This issue probably can’t be solved in-season.

The Jets’ defensive line is reportedly a strength of their team.

So, in the last two weeks, facing teams without starters on their offensive lines, some figured the Jets should dominate up front.

Miami was without center Connor Williams and guard Robert Hunt.

Washington was without center Tyler Larsen and left tackle Charles Leno.

So how did it turn out against the Jets’ talented front in each of these games?

Well, the Jets’ pass rush was good, but their run defense was bad.

So I’m not even going to write that I expect the Jets defensive line to dominate against a Cleveland offensive line, who are on their third right tackle, and second left tackle.

Well, let’s put it this way, we should expect them to get a lot of pressure and some sacks on QB Joe Flacco, who isn’t particularly mobile.

But expect Cleveland to run effectively on the Jets, even with some backup linemen.

The Jets’ run defense has some inherent problems that probably won’t be solved until the off-season with some scheme and personnel changes.

The Jets’ run defense during Washington’s ferocious comeback down 27-7 at the half was really bad.

As we talked about yesterday, it’s reached the point with the Jets’ goalline run defense, that it’s hard to expect them to stop anybody at the goalline. This isn’t meant to be flippant, just based on anecdotal evidence.

Fourth quarter, on Chris Rodriguez’s one-yard TD run, Solomon Thomas got engulfed by left tackle Cornelius Lucas and Jermaine Johnson was taken out by TE John Bates – big hole – easy TD.

Also in the fourth quarter, on Rodriguez’s two-yard TD run, Quinnen Williams and Thomas got locked up, and the running back went into the breech.

Their “jumbo” package on the goalline isn’t big enough. Losing 330-pound Al Woods didn’t help, but even with him, the run defense wasn’t great, and perhaps one guy, who is 36, and playing limited snap, wasn’t enough. Perhaps they need more guys with more meat on the bone.

Another problem are their linebacker fits against the run. Too often their linebacker shoot up field, overrun the runner, and take themselves out of plays.

For as many terrific plays Quincy Williams makes, there are too many times he is out of position on big running plays.

In the fourth quarter, there was a nine-yard run by Antonio Gibson to the two. Quinnen Williams and Thomas got locked up on the line and Quincy Williams shot past the runner, ending up in back of him.

Here is the issue with Quincy Williams, and it’s not his fault. He’s about 5-11, 225 pounds, so it’s very hard for him to stack and shed 300-pound offensive linemen when they get on him, so he does a lot of guessing of gaps, to avoid having to take on linemen. When the guessing works, he often makes really impressive plays, often involving highlight film hits, because his toughness is off the charts. But when he guesses wrong, he sometimes takes himself out of plays opening holes.

So when you are undersized on the defensive line, and you have issues with linebacker run fits, you are going to struggle to stop other teams on the ground.

The Jets are going to have to fundamentally change their run defense approach next year from a scheme and personnel standpoint.

But nothing is going ot change now, so even with Cleveland line injuries, they should be able to run the ball on the Jets.

December 25, 2023

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