Who is at blame for the Jets dropping to 0-1?
On Monday night, the New York Jets lost to the San Francisco 49ers 32-19. Aaron Rodgers’ first complete game with the Jets was in a crushing defeat at the hands of the defending NFC champions. While the offense struggled to get Breece Hall going in the run game, the defense was the greater worry. Haason Reddick and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich join Hall as those most responsible for the loss.
The 49ers were dealt some bad news in the days leading up to the game when Christian McCaffery was sidelined with an Achilles injury. Jordan Mason was designated starter and ripped through the Jets defense for 147 yards and a touchdown. Despite the absence of the 49ers’ finest player, Ulbrich and the entire defense were unprepared for that type of running attack.
Haason Reddick may have helped the Jets get to Brock Purdy. Instead, he forfeited his $800,000 game check, and the Jets received four quarterback hits. The team needs a pass rush to compete in the AFC, and Reddick must report to be eligible for free agency next year. This impasse should be resolved quickly following this performance.
Let’s go deeper at the guys most responsible for the Jets’ Week 1 loss.
Last season, Bryce Huff had ten sacks as a defensive end for the Jets. Only Quinnen Williams has accumulated 10 sacks in green since 2015, according to StatMuse. He left for the Eagles in free agency, leaving a significant hole in their defense. They returned to Philadelphia and traded for Haason Reddick to close the gap.
The Jets limited the 49ers to 231 passing yards and shut down Brandon Aiyuk throughout the game. While it was an excellent performance, they might dominate opponents with a strong pass rush. Reddick can also aid the run defense, which was the weakest aspect of their game on Monday.
Jordan Mason burst past the Jets’ defensive line, torching them. While few teams have strong offensive lines like the 49ers, this is something that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. With a game against the Tennessee Titans looming, the Jets hope to halt the run on their path to victory.
Jeff Ulbrich needs a new strategy for Tony Pollard.
On Monday night, Kyle Shanahan and his 49ers coaching staff outcoached defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. The Jets let Mason go past them sprinting between the tackles and couldn’t stop him from converting first downs. While the 49ers present one of the league’s most difficult tests, the game plan must improve in Week 2.
The Jets must win on the road against the Titans to even their record at 1-1. Will Levis was terrible in the Titans’ Week 1 loss to the Bears, throwing the game away with a pick-six that sealed the deal for Chicago. Their game plan will most likely feature less Levis and more former Cowboy Tony Pollard carrying the ball.
