New York Jets: 5 burning questions in 2018

1. How good can this defense be?

The Jets defense is expected to be the team’s bread and butter this year.

The secondary has already named itself New Jack City and is brimming with confidence. Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye are both going into their second year and will be asked to do a lot. Adams will be expected to come into the box and be a dynamic tackler. Maye will help the corners over the top while doubling as the last line of defense.

Speaking of the corners, the Jets have a new toy this year. Trumaine Johnson is here and will be expected to lock down the opponents No. 1 receiver on a weekly basis. Opposite him, Morris Claiborne will take the second receiver allowing Buster Skrine to return to his favorite role in the slot.

Yes, the linebacking core lost DeMario Davis. However, he has been replaced with Pro Football Focus’s 10th-best linebacker from last year, Avery Williamson. Williamson is expected to roam the center of the field, being a tackling machine. Outside linebacker is a bigger question mark. The Jets outside backers do not generate the pass rush they need to. Lorenzo Mauldin and Jordan Jenkins need to change that so Todd Bowles doesn’t have to blitz to get sacks.

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On the defensive line, it wasn’t long ago that the Jets were trotting out Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Leonard Williams. Now, Williams is the only one remaining as the other two wore out their welcome. The aptly named Big Cat does not get as many sacks as one would like from him, but he and Sheldon Mclendon were a part of the Jets 11th-best rush defense last year.

Every level of the Jets defense is loaded with talent with the secondary having the biggest expectations. If the rest of the defense reaches it’s potential, one can only wonder how dominant they will be this year.