DE - Shaun Ellis: B+
A lifelong Jet who is a free agent but expected to resign to finish his career up in green. Ellis dominated the playoff game against the patriots and has been nothing less than a solid player for the better part of a decade. He still has some left in the tank, but be weary that it could run out sooner than expected. Enter Muhammad Wilkerson....
DT - Sione Pouha: B+
The replacement for the mammoth Kris Jenkins held his own while anchoring this D-line in route to 2 AFCCG appearances. He's already 30 years old, but he's a young 30 being drafted at the age of 25. He will continue to stuff the run for this D but doesn't offer much of a pass rush.
DE - Mike DeVito: B-
One of those "nobodies" that Rex Ryan turned into a serviceable player. Devito, like Pouha is tough as nails against the run, but again doesn't offer much support in the pass rush department. A two-down player....
OLB - Bryan Thomas: C+
Can't exactly call him a first round bust almost 10 years later, but he never lived up expectation.....especially when being drafted one spot before Ed Reed. He may show up from time to time, but I'd just expect him to not make much of an impact. Won't make many big plays, but won't give many of them up either.
ILB - David Harris: A
Not many people will get this grade, but David Harris is a gem on this defense. He may not be flashy, but he can deliver the crushing blow, shoot the gaps, and rush the QB. He may be the most underrated player on the Jets.
ILB - Bart Scott: B+
He's not all mouth. Scott is the fullback of this defense, often setting up David Harris to make plays by blowing up the lead blocker. Scott is a liability in coverage, but he gets paid to light up the running game and talk a shit ton of smack while doing it. He passes in that regard...
OLB - Calvin Pace: B
Pace hurt himself last season, but he still remains the Jets best pass rusher. He's slightly above average, so that won't do it. He needs to step up his game if the Jets want to pressure the QB.
CB - Darrelle Revis: A+
The sooner opposing QB's/Coaches accept that he is going to shutdown the#1 WR, the better off they will be. It takes a great play to beat Revis, and the only one I can recall from last season was a ridiculous one-handed catch by Moss in week 2. Like I said, a great play...
SS - Jim Leonhard: B+
The Jets quarterback on defense went down with a broken leg last year, so losing his presence definitely hurt. Leonhard is undersized but plays much bigger than his 5'9 frame. A leader on this elite defense.
FS - Dwight Lowery: C+
He can be a ballhawk, but he still hasn't put it all together as of yet. Going into his 5th season, Lowery is not likely going to make a significant improvement. If anything, he led the Jets in the pick-6 category last season. Ravens FA, Dawan Landry may be an option here...
CB- Kyle Wilson: C
The 2010 1st round pick from Boise St will need to grow up fast this season. He got moved around a ton last year with the Revis holdout and then his injury. He was flustered moving around to each position as a rookie, but finally showed why he was a first round pick later in the season. A prime candidate to breakout this season.
A lifelong Jet who is a free agent but expected to resign to finish his career up in green. Ellis dominated the playoff game against the patriots and has been nothing less than a solid player for the better part of a decade. He still has some left in the tank, but be weary that it could run out sooner than expected. Enter Muhammad Wilkerson....
DT - Sione Pouha: B+
The replacement for the mammoth Kris Jenkins held his own while anchoring this D-line in route to 2 AFCCG appearances. He's already 30 years old, but he's a young 30 being drafted at the age of 25. He will continue to stuff the run for this D but doesn't offer much of a pass rush.
DE - Mike DeVito: B-
One of those "nobodies" that Rex Ryan turned into a serviceable player. Devito, like Pouha is tough as nails against the run, but again doesn't offer much support in the pass rush department. A two-down player....
OLB - Bryan Thomas: C+
Can't exactly call him a first round bust almost 10 years later, but he never lived up expectation.....especially when being drafted one spot before Ed Reed. He may show up from time to time, but I'd just expect him to not make much of an impact. Won't make many big plays, but won't give many of them up either.
ILB - David Harris: A
Not many people will get this grade, but David Harris is a gem on this defense. He may not be flashy, but he can deliver the crushing blow, shoot the gaps, and rush the QB. He may be the most underrated player on the Jets.
ILB - Bart Scott: B+
He's not all mouth. Scott is the fullback of this defense, often setting up David Harris to make plays by blowing up the lead blocker. Scott is a liability in coverage, but he gets paid to light up the running game and talk a shit ton of smack while doing it. He passes in that regard...
OLB - Calvin Pace: B
Pace hurt himself last season, but he still remains the Jets best pass rusher. He's slightly above average, so that won't do it. He needs to step up his game if the Jets want to pressure the QB.
CB - Darrelle Revis: A+
The sooner opposing QB's/Coaches accept that he is going to shutdown the#1 WR, the better off they will be. It takes a great play to beat Revis, and the only one I can recall from last season was a ridiculous one-handed catch by Moss in week 2. Like I said, a great play...
SS - Jim Leonhard: B+
The Jets quarterback on defense went down with a broken leg last year, so losing his presence definitely hurt. Leonhard is undersized but plays much bigger than his 5'9 frame. A leader on this elite defense.
FS - Dwight Lowery: C+
He can be a ballhawk, but he still hasn't put it all together as of yet. Going into his 5th season, Lowery is not likely going to make a significant improvement. If anything, he led the Jets in the pick-6 category last season. Ravens FA, Dawan Landry may be an option here...
CB- Kyle Wilson: C
The 2010 1st round pick from Boise St will need to grow up fast this season. He got moved around a ton last year with the Revis holdout and then his injury. He was flustered moving around to each position as a rookie, but finally showed why he was a first round pick later in the season. A prime candidate to breakout this season.
