PRESSURE PACKED
Jets expect Lawson to play like premier pass rusher they’re paying him to be
The Jets signed former Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson to a three-year, $45 million (with $30 million guaranteed) contract last week, making him the highest-paid player on the team heading into the 2021-22 season. Lawson’s deal could be worth up to $47.4 million, but it already gives him the 10th-highest average salary at that position, according to Spotrac.
Lawson was rated the 13th defensive end with a 76.3 grade and his pass-rush grade was 84.9 on ProFootball Focus. The Jets are paying him to become a premier pass rusher. It’s up to him to take the next step.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh’s defensive scheme helped attract Lawson to New York.
“I was thinking about that scheme, I was thinking about my skill set,” Lawson said during a zoom press conference call last week. “So those were the first two things that kind of really attracted me here.”
Last season, Lawson was better than his six sacks indicated. The sacks weren’t eye-popping, but he constantly pressured quarterbacks. Lawson had 32 quarterback hits, which was second in the NFL behind Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (41), and he also had 64 total pressures.
When it came to pass-rush win rate, Lawson was in elite company. He had a 23.4% pass-rush win rate which only trailed Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa and Watt.
The most sacks Lawson had in a single season was 8.5 during his rookie year in 2017, when he also had 21 QB hits. However, in 2018, Lawson had just one sack because he tore the ACL in his right knee which limited him to seven games. In 2019, he finished with five sacks and 22 QB hits.
“It’s about what I expected out of myself,” Lawson said last week when asked about turning pressures into sacks. “So, I’m trying to improve every single aspect of my game, run, pass, I’m always constantly trying to improve. However long I’m blessed to play this game, that’s what I’m trying to do each and every day.”
One aspect Lawson can improve on is defending the run, which PFF graded him at 61.1 last season. Some games he would flash in the run game and other times he was non-existent.
For example in week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Lawson’ grade was 80.3. Even though the Eagles ran for 172 yards, most of it wasn’t to his side. Against the Baltimore Ravens in week 17, however, the Bengals allowed 404 yards rushing and his grade was 32.8. It wasn’t all his fault, but he contributed to that.
Last season, there were moments where Lawson flashed his potential to be a premier pass rusher. Against the Eagles he had a standout performance where he had two sacks.
In the Bengals’ 27-17 victory over the Steelers in week 15, he had nine tackles, a sack that caused a forced fumble, a tackle for loss, five quarterback hits and three quarterback hurries.
There were times when he bullied Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, like this play in the first quarter on first down:
Lawson quickly beat Villanueva and sacked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, causing him to fumble.
Or this play in the third quarter:
The Steelers were in the red zone on the Bengals’ seven-yard line, and it was third and seven. Lawson exploded off the line and drove Villanueva, causing the pocket to collapse. He hit Roethlisberger, who’s forced to throw a short drag route to wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who was short of the goal line.
When Lawson gets downfield, he’s a handful for offensive linemen.
The Jets (and their $15 million) will need him to and expect him to turn his pressures into sacks.