Do The Jets Need to Scrap the 3-4 Defense?

Like skinning a cat, there are a lot of ways to play winning defense in the NFL. You can follow the 2000 Ravens blueprint and lead the league in every major defensive category. If that's not for you, there's the 2001 Patriots model. The Pats finished 25th in the league in total yardage but allowed the sixth least points per game. As you'll recall each team won the Super Bowl that year.

Eric Mangini was a defensive coach on that Patriots team so when he says that he's been a part of defenses that "have allowed plenty of yards" he doesn't mean it as a negative. The problem is that along with a lot of yards the 2007 Jets are allowing plenty of points. They are 28th in yardage and 27th in points, have allowed points on all ten opposition red zone trips and are allowing teams to convert nearly half of their third downs. Tom Rock of Newsday thinks that the team needs to scrap the 3-4 defense before things get any worse.

The Jets need to abandon the 3-4 as long as they have their current roster. If, during the upcoming offseason, they'd like to return to the 3-4 and make the necessary personnel adjustments, fine. It would be costly but fine. At least then, Jets fans would be able to get a fair sense of the scheme's potential.

He's right about the current roster being a bad fit. Dewayne Robertson wasn't a great 4-3 defensive tackle but he's a horrendous 3-4 nose tackle because he isn't big enough to keep blockers from proceeding to the second level. Jonathan Vilma had two great seasons as a middle linebacker but hasn't been nearly as effective as one of two inside backers. Shaun Ellis is another former standout who has struggled since the system and his responsibilities shifted when Mangini and Bob Sutton took over the defense. But those players were all just as miscast when last year's defense finished sixth in the league in points against so there must be another explanation.

I think it starts with Bryan Thomas. The 3-4 needs serious pass rush from the outside linebackers to be effective and Thomas is the man charged with that for Gang Green. He had eight and a half sacks last season but so far this year he's been invisible. No sacks and a complete shutout on the stat sheet against the Dolphins last weekend are what he's brought to the table and it's dragging the whole defense down. Without Thomas rushing the passer Sutton must call more blitzes to compensate. Teams have figured that out, hence the incessant screen passes for big gains, and will keep killing the Jets with the same plays unless they figure out a way to compete head up.

Changing the entire defensive system right now seems a bit rash. Mixing in a four-man front from time to time, though, is probably a good idea as the Jets try to find their defensive footing. Most of all, though, they need a return to productivity from Thomas.