ESPN writer Mike Clay bestowed quite an honor on one particular Jets defensive unit.
Clay wrote the Jets have the best off-the-ball linebacking unit in the NFL.
“The 37-year-old Demario Davis is back after ranking 10th in the NFL with 143 tackles last season,” wrote Clay. “He has now cleared 100 in nine consecutive seasons, totaling 36.5 sacks during that span. The future Hall of Famer will team up with Jamien Sherwood, whose 308 tackles over the past two seasons ranked second in the NFL.”
After signing the veteran Davis on March 12 to lead their defense, some thought perhaps the Jets would then sign or draft a coverage linebacker to complement him.
The pass coverage for their linebackers last year was substandard. They moved on from one linebacker, who reportedly gave up four TD receptions at Jacksonville last year, but they are still rolling with his partner, Jamien Sherwood, who admitted himself he needs to improve in coverage from last season.
And while Davis is an excellent linebacker, he’s never been an elite coverage linebacker. Solid against the pass, but not top-shelf. And at 37, you can’t expect him to be Fred Warner in pass coverage. So the thinking in some quarters is they would add another linebacker in free agency or the draft who excels in coverage.
It never happened, and based on Clay’s assessment, it wasn’t necessary.
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