Return of Sheldon Richardson Will Bring New York Jets Defense to Another Level

If Sheldon Richardson had been suspended for the first four games of the 2014 season, the New York Jets and their fans would have rejoiced at his return. 

Instead, the New York Jets' All-Pro defensive lineman's return seems like little more than an extra layer of icing on an already-decadent cake. 

2015	Jets	NFL rank
Points	55	1
Yards	1121	3
Passing yards	742	2
Net yards per pass play	5.0	2
Rushing yards	379	12
Yards per rush	3.8	7
3rd down %	31.6	5
Red zone %	33.3	1

His play is delectable, but the Jets defense has already been the league's best through four games without him. Head coach Todd Bowles knows this, and as a result, he has no reason to go against his word when he said Richardson would have to earn his way back into the starting lineup. 

"[Richardson] gives us an extra weapon, extra depth down there," Bowles said on a conference call Monday. "To me, he is a Pro Bowl player, he's a heckuva player. Get him back in football shape and get him in the rotation and keep moving forward."

Most teams don't get to use phrases like "extra depth" and "get him in the rotation" when they're talking about an All-Pro-caliber defensive lineman; then again, most teams don't have the Jets' level of talent on the defensive line. That being said, adding Richardson to the mix should only bring out an even higher level of play up front on defense.

Much of the defense's success can be credited to the defensive line.

According to Pro Football Focus, Wilkerson and Williams have the two highest grades of any Jets defenders—even higher than cornerback Darrelle Revis. That's because both Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams have been creating suffocating pressure on opposing quarterbacks and closing gaps in run defense. The two combine for 37 total quarterback pressures (19 for Wilkerson, 18 for Williams) and 17 run stops (nine for Wilkerson, eight for Williams).

Richardson had eight sacks in 2014, and according to Pro Football Focus, he was the NFL's fourth-best 3-4 defensive end in pass-rushing productivity with 31 hurries, 12 hits and nine credited sacks.

There's only one small problem: Richardson plays the same position as both Wilkerson and Williams. The two defensive ends currently rank fifth and sixth in the NFL in pass-rushing productivity among 3-4 defensive ends. Will it be a challenge to incorporate Richardson on defense with how well Wilkerson and Williams are playing?

"You don't have a challenge finding places for good players to play," Bowles said. "You just play him."

That being said, these things can sometimes work themselves out. Williams injured his ankle, and Bowles is unsure of whether the Jets' 2015 first-round pick will be available to play Oct. 18 against the Washington Redskins—which also happens to be Richardson's first game back from suspension.

Bowles may not be handing Richardson the starting job back immediately upon his return, but that doesn't mean it won't be available to him anyway.

It's hard to imagine the Jets defense playing much better than it already has. Through four games, the Jets have yielded the fewest points, the third-fewest yards, the second-lowest yards-per-pass average and the seventh-lowest yards-per-rush average. 

The Jets would probably still continue to dominate on defense even if Richardson weren't making his triumphant return to the football field next week, but you won't see them complain about adding an All-Pro defensive lineman to an already-talented group.  

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.