Kacy Rodgers Hired as Jets DC: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

After officially introducing Todd Bowles as their new head coach at a press conference earlier this week, the New York Jets are moving closer to finalizing the staff around him. 

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN New York, the Jets made two hires Friday, with Kacy Rodgers being the headliner as defensive coordinator:

Rodgers spent the previous seven seasons as defensive line coach for New York's AFC East rival Miami. Even though the Dolphins have never had an elite defense during that span, it's hard to blame the work Rodgers did. 

According to Randy Lange of Jets.com, Miami's defensive line was one of the league's most prolific units after Rodgers arrived on the scene:

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Take these five major defensive categories: total yards allowed, rush yards allowed, pass yards allowed, points allowed and sacks by. In the past 12 seasons, including those seven with Bowles, Rodgers has helped develop an NFL top-10 unit in at least one of those five categories in every one of those seasons.

And from 2008-14, his entire tenure with Miami, Rodgers' Dolphins D-lines have contributed strongly to 287 sacks, third-most in the NFL in that span behind only Minnesota and Philadelphia.

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Rodgers should have no problem continuing that tradition in New York, especially with a defensive line that already has Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson. 

For better and worse, the Jets have been known for their defense, dating back to Rex Ryan's first year. They have the ingredients of a potent unit again in 2015. Rodgers certainly adds to that optimism with his experience and success coaching up defenses in the past.