Tough task for Gregg
DC’s job didn’t get any easier
The latest edition of the Jets Mailbag dives into Greg Williams’ creativity, the foolishness of looking into Antonio Brown, the wisdom in adding Yannick Ngakoue, three potential head-turners and more.
Can Gregg Williams give the Jets a better defense this year now that he has a true strong safety (with) C.J. Mosley and Avery Williamson to pick up the slack at ILB that Adams departure leaves? — @JoeFulfs
Joe asked this question before Mosley opted-out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, but it’s still a fascinating question that should be addressed.
I’m not sure fans realize how good of a job Williams did last year amid the litany of banged up bodies. He is a pretty darn creative coach. Williams used Adams in such a smart way, shifted pieces around and masked deficiencies like great coaches do.
Think about it: How the heck was Gang Green’s defense so effective with the cornerbacks they trotted out week in and week out? Williams didn’t exactly have a pass-rushing force to work with, either. But he didn’t make excuses, mixing and matching his available personnel to put together a solid unit.
Williams faces a gargantuan task now without his two best players. Last season, Adams’ special talents helped mitigate the loss of Mosley, who only played two games last season due to a groin injury that ultimately required core muscle surgery.
The Jets have depth at inside linebacker, but let’s be clear: No one those players is close to the caliber of Mosley.
Can you see Joe Douglas parlaying one of the recent picks into a premium player? -@JPWaxer
There are a couple schools of thought. Douglas could stand pat with his bounty of draft capital (four first-rounders in the next two years and five premium-round picks next year) and attempt a gradual rebuild. Or he could get creative by flipping some of those picks for quality young talent right now.
Jaguars edge pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue is just floating out there ready to be had. The 25-year-old has yet to sign his $17.8 million franchise tag and show up to training camp. Although the Jets wouldn’t be able to sign Ngakoue to a multi-year extension after trading for him, per league rules, it would give them the inside track to ink him to a long-term deal after the season.
I detailed why it would be a smart move for the Jets to trade for Ngakoue last week. The Jets expressed some level of interest this offseason in acquiring Ngakoue, who has a world of talent. Unless you’re been a cave dweller for the past 15 years, you know that Gang Green could use a consistent disruptor off the edge. Ngakoue can be that guy.
The larger point is that the Jets have the ammunition to land another premium player. Mosley’s choice to opt-out coupled with the team’s decision to cut Brian Winters cleared about $13 million in cash for 2020. Salary cap space isn’t an issue. The Jets have about $34 million in space to add a couple premium players like Ngakoue, Jadeveon Clowney and/or Logan Ryan.
Joe Douglas maintained last week in the wake of the Jamal Adams trade that the Jets aren’t punting on this season. Well, they just added $13 million in cash savings over the weekend (with the Mosley and Winters developments) to go along with ample cap space. If they’re truly not punting on this season, there’s no reason not to add an available pass rusher and versatile defender to help Gang Green break their nineyear playoff drought.
If they don’t have any significant additions and simply pocket the money, then it’s fair to surmise that the Jets are indeed looking past 2020.
Why wouldn’t the Jets sign Antonio Brown? We need a #1 WR. — @Murad_1m_2016
Full disclosure: I thought the Jets should have seriously explored trading for Brown last year. My thinking was simple: Trust that Sam Darnold will be able to keep him check. But the team felt that Brown’s volatile presence would have adversely affected Darnold’s development, so they never seriously considered it before the mercurial wide receiver was traded to the Raiders. I’ve changed my mind after Brown’s subsequent bizarre behavior in Oakland, brief stay with the Patriots and sexual assault allegations.
He was simply too much of a wildcard to bring in before word surfaced that he will be suspended for eight games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Now, it’s obviously a giant no.
Could the Jets be tempted to actually mentally add another year to the rebuild because of the haul of picks they just got in the trade? I like what Douglas is doing, but it’s almost like after all these picks the team will be amazing! – @SouthernJetNC
Douglas maintains that he’s not punting on the 2020 season. That declaration coupled with the head coach’s public stance that the team should have momentum entering this season after their 6-2* finish in 2019 makes it clear: Gang Green must make the playoffs this year.
Frankly, I don’t think that will happen, but the GM, coach and players have publicly intimated that they were knocking on the door to the playoffs last season. So, it’s fair to hold them to their own public standards and expectations.
I’m penciling them in for six or seven wins. You don’t let your best player and emotional leader out of the building and lose your next best defensive player (via opt out) and not suffer a hit.
Who will be the player to have the most tackles in the run game now without Adams? — @Kobe1187
C.J. Mosley would have been my answer before he opted out. Avery Williamson has also been a tackling machine throughout his career. Although the Jets were amenable to trading Williamson last year (before he tore his ACL in the preseason) and this offseason, it would be wise at this point to hold on to him rather than move or cut him (to save $6.5 million). If Williamson is fully recovered from his knee injury, he can be a quality player against the run.