FanPost

Pass Rush Issues Started Before the Season

Before we get started let me say that the JETS are my team I have been a fan for a long time, but I call it like i see it

The issues with the Jets lack of pass rush started before the season started. Why the Jets put faith in Kris Jenkins to anchor the D line is understandable but at the same time ridiculous. I get it, anytime KJ is on the field he is in the top 3 DT in the NFL, the problem is that FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS HE HAS NOT BEEN ON THE FIELD OFTEN ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE TOP 18. This is a case of the reward not outweighing the risk. I hate to say I told you do, but it was predicted here...before last years draft: (the quote: Even VG had better numbers than KRIS Jenkins who as much as I like him is A) Old and not getting any younger and B) injury prone C) can be traded to the RAMS (or another bottom team) for a #3 draft pick.) That was a year ago and i have no record of being psychic.

The bottom line is anyone should have been able to see Jenkins was injury prone. It completely defies logic that the Jets front office would trade Leon Washington without knowing if he would be 100% or even 80% based on the prediction of the recovery of an injury....and at the same time not cut Kris Jenkins who played about 9 whole games in the past 5 years. (this is truth exagerated) I posted / replied during the Bears post game that this was piss poor planning by the Jets front office to not have addressed this before the season started....This is not a swipe at Sione Pouha.

Let me be clear:

Sione Pouha has earned the right as a legitimate starter [not only for the Jets] but the NFL. He stepped in and did a good job, a solid player. The Jets need to keep him on the team for as long as they can. HOWEVER...other teams had to change their entire game plan for Kris when healthy.... other teams plan through Sione Pouha, other teams treat him as though he is good but manageable, and the truth is - he is; he is solid and usually commands a double team but not a super star like a seldom healthy Kris was. In a 3-4 the DT MUST BE A SUPERSTAR beast. Unless you have Richard Seymore and Julius Peppers at DE then a 3-4 must have an outstanding DT in order to generate a pass rush. That is the nature of the 3-4, great for masking the blitz, but when you cant blitz its a 3 against 5 mismatch up front and usually a back after that. Sione Pouha is good, very good but not great. That is a disaster in a 3-4 and pro bowl consideration in a 4-3.

The Jets knew this too and got Ropati Pitoitua...his injury unlike Kris Jenkins injury was unpredictable, but once he was injured the front office should have made a move for an Albert Haynesworth or even Wilfork type player...NOT ALBERT himself but that type of player.

This is my theory on why the pass rush is absent, mispaced faith in the anchor of the D-line... an anchor that anyone watching the game should have known was full of rust.

...here are a few other unrelated thoughts on the JETS..

Lets use this draft to get a backup Center, Nick Mangold is the man and we will have him for a long long time, lets just start grooming a backup now....for 3-4-5 years down the road

Edwards is valuable...perhaps his DWI was a good thing. Due to "behavior" issues Maybe we can sign him cheaply and add incentives for compensation as opposed to money up front. Ofcourse Holmes is the better WR overall, but we should keep Edwards also. With his size its would be hard to find a WR that is better in run support...and the Jets identity is run run pass run run run ground and pound.

Never use JT in coverage again

Pool is a safety we should keep as long as possible

Lowery is an acceptable CB, however taking on the project of making him a safety is a good idea and should be explored further

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