Envisioning the Many Looks of the New York Jets' Defensive Line

With their selection of USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams with the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, the New York Jets showed that they are still committed to fielding one of the best defensive lines in football.

That's one thing that won't change now that the Rex Ryan era is over, and the Todd Bowles era has begun. The Jets' new head coach may use some of the old pieces a little differently, but for the most part, things will remain the same. 

The Jets will still be operating mainly out of a one-gap 3-4 defense that calls for their defensive linemen to penetrate up the field to create pressure on the quarterback and stop runs in the backfield before they get started.

They will still be a versatile defense that changes their looks from week to week, series to series and sometimes even from play to play to prevent its opponent from getting into rhythm and to give themselves the best chance possible of stopping whatever the offense throws (or runs) at them.

So, sometimes, we'll see a 4-3 base look. Sometimes, they'll be operating out of the nickel in either a 3-3-5 (three linemen, three linebackers, five defensive backs) or 4-2-5 (four linemen, two linebackers, five defensive backs) constitution. Depending on what scheme the Jets are in, we'll see different personnel groupings. What could those groupings look like?

Base 3-4

Position	Player
LDE	Muhammad Wilkerson
NT	Damon Harrison
RDE	Sheldon Richardson

This is going to be the main course of the seven-course meal that is sure to be the Jets' defensive look. Bowles has run the 3-4 with the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals over the years, and with the Jets defense already constructed to fit that mold, not much is going to change here.

The biggest question is, who will line up where?

The most likely combinations involve Damon Harrison on the nose, since he is the only "true" nose tackle of the bunch, with some combination of Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams filling in as the other two linemen. This would put Quinton Coples at outside linebacker.

The Jets will find that, while light in numbers up front, this package should dominate against the run no matter which combination they go with. All the players mentioned above can list "stout in run defense" on their resume for their ability to control their gaps at the line of scrimmage while winning against a one-man blocking assignment and holding their own when they draw a double-team. 

Linebackers David Harris and Demario Davis have been able to keep their jerseys pretty spotless behind the Jets' three-man fronts, and that should continue with an even deeper and more talented group in 2015.

Base 4-3

Position	Player
LDE	Muhammad Wilkerson
DT	Sheldon Richardson
DT	Leonard Williams
RDE	Quinton Coples

The Jets probably won't run too many 4-3 base fronts, but they have the personnel to do it. The most likely combination here seems to be Coples and rookie Lorenzo Mauldin on the ends, but Wilkerson could be on the end on running downs in a 4-3. 

Either way, the Jets would once again be forced to make a difficult decision of who will sit on the bench. Some combination of Harrison, Richardson and Williams would be on the inside. Harrison's talents are best in running situations, so we'll say Richardson and Williams will see the most time in four-man fronts. 

Wilkerson has some pass rush in his game, but the Jets may opt to rotate him out for a more true "speed rush" outside presence like Jason Babin or Calvin Pace; although neither of those two will be confused for pure speed-rushers anytime soon, both men have experience at defensive end in a 4-3. Williams provides his assessment of the Jets defense (via Connor Hughes of the Journal Inquirer):

In a defensive scheme, where gap discipline is sort of a secondary responsibility for the pass-rushers up front, a 4-3 scheme might open up the defense to a big run.

The Jets' defensive ends are stout against the run, but if all four linemen are focused solely on getting up the field and not on keeping things in front of them, a running back might have an open lane up the middle to the second level and an easy five-yard gain.

5-2

Position	Player
DE/OLB	Lorenzo Mauldin
DT	Muhammad Wilkerson
DT	Sheldon Richardson
DT	Leonard Williams
DE/OLB	Quinton Coples

If the Jets desperately want to get all their talented linemen on the field at the same time, the 5-2 is one way they can do it. With five linemen and two linebackers, the Jets are leaving themselves a little vulnerable at the linebacker level, but if the pass rush gets home, it's all worth it.

A 5-2 defensive line would probably consist of Coples and Mauldin on the ends, with Richardson, Wilkerson and Williams on the inside. With five men up front, the Jets won't need to worry about fielding guys who can stuff multiple gaps.

Wilkerson could be placed on the edge with Harrison coming in off the bench in the middle, but Wilkerson would be lining up a little wider than usual. He may not be able to get up the field as quickly as Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake or bend the corner as smoothly as Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller.

However, with so many disruptive linemen playing next to him, he could be lining up across from his share of tight ends whom he can rag-doll to the side.

The theory here is, there are only five offensive linemen to block five defensive linemen, and the talent level of the Jets' line will be too great to block one-on-one across the board. Any double-team would create a free rush for one of the Jets' pass-rushers. 

Nickel Looks

Position	Player
DE	Lorenzo Mauldin
DT	Muhammad Wilkerson
DT	Sheldon Richardson
DE	Quinton Coples

With one less defender up front and one extra defender in the back, a nickel defense is predicated on stopping the pass. 

There are different directions the Jets can go with their nickel defense, but the one we'll probably see most often is the 4-2-5 (four defensive linemen, two linebackers, five defensive backs). With more depth on the defensive line than at linebacker, the Jets would be better off using more linemen and giving them an opportunity to rush upfield. 

This defensive front will probably look a lot like the one the Jets would use in a 4-3 base alignment: some combination of Harrison, Williams and Richardson on the inside with Wilkerson and Coples on the edge. That being said, in pure passing situations, the Jets may choose to take one of their bigger linemen off the field to get one of their better pass-rushers hunting the quarterback.

Wilkerson, Harrison, Williams or Richardson could be the one to come off the field for someone like Louisville rookie Lorenzo Mauldin; while Mauldin isn't the best pass-rusher in this year's draft class, he is more than capable of getting into the backfield and making plays (31.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks in three-year career). 

If there's one thing we've learned here, it's that whatever look the Jets go with, they have more than enough options to keep an offensive line on its toes.