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Most of you have probably seen this quote by now from Las Vegas Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty about the Jets’ defense:
“I think we can definitely get the run game going, get back on track, and just really get after these guys. Couple of guys out there that don’t really want to tackle, but I’m not going to say names.”
Surely, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak, a man of few words, who gives the media or opponents little to work with, has to be livid at this. This kind of stuff clearly doesn’t fit his worldview.
Jeanty is just 22, so perhaps this was a case of a player who has some maturing to do. Not a good idea to say this stuff in sports and give the other team bulletin-board material. Makes no sense.
Now, it’s hard to argue with his first sentence based on the Jets’ body of work against the run this season.
The Jets gave up 156 yards rushing to the Dolphins last week, and in the game before that, on a clock-killing drive at the end of their loss to New England, the Patriots dominated the Jets on the ground with three backup offensive linemen.
The Jets gave up 232 yards rushing in a recent loss to Chicago.
So based on the film, you could see why Jeanty feels, “I think we can definitely get the run game going, get back on track, and just really get after these guys.”
He should have said it, but it’s hard to argue what he’s saying based on the film.
But the part about: “a couple of guys out there that don’t really want to tackle, but I’m not going to say names.”
I’m not seeing that.
If you were to take a guess at one of the guys he’s talking about it could probably be Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who missed a tackle attempt on Dolphins WR Caleb Douglas in the middle of a 63-yard catch-and-run TD down the left sideline.
But that probably wasn’t a case of not wanting to tackle, but just taking a bad angle. If Fitzpatrick wasn’t interested in tackling, he probably wouldn’t have led the Jets in tackles against the Dolphins with 10.
I don’t think the Jets run defense issues are related to toughness or not wanting to tackle. To me, it’s more personnel issues.
The Jets are playing a 3-4 defense and have two defensive linemen who are playing a lot, Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs, who aren’t ideal fits for a 3-4 line due to their lack of length. They are 4-3 guys.
So what is happening on too many plays is Phillips and Briggs are getting locked up by single blockers, and guards and center are climbing to the second-level and engulfing the Jets’ linebackers.
If a 3-4 defense is going to stop the run on a high level, generally you need bigger defensive linemen, with great length, who can two-gap, take up blockers and leave the linebacker clean to run to the ball.
Also, Jets rookie edge David Bailey is struggling against the run.
You could argue that the Jets are playing two guys who should be situational pass rushers right now – Bailey and Will McDonald – due to their size and play-style. Playing them as three down ends is not a great run defense recipe.
Now, granted with Joseph Ossai and Braedon McGregor out, they might be painted in corner.
No doubt they miss veteran DT David Onyemata who hurt his groin early in the season and is on IR. But who aside from Kingsley Engabare has been a consistent run defender on this defensive line for most of this season? And that includes T’Vondre Sweat, who was on the field for that humiliating drive in New England, and the Bears’ 232-yard outing.
So I don’t think it’s guys not wanting to tackle, but the front seven depth chart not stacked very well to play the run well in a 3-4 defense…
Bailey was on the rehab field working with trainers today. He is dealing with a groin injury. He was wearing a wrap on his upper right leg, so this is clearly a right groin injury.
If he can’t go, it’s not a “sky is falling” situation for the Jets. Nice upside, but he probably shouldn’t be starting yet due to his run defense issues, so if they are without him, they should be able to get by. He was rushed into the starting lineup…
We might have jumped the gun last week implying that Jets left guard Dylan Parham was going to return to the lineup against Miami. Turns out he was a week away.
Based on watching practice this week, I think he’s back this week.
The Jets’ best overall offensive line performance of the year was in Week 1 with Parham in the lineup. They were good in pass pro and running blocking.
Getting him back should be a boon to the Jets’ offensive line.
October 29, 2026
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