Joe Douglas’ biggest priority last offseason was improving the offensive line.
After starting from scratch with 13 different combinations last year, if it didn’t happen, nothing mattered.
“I think that was the first goal,” the Jets’ general manager said in the spring.
Despite years of poor performance and injuries that have kept the offensive line from being fully formed, the team is seeing some positive early results, even with starting right tackle Morgan Moses expected to miss several weeks with a medial collateral ligament sprain and a bone bruise.
Of the many positives so far in the Jets’ 2-1 start to the season, from the play of Aaron Rodgers to the performance of Will McDonald as a defensive end to the surprising contributions of rookie running back Braylon Allen and receiver Alan Lazard, the offensive line may be the most significant development.
Rogers has been sacked just five times in three games.
Last year, Jets quarterbacks were sacked a whopping 64 times, tied with the Titans for fourth-most in the league.
They are averaging 100.6 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry, which comes after a shaky opening game against the 49ers’ strong front seven.
It’s almost a completely new group.
The Jets traded for Moses and signed left tackle Tyron Smith and left guard John Simpson.
That trio is joined by second-year center Joe Tipman and right guard Aaliyah Vera-Tucker, who was limited to five games last year after tearing her Achilles tendon.
Douglas also acquired Penn State star Olu Fashanu, a first-round pick, who started for Moses in the Patriots game and is expected to start in Moses’ stead for now.
Coach Robert Saleh said Fashanu performed well in his limited debut.
Tippmann was tremendous in the win over the Patriots, not allowing a single sack, hit or rush in 43 pass-blocking snaps. According to Pro Football Focus:.
He earned a career-high 85.8 grade in the lopsided win. It was Smith who was rated the third-highest offensive tackle by PFF in the Week 2 win over the Titans.
“Tyrone looks great,” Saleh said. “He’s moving people in the running game. He’s guarding really well.”
Against the Titans, the Jets allowed just one quarterback pressure and one sack, and Tennessee has a strong defensive front.
His run blocking against the Patriots was particularly impressive, amassing 133 yards on 33 carries, giving the Jets a massive advantage in the shot clock.
They had the ball for 40:04 in their home opener at MetLife Stadium on Thursday night.
Of course, it is still early, and the group will be tested without Moses.
This group has a lot of age and injury issues, especially in tackling.
Smith and Moses are both 33, while Vera-Tucker has appeared in just 12 games over the past two seasons.
But so far, things are going well.
Initially, Zetsu’s weaknesses of many years were shown to be strengths.
It’s no coincidence that the Jets’ offense is in its best form in a long time.
