New York Jets: Defensive Changes May Solve Woes

This off-season, the New York Jets made a coaching move, firing Eric Mangini and handing over the headset to first-time head coach and defensive guru, Rex Ryan.

Ryan, the son of former NFL head coach (and former Jets defensive coordinator) Buddy Ryan, takes over a Jets squad which at times late last season seemed to forget how to pressure the quarterback.

With the new regime comes a more aggressive style.

Ryan, known as one of the premier defensive minds in the game, comes to the Jets with an aggressive 3-4 style, while also mixing in the pressure-based 46 defense popularized by his father. In this system, characterized as “organized chaos” by LB Bart Scott, linebackers and defensive backs are going to play a more pertinent role blitzing the quarterback and confusing offenses.

Last season, Jets DC Bob Sutton was criticized for not putting enough pressure on the quarterback and it resulted in the defense getting burned a number of times. Another criticism of Sutton was that he would drop the defense into prevent coverage too early and too often. This also led to the defense getting beat…a lot.  

With Ryan and the new DC Mike Pettine this shouldn’t be a problem. The defense will be aggressive and constantly changing their fronts. Actually, I don’t think Ryan even knows what a prevent defense is.

The Jets seem ready, willing, and able to turn around a defense that finished in the middle to bottom of the league in points allowed and yards allowed in 2008.

The Jets have adjusted the defense through free agency and trades with the additions of Bart Scott, Lito Sheppard, and Jim Leonard

Ryan has promised to make safety Kerry Rhodes more of “ball hawk” similar to Ryan’s former safety in Baltimore, Ed Reed. Mangini was criticized for his inability to use Kerry Rhodes correctly at times last season.

Ryan, along with Pettine and Bart Scott, has also promised to turn second year LB Vernon Gholston into the player that the Jets believed he would be when they drafted him in 2008.

The Ryan hiring has as much to do with strategy as it does with a change in attitude. With Mangini at the helm, many believed that his laid back demeanor had everything to do with the Jets losing four out of their final five games and missing the playoffs.

Ryan’s no nonsense attitude and in-your-face disposition will give the Jets a presence at head coach that they've lacked since the days of Bill Parcels, and that has to give even the most cynical Jets fans a little bit of hope.