Tempe – If I were running the Jets’ defense, here is my plan:
I’m going to a pure 3-4 defense with Mo Wilkerson at nose tackle and Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams at the end spots.
I’m going with Lorenzo Mauldin and Jordan Jenkins at outside linebacker.
It’s time for Todd Bowles to forget this hybrid system he’s running, and go with what he’s most comfortable with, and what they were playing last year, and most of the off-season and summer. Changing things right before the season turned out to be a little bit of a mistake.
Steve McLendon is a nice player, but he’s not on the level of Wilkerson/Richardson/Williams were you MUST get him on the field at all costs – all costs has been playing a four-man line, which isn’t Todd’s defense.
Let McLendon rotate in and spell Wilkerson/Richardson/Williams. McLendon is the consummate team player. He will do whatever you ask.
I’d also rotate in Josh Martin at outside linebacker. He has good speed, quickness, power and is very smart (he won’t blow assignments). Why he doesn’t play more is a mystery to me. He learned a ton about getting to the quarterback as a 3-4 OLB in Kansas City backing up Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.
Mike Catapano has a tremendous motor and gives you everything he’s got, but he’s miscast as an outside linebacker.
There you go.
Instead of taking cheap shots at the Jets, I’ve offered a constructive plan that I think will work.
