With a Week 7 visit to the Patriots on deck Sunday, the Jets rank No. 9 in the NFL in rush yards allowed per carry (4.2 yds/att). But after yielding 149 ground yards in losses to the Bills and Steelers, respectively, LB Quincy Williams says the defense needs more controlled aggression.
"The biggest thing to fix for us right now is gap discipline," Williams said. "We have been playing teams that don't shy away from the run game and with that being said – the teams we play going forward aren't going to shy away from it. We need to have everyone populating to the ball and be focused on the small details."
In the second half of Sunday's 37-15 loss to Pittsburgh, the Jets yielded 108 yards and 2 scores on the ground after limiting the Steelers to just 41 rush yards in the first half.
"In the first half against the Steelers, we gave up a few big rushes, but we were still good," Williams said. "We can't come out the second half and expect that they are going to shy away from the run. They are going to continue doing it, so we have to continue to be disciplined."
In the Jets-Patriots first meeting, a 24-3 Jets win on Sep. 8, the Pats fell behind early and ammassed 78 rush yards on just 15 carries. The Jets front, which lost Pro Bowl pass rusher Jermaine Johnson to a torn Achilles in Week 2, could get a reinforcement this week in the form of Pro Bowl edge Haason Reddick.
Reddick, traded to the Jets in April, joined the team Monday following a holdout. He has been one of the league's best pass rushers over the past four seasons and during his Philadelphia tenure (2022-23) he totaled 27 sacks, tied for the fourth most in the NFL.
"He gives us depth on the D-Line also and provide the other guys more of a break," Williams said. "I am excited to see how the D-Line comes together with him just being another added part."
Over the past two seasons, Reddick led the Eagles in tackles for loss (24) and played a critical role on the No. 10-ranked run defense in 2023 (103.4 yds/g).
"I am very excited that [Reddick] is here," Williams said. "I know that he is very excited to get into the playbook so that he can start helping us pick up some W's. He is that can help us do that. He is good with the pass rush and in run defense."
During his Monday news conference, interim HC Jeff Ulbrich said Reddick is 'fired up' and 'ready to get rolling' but added it was too early to say he'll play Sunday. The Patriots, amidst a 6-game losing streak, are 22nd in rushing (97.2 yards per game) and 28th in rushing TDs (3).
