, is a solid all-around linebacker, but not a dynamic pass-rusher, and didn’t beat a lot of single blocks.
Lorenzo Mauldin was raw and learning on the job last year, but he did show some potential in this area.
And as Collins pointed out, Mauldin’s four sacks came in limited action.
“Mauldin had four sacks (last year), but he only had 250 total snaps,” Collins said. “You may take somebody else, another rookie, at another place, that had four sacks, but he had 750 turns.”
So with that being said, I wouldn’t be shocked if Mauldin doubles his total this year. He now has a better feel for the system and the challenges of NFL pass rushing (much harder than college), and he will get a lot more reps. An 8-9 sack season is entirely possible for Mauldin.
Mauldin is almost a lock to start on one side.
But the other side if wide open.
Right now, Trevor Reilly is starting over there.
Reilly clearly knows this is his big chance to grab a starting job, so he bulked up from 240 to 252. The last couple of years Reilly knew his main job would be running down on kicks and punts, so he played at a lighter weight. But he was a little undersized for 3-4 OLB. So the added weight will help him hold up at outside linebacker. Reilly has a great motor, and could end up starting at the beginning of the season.
The big question about rookie Jordan Jenkins is simple – why didn’t he have more sacks in college. He never had more than five sacks in a season at Georgia.
Some say it was how he was used. I understand that he didn’t always play on edge on third down, but don’t you think that if he was a great pass rusher, they would have used him there more.
Look I think the kid is a rock solid third-round pick. He wasn’t a reach at all, but is very rare that guys become more productive pass rushers in the NFL than they were in college. Maybe he will buck the trend.
June 21, 2016
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