We are what used to be the quarter point through the NFL season and the Jets currently sit at 1-3 and in last place in the AFC East.

The Jets came out of the gates hot with an exciting overtime win against the Buffalo Bills before losing three straight games to the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The defense has been relatively stout despite the record with the lone bad game coming in week two against the Cowboys when they gave up 30 points, but even then, it was mostly field goals and short fields for Dallas.

Here are the grades for the defense as we enter the second quarter of the season.

Jets’ Defensive Report Card

Defensive Line

Grade: B-

When you have a genius in your class, a “C” average just isn’t good enough. The Jets defensive line should be dominating games, and they simply aren’t. They have been good, but not great.

The defensive line has been leaving holes open for opposing running backs to the tune of 148 yards per game. That is good enough for bottom five in the league, and let’s be honest, the Jets really haven’t faced a bunch of elite running offenses so far.

These rushing yards allow teams to pick up easy third downs, eliminating what should be a dominant pass rush and forcing the defense to stay on the field for longer.

The defense only has seven sacks on the year, which is tied for fourth worse in the league. But New York’s front four are causing problems in the backfield. They are forcing errant throws and making quarterbacks uncomfortable. They simply aren’t getting the sacks.

Individually, Bryce Huff has been the best Jets pass rusher from the line. He has 16 pressures so far this year. Carl Lawson has been a bit of a disappointment in that regard causing zero pressures from the DE spot.

Quinnen Williams has the second highest pass rush grade according to PFF.com and the highest run stop rate along the Jets defensive line.

I would like to see a little more from 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald IV, but the Jets haven’t put anyone in obvious passing situations yet. The Jets are one of two teams (Giants, being the other one) to not take a single offensive snap this season with the lead.

Linebackers

Grade: B+

I came so close to giving this group my first “A” but in the end, the Jets giving up 148 rushing yards per game has to fall on the linebacking core as well as the defensive line.

The linebackers, a position I thought might be a weakness on this defense, have been fantastic for the most part. Usually here is where you read about how good C.J. Mosley has been, and he has been really good, but the star of the linebacker group has been Quincy Williams.

that dude @quincywilliams_ is on a different level right now ? pic.twitter.com/sc1VT5mGzz

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 4, 2023

Quincy is the highest rated linebacker on the Jets squad according to PFF.com grades, but all you really have to do to know how good he’s been is just watch the game. He flies to the ball, and he has actually been even better in coverage.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said on Quincy Williams: "There is not a better 'backer in the NFL right now."

He also has 23 defensive stops, or plays that constitute a failure for the offense. In other words, he is making a play with the defense needs a play to be made.

CJ Mosely has been rock solid. He has 27 tackles on the year to go along with a dozen assists while only missing one tackle so far in four games. In the coverage game, Mosley has an interception to go along with a pass break up.

Jamien Sherwood is not on the field as much as Williams or Mosley but has been decent in the 58 plays he saw. 

Defensive Backs

Grade: A-

We have our first “A” of the report card!

The Jets secondary has been top level for most of the season. There has been no sophomore slump for star cornerback Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed has proved that last year was not a fluke.

Michael Carter II doesn’t get enough recognition as one of the best nickel corners in the game. The trio hasn’t accounted for any interceptions to this point, unless you want to count the one that was taken away by a phantom holding call against the Chiefs, but they also aren’t often tested. Opposing quarterbacks are looking for other ways to get the ball to minimize throwing at Sauce, Reed and Carter.

The Jets have only given up two touchdowns when targeting those three corners.

The safety position is a little more boom or bust. Jordan Whitehead had three interceptions in week one, but has also given up two touchdowns this year on his own. He also has four missed tackles so far and from the safety position, you need to be a sure tackler.

Adrian Amos has been rock solid and Tony Adams performed well in fill in duty.

Defensive Coaches

Grade: B

Jeff Ulbrich has his guys playing well, but not quite living up to the standards they set for themselves and the media fed into. The team isn’t causing many turnovers and they aren’t generating a lot of sacks. "We're still generating pressure but we can do better," Ulbrich said on the lack of sacks.

The Jets seem to be relying on ability at this point on defense as opposed to scheme. They have the ability to shut down most offenses, but I would like to see them schemed a little more to be put in positions to make splash plays.

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The Jets defense has been really good this year especially considering the fact that they have no help from the offensive side of the ball so far. PFF has the Jets ranked as the seventh best defense in the league.

The Jets will need to continue to lean on their defense as we enter the second quarter of the season if they plan to end their 12 year playoff drought.

Jets’ offensive report card at the quarter mark

We are what used to be the quarter point through the NFL season and the Jets currently sit at 1-3 and in last place in the AFC East. The Jets came out of the gates hot with an exciting overtime win against the Buffalo Bills before losing three straight games to the Dallas Cowboys, New […]

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