A lot of change is coming to the Jets in 2019, but the team’s base defensive scheme will stay the same.
Shockingly, the Jets will remain in a 3-4 base defense (meaning three lineman up-front with four linebackers behind) despite bringing in notable 4-3 enthusiast Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator. That in itself means the Jets’ current personnel will mostly retain the roles the kept in 2018 and throughout Todd Bowles’ tenure as coach. Leonard Williams will continue to play his role as a defensive end, while linebackers Jordan Jenkins, Darron Lee and Avery Williamson remain locked into their positions behind Williams.
What could change, though, is how the Jets look at free agency and the draft.
According to Brian Costello of The New York Post, the shedding of players like Mike Pennel signaled “the desire for smaller, quicker defensive linemen to play a more attacking style” and less players who “clog up the middle of the defense.” Even more, given Williams’ proclivity to play in multiple schemes – he famously said he has “42 packages of defense” during his Browns introductory press conference in 2017 – the Jets will be looking for versatile defensive players.
That could mean keeping Henry Anderson, who tied the team-lead with seven sacks in 2018 and was one of the Jets’ best pass rushers. Many saw Anderson as a poor fit in a 4-3 scheme given his size and agility, but Anderson could be a candidate to keep around if the Jets stick with their current scheme. Josh Martin and Frankie Luvu could also remain in the Jets future.
If the Jets decide to keep Anderson, they may not be looking to break the bank on another defensive end like DeMarcus Lawrence, Trey Flowers or Ezekiel Ansah, but instead look for solid depth players and could target a nice defensive tackle or quicker edge rushing linebackers in free agency or the draft, both of which are rife with talent in those departments.
With the third overall pick, the Jets could continue to look at Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen or defensive tackles Rashaan Gary and Quinnen Williams (a player who actually transitioned from an edge rusher to interior lineman). Chiefs edge rusher Dee Ford is another potential free agent the Jets could target to fit into the 3-4 if Kansas City doesn’t apply the franchise tag.
Sticking with the 3-4 actually might be the smartest play for a Jets team already built for that defensive scheme. After letting go of players who didn’t fit his preferred skillset in Pennel and Kevin Pierre-Louis, Williams left himself with a solid young core of players to work with. Now, the team has extra money to spend on players that will elevate the unit.
