The Lean Mean Gang Green

On the surface, there would appear to be a lot of similarities between former New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini and new Jets head coach Rex Ryan. Both are former defensive coordinators that try to build their teams around defense. Both have learned from some of the most successful coaches in NFL history, Mangini from Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick; Ryan from Bill Billick and father Buddy Ryan. Both coaches run a 3-4 defense. Both came to the Jets with no prior head coaching experience. So then why did the Jets change coaches after the 2008 season? Because the big differences between Mangini and Ryan in style and personality are what the Jets believe will turn them into a consistent winner.
    When Ryan was part of the Baltimore Ravens defensive staff from 1999-2008 (defensive line coach 1999-2004, defensive coordinator 2005-2008) the Ravens defense was one of the most feared and respected in NFL history. Led by skilled and tenacious players such as Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Rod Woodson, and Tony Siragusa, just to name a few, the Ravens defense never finished lower than sixth in the NFL. Over the course of his tenure, the Ravens led the league in fewest points allowed, rushing yards allowed, shutouts, takeaways, interceptions for touchdowns and third down conversion defense. The defense took on the personality of Lewis, Reed, and Ryan-intense and hyper-aggressive. They didn’t just want to keep opponents off the scoreboard, they wanted to rip out your heart before you dragged yourself off the field. 
    Mangini’s Jets defense over his three seasons was more of the bend-but-don’t-break style. Teams could move the ball on the Jets and tire them out, but the Jets were often able to step up and slow teams down before they could get deep enough to score points. But that slow-em-down style would wear down the defense over the course of the game and the season and ultimately unable to contain a good offense (or make a mediocre attack look rather exceptional). At times the Jets defense took on Mangini’s personality-calm, quiet and banal. Not exactly how you want to see your defense act.
    Ryan’s new Jets defense will stick with the 3-4, but it will be a much more aggressive defense that looks to stop teams in their tracks and take the ball right out of their hands. Former Ravens Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard join their former defensive coordinator in New York and will become big parts of the defense. Scott and fellow inside linebacker David Harris will be the key cogs in the defense, much like Scott and Lewis were back in Baltimore. The interior linebackers are often the captains of the defense (that usually is true whether the defense is a 3-4 or a 4-3) and Scott especially could become the emotional leader of the Jets defense. He knows exactly what Ryan looks for in his defense and will be able to execute his plan.
    Several other of the Jets players should fit right in to the Jets new defensive scheme. Kris Jenkins is a wall in the middle of the defensive line that can hold the opposing rushers behind the line of scrimmage. The only trick with Jenkins is to keep him rested into the latter part of the season. Sean Ellis, the longest-tenured Jet, has been a solid defensive end throughout his career and could be asked to be more aggressive under Ryan. In the secondary Darrelle Revis and Kerry Rhodes should fit in perfectly with Ryan’s style. Rhodes hasn’t been quite the ball hawk that Reed is, but he can excel as the “centerfielder” of the secondary, going after any errant pass and punish any receiver foolish enough to go through the middle of the field.
    Ryan will have his work cut out for him with the outside rushers. The Jets have been trying to find a defensive end to line up opposite Ellis, but have never been able to find a suitable replacement for the explosive but often injured John Abraham. Marques Douglas, another ex-Raven, figures to be the starter but it remains to be seen if he will be the answer. The key for the Jets pass rush will be the outside linebackers Calvin Pace, Bryan Thomas, and Vernon Gholston. Pace had an excellent start to his first season as a Jet last year but faded considerably down the stretch. Thomas has had a couple of good seasons but has mostly ineffective when called upon. Gholston has been deemed the bust of the 2008 draft after barely getting onto the field last season. Whatever Mangini saw in him before the draft was no where to be seen during the season. If the Jets are to become a more aggressive defense that utilizes the blitz, the outside linebackers will need to play a big part of that.
    When the 2009 season gets into gear in September, Jets fans might have to look twice at the new Jets defense. It will look very similar to what the Jets have been doing the past three seasons. But once you see them in action, you’ll know this is not the same old Jets defense. Led by Bart Scott, David Harris, Darrelle Revis, and Kerry Rhodes, the new Jets defense will be a blitzing, sacking, ball-hawking, turnover-forcing, intimidating, and winning Gang Green.