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Remarkably, Baker Mayfield threw for 233 yards with the offensive line that was in front of him today.
Perhaps the team’s three best offensive linemen were out – left tackle Tristan Wirfs, right tackle Luke Goedeke, and guard Cody Mauch. Their regular center, Graham Barton, is filling in for Wirfs at left tackle, and guard Ben Bredesen is at center now.
So they have two starters left from their original group, but they are playing out of position, so this is the poster child for a patchwork line.
For Mayfield to do what he did through the air, and for the Jets to finish this game with one sack (shared between Quinnen Williams and Harrison Phillips), is shocking.
But maybe it’s not shocking – maybe it’s related to some personnel decisions.
The starting ends are fine, but when Michael Clemons, who belongs in a 3-4 defense, is your third end, and has to start when a starter is out, that is problematic. Bad scheme fit. Not flexible enough for 3-4 end. Not his fault. This is a scouting issue.
And then behind him are 2024 UDFA Braiden McGregor and 2025 fifth-round pick Tyler Baron, who you could argue should be on the practice squad, not on the regular roster.
So with Jermaine Johnson (ankle) out today, Clemons, McGregor and Baron played a ton today at end, and the center playing left tackle, and the backup right tackle, both had terrific games.
While Will McDonald blocked punt that he returned for a TD was a sensational play, going against a center playing left tackle today quite a bit, he had no sacks, and he even said after the game.
“I could have did a little more in the game,” McDonald, who had no defensive stats in the game.
This is the first year of their program, so we should cut the new regime a little slack, but some of these defensive roster decisions are head-scratchers.
Look, I’m not a scout, but one thing I know is that if a player is average in college, he’s probably not going to be better in the NFL, a much tougher level of competition.
Too many average college players in the mix on this defensive line.
Jets DT Leonard Taylor was a five-star recruit from Miami, who went undrafted, because he was average for the Hurricanes.
Taylor, McGregor, Baron, McGregor, Clemons – you could be a serious argument that all five belong on the practice squad.
Look, I understand Florham Park wasn’t built in a day. I also understand nobody is going to write about this, so it sounds like I’m howling at the moon, but I’m just keeping it real, folks.
You want to know why a patchwork offensive line (and that might be an understatement) gave up just one sack, and protected their QB well enough to throw for 233 yards, look at the defensive line rotation.
I asked Aaron Glenn after the game about the team getting just one sack against a line with their three best players out, and he said you have to factor in all the holding calls.
But here is the thing about the holding calls, there were five offensive line holding calls on the Buc’s first series, but then it died way down after that.
The second series – 5 of 6 passing, one running play on a 7-play 77-yard TD drive, including a 30-yard throw to Emeka Egbuka, and a 24-yard strike to Sterling Shepherd. No holds, six passing plays, great offensive drive. Third offensive series – guard Ezra Klein was called for holding, no holds on the fourth and fifth series. Klein was called for holding again on the sixth series. Last three series – no holds.
And the funny thing about the first series with the five holding calls for 50 yards, Tampa Bay still scored – a field goal. That is pretty remarkable – 50 yards in penalties on a series, and you still score.
One issue for the Jets on defense is that their linebackers don’t make plays in pass defense, and there were some big completions in the middle of the Jets’ zone.
Once again, it’s early in their regime, but Glenn and Darren Mougey might need to tweak their scouting in the front seven.
And don’t kill the messenger.
Just look at what happened today.
Either Tampa Bay offensive line coach Kevin Carberry is the second coming of Dante Scarnecchia, or the Jets have some serious concerns in their front seven.
September 21, 2025
