Jets, Joe Douglas finally appear to have built capable offensive line
Joe Douglas’ No.1 priority last offseason was fixing the offensive line.
After starting 13 different combinations up front last year, nothing mattered if that didn’t happen. “I think that was goal one,” the Jets general manager said in the spring. After years of failing to get the offensive line right, either due to underperformance or injury, the early returns are positive, and that’s even with starting right tackle Morgan Moses expected to miss a few weeks with a sprained MCL and bone bruise. Of all the positives so far in the Jets’ 2-1 start, from Aaron Rodgers’ play to the production of Will McDonald at defensive end to surprising contributions by rookie running back Braelon Allen and receiver Allen Lazard, the offensive line might be the most important development. Rodgers has been sacked just five times in three games.Last year, Jets quarterbacks were sacked a whopping 64 times, tied with the Titans for the fourth most in the league.
They are averaging 100.6 rushing yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry, and that’s with a shaky performance on the ground in the opener against the 49ers’ robust front seven. It is an almost entirely new group.The Jets traded for Moses and signed left tackle Tyron Smith and left guard John Simpson.
That trio joined second-year center Joe Tippmann and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, who was limited to five games a year ago after tearing his Achilles tendon.Douglas also used his first-round draft pick on Penn State star Olu Fashanu, who replaced Moses in the Patriots game and will start in his place for the time being.
Coach Robert Saleh said Fashanu played well in his debut in limited action. Tippmann was terrific in the win over the Patriots, not allowing a single sack, hit or hurry across 43 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.He graded out to a career-high 85.8 in the one-sided victory.
In the week 2 win over the Titans, it was Smith who graded high as the No.3 offensive tackle by ...