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New York Jets: 2018 Season preview, prediction and more

By Michael Pallas

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 16: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets warms up before a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on August 16, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 16: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets warms up before a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on August 16, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 26: Defensive end Leonard Williams #92 of the New York Jets reacts during the third quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 26: Defensive end Leonard Williams #92 of the New York Jets reacts during the third quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Defense Preview

A lot of people are questioning the Jets defense due to a lack of an edge presence. However, in 2015, there really wasn’t an edge presence either, and that defense thrived. The reason it didn’t sustain was because Muhammad Wilkerson got complacent and the secondary got old.

Fast forward to 2018, and the Jets still don’t have the elite edge rusher everyone craves, but they do have someone else. His name is Nathan Shepherd.

Before the draft ESPN’s Rich Cimini wrote about how he suspects Leonard Williams may see a lot of double teams this season, and that’s what it originally looked like. However, the emergence of Shepherd may change that.

"Williams will be a marked man, constantly drawing double-teams from opposing offenses. He’s the only impact player in the front seven, making it easier for teams to focus on him."

If Shepherd can become similar to Sheldon Richardson (on the field) and Williams can produce similar to Wilkerson’s produced, then the Jets defense can be something special without having that elite edge presence. For this defensive scheme it may not be about the edge rusher but the defensive interior producing the pressure and the secondary covering and producing turnovers.

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