How the Jets defense is pulling off one of the biggest NFL turnarounds this century

How the Jets defense is pulling off one of the biggest NFL turnarounds this century

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With a win against the on Sunday, the would be in first place in the AFC East this late in the season for the first time since 2010. Not a typo. If they are going to accomplish that and snap a 13-game losing streak against New England it'll be behind their best defense since the Rex Ryan days when they made back-to-back AFC Championship games.Fewer interceptions from would also help, but the identity of this team is clearly the defense. The unit's improvement is the main reason Gang Green has gone from one of the worst teams in the league to threatening to snap the longest active playoff drought in the NFL. They are already the only team this year to surpa s their preseason over-under win total (5.5).In their last game, their swarming, physical defense helped pull off their biggest win in years, while limiting MVP favorite to his worst game of the season. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like Tomas Plekanec Jersey to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. Their defense was the laughing stock of the league last year in Robert Saleh's first season as the Jets' head coach. They ranked last in scoring defense and total defense. Around this time in 2021, they allowed 175 points in a four-game span, the second-most by any team since 1970. Rock bottom looked like 54 points allowed to the Patriots, 31 to the , 45 to the and another 45 to the . This season, they've allowed 176 points in nine games. They are the highest-graded defense in the NFL this year according to Pro Football Focus, after ranking 31st last year.So just how significant is the turnaround? It's clearly one of the top 3-5 improvements by any team since 2000. Let's dive in:The Jets have gone from last in scoring defense to 10th this season, allowing 10.1 fewer points per game. They can become the first team since the 2002 Colts to allow 10 fewer PPG from one season to the next. So far it's the third-largest turnaround since 2000. LARGEST TURNAROUND IN PPG ALLOWED SINCE 2000 (2000-01)-12.4Colts (2001-02)-10.8Jets (2021-22)-10.1The Jets have gone from last in total defense to seventh this season, allowing 85.7 fewer yards per game, the third-largest turnaround since 2000, and biggest since the 2012-13 .LARGEST TURNAROUND IN YPG ALLOWED SINCE 2000Saints (2012-13)-134.4 (2010-11)-91.3Jets (2021-22)-85.7The Jets were also last in defensive EPA (expected points added) per game in 2021 but have jumped all the way up to fourth. Their defense was costing the team about seven Ben Chiarot Women Jersey points per game last year and now they are adding five expected points per game. The exact swing of +12.4 is the fifth-largest since 2000. You might recognize some other seasons on the list. 2011 was rookie year with the Texans and 2020 was rookie year with Washington.LARGEST TURNAROUND IN DEFENSIVE EPA PER GAME SINCE 2000Texans (2010-11)+15.3 (2008-09)+13.9Washington (2019-20)+13.7Rams (2000-01)+13.1Jets (2021-22)+12.4What's behind the turnaround though?Remember the exotic blitzes that defined Rex Ryan's defense a decade ago? Or more recently, Gregg Williams' all-out blitz at the end of the ' game in 2020 that dropped the Jets to 0-12?Well, that is NOT this Jets defense. Not even close. No team has dialed back their blitzing from last year more than the Jets, who are blitzing at the third-lowest rate (16%) in 2022 after blitzing at the ninth-highest rate (28%) in 2021.The results have been stunning. Despite blitzing le s, the Jets are getting pre sure at the eighth-highest rate this year (35%) after ranking third-worst (29%) in 2021. Every team in the league would sign up for more pre sure while blitzing le s in a heartbeat because it means more defenders in coverage.The pa s rush has certainly aided an overhauled secondary, but they've seen a drastic shift in their own right. The Jets have allowed the second-lowest pa ser rating this year after allowing the second-highest in 2021. Their pa ser rating dropped 28.5 points, the third-largest improvement since 2000, and best since the 2010-11 Texans.BIGGEST OPPONENT PASSER RATING TURNAROUND SINCE 2000Texans (2010-11)-31.5Jets (2008-09)-29.3Jets (2021-22)-28.9Personnel is the biggest reason for the shift. The Jets have three new starters in the secondary with rookie cornerback , cornerback (free agent signing) and safety (free agent signing). Gardner and Reed are both graded as top 10 cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus this year.Sports are about star power and the Jets have two on defense: Sauce Gardner and . Williams was the third overall pick in 2019, and Sauce the fourth overall pick in 2022.Both are living up to expectations this season, and then some. Gardner has been nothing short of a lockdown corner, bringing the type of coverage New York got used to with . He is the Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite at Caesars Sportsbook and has the third-best grade among cornerbacks according to Pro Football Focus. He's allowed the third-lowest completion percentage (41%) and pa ser rating (38.4).His coverage skills pa s the eye test too. He smothered Green Bay's receivers in an upset win at Lambeau Field. He knocked away a deep ball intended for to seal a win against Denver, and his interception of Josh Allen was the Jets' turning point in their win against the Bills. He also sealed that game by blanketing on a deep ball on Buffalo's final play. He's everything Jets fans could have hoped for and more. Elite cornerback with plenty of sauce.While Sauce has anchored the secondary, Williams has Max Pacioretty Jersey been a game-wrecker up front. He's the third-highest graded interior defender per PFF, just ahead of in fourth. He has the highest pre sure rate (14.2%) among any interior pa s rusher this year and is garnering some attention in the Defensive Player of the Year race.So while this week and the Jets' ceiling might be more about Zach Wilson, don't forget their floor is a playoff contender thanks to a historic turnaround on defense.
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