New York Jets Biggest Weaknesses Heading Into 2020
As the 2020 NFL season approaches, Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr took a look at the weakest part of every AFC team's roster. Narrowing the focus to the New York Jets, Kristian Dyer joins Madelyn Burke to discuss why the Cornerback position has been such a struggle for the Jets, how the team has improved it’s offensive line, and the offseason additions the team has made that could elevate the talent on the roster.
Read the Full Video Transcript:
Madelyn Burke: As the 20 20 NFL season approaches Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr took a look at the weakest part of every AFC teams roster. Joining me now to narrow the focus is Jets reporter Kristian Dyer. And Kristian, Conor points out that the offensive line is no longer the weak spot of this team, saying cornerback is the position of weakness. Why has corner been a consistently weak position for the Jets?
Kristian Dyer: Well, I think it's great analysis from Conor and some really good insight into what Joe Douglas has done in his first fall off season with the Jets and rebuilding an offensive line that was bottom two, if not perhaps the worst unit in the league last year and certainly the weakest part of the Jets roster. When you look in particular on the defense, they're pretty strong up front and at the safety position. But at cornerback, they went out and addressed it by bringing in Pierre Desir. Who had a pretty poor last year with Indianapolis but has been very solid throughout his career. The Jets one year deal sort of signifying that they wanted to be a bounce back type of player improvement type of contract. And then Bless Austin is someone else the Jets are going to be counting on pretty heavily. The former Rutgers standout was a seventh round pick, had a pretty good season for the Jets once he got on the field by the midpoint of the season, he's going to be counted on as well as well. Bryce Falls the fifth round pick, a player a lot of people thought was going to be a top 50 top 60 draft that fell to the Jets in the fifth round now. They may end up needing to still address this in free agency. Logan Ryan's out there and has been heavily linked to the team. But at the end of the day, the cornerback position is probably more than just one player away from being solidified. It's still very much in flux.
Madelyn Burke: And Kristian, you mentioned the struggles that O-line has had in the past, but what have you seen in the evolution of that unit that makes them stronger than they have been in the past?
Kristian Dyer: Well, I think when Joe Douglas did was really in good, solid players that are kind of projecting up. He didn't go out there and signed the big name Jack Coughlin type in free agency that a lot of people were clamoring for. Instead, he got a lot of offensive linemen were a bit under the radar. And then someone like a Mekhi Becton in the first round at number eleven to sort of be the linchpin, the cornerstone that the rest of this offensive line will be built on. But a George Fant that came in free agency as someone who's played a lot of swing tackle, a walking tight end at Seattle has now gotten called upon probably to be the starting left tackle. Come once and then a lot of other moves. Connor McGovern for instance a Kyle Van Rokan. All players who are good, solid offensive linemen, but not big names. And quite frankly, anything after last year is going to be an improvement for the Jets. If these players have a pulse, Madelyn, they're going to be an upgraded blocking percent, Darnel.
Madelyn Burke: That right. There is some football analysis from Jets Reporter, Kristian Dyer,.
Kristian Dyer: Can't get that anywhere.
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