TALENT SHOW
Time for big-name D-line to prove it’s as good as its rep
RAIDERS coach Jack Del Rio sounded Wednesday l i ke many coaches who have faced the Jets in recent years.
“Their D-line is loaded,” Del Rio said. “That’s one of the strengths of their football team.”
It is a familiar refrain from coaches, media and fans when it comes to Gang Green. The Jets’ defensive line has been viewed as the team’s strength since 2013. Over the past 12 months, the hype has outweighed the production, though. The first-round-draft-pick pedigree of Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams and Sheldon Richardson (until he was traded two weeks ago) has been more impressive on paper than on the field.
That was evident again last week when LeSean McCoy and the Bills ran right through the vaunted line, rolling up 190 rushing yards. Tyrod Taylor faced little pressure from the front, getting sacked in the pocket just once.
The performance was so bad Todd Bowles stood in front of the team Monday and singled out the defensive line, calling on them to play better.
“He called us out,” nose tackle Steve McLendon said. “We’re up for the challenge now. It was wake-up call. Some of the guys, including myself, probably thought he would never call us out. I’m glad he did it because now he woke us up. We need to get it going. We need to get it going right now and fast.”
The defensive line has coasted too long on its reputation. For the Jets to have a prayer this week in Oakland, the defensive line must dominate.
Wilkerson has been MIA since 2015. Last year, he was slowed by a surgically repaired ankle. This year, there are no excuses. He was invisible Sunday in Buffalo. The Jets need him to regain the Pro Bowl form he showed two years ago that led to a five-year, $86 million contract.
Williams is an emerging talent, but for all of the accolades he has received, he has had only one multi-sack game in his career.
Wilkerson acknowledged he and his defensive linemates did a terrible job staying in their gaps on Sunday, allowing McCoy to slice them up.
“We didn’t play up to our standards last week,” Wilkerson said. “All those things we did wrong, we’ve got to correct those otherwise it will be long day for us.”
He is right about that. The Raiders are loaded.
The Bills have a one-dimensional offense with McCoy. The Raiders have more weapons than an NRA convention.
Derek Carr at quarterback, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree outside, Jared Cook at tight end and a reborn Marshawn Lynch in the backfield.
Then there is the offensive line. Left tackle Donald Penn, left guard Kelechi Osemele and center Rodney Hudson were all selected for the Pro Bowl last season.
This is a huge test for the Jets’ defensive line. They are supposed to be elite. This is an elite offensive line. Can they win the battle?
“We know everyone is talking about this offensive line,” nose tackle Steve McLendon said. “It’s a really good offensive line. On film, they play really well together, and we understand that. But we play good together, also. We’ve got to get back to our football.”
The truth is the Jets’ line is not what it used to be. Damon Harrison is with the Giants. Richardson is in Seattle. But the line still should be better than the production the Jets are getting. Last year, the Jets had 27 sacks, the 29th most in the league. They no longer were a top-five run defense. That is not all the fault of the line. The linebackers need to play better, too. But no one talks about the Jets’ linebackers as if they are among the league’s best.
The spotlight is on the defensive line this week, particularly Wilkerson and Williams.
“We take full pride in ourselves and work,” Wilkerson said. “We definitely accepted the challenge and know we’ve got to play better this week.
“We know what we have to do this week.”
They have to dominate this week. Let’s see if they can do it.