Grading the New York Jets at the Bye Week: Linebackers

By Greg Sulik @GregSulik on November 13, 2014

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The New York Jets have relied heavily on their defensive front seven this season for what little success they’ve had, and although the defensive line is talked about more, the linebackers have turned in a solid performance. However, the Jets have gone through some ups and downs at outside linebacker that are holding the defense back.

For the linebackers, everything starts on the inside with David Harris and Demario Davis, two of the best players on the team and the two leaders of the defense. Davis leads the Jets with 75 tackles, followed closely by Harris with 73, with both players ranking in the top 15 overall in the NFL in tackles. The Jets are the only team in the NFL with two players ranked in the top 15 in tackles, and safety Dawan Landry actually gives them three. Both inside linebackers have recorded two sacks, while Davis has four pass deflections and a fumble recovery and Harris has a forced fumble.

The two are different players, with the veteran Harris as a rock solid run defender and the younger Davis able to use his speed to make plays in coverage and on the perimeter, but they complement each other very well. This has been the season where Davis has emerged as the better player, as Harris’ lack of speed is really starting to show in his 8th season. Harris struggles in coverage, which was never his strong point to begin with, and the Jets would love to get more big plays out of this pair. However, they remain a solid tandem, especially against the run.

On the outside, things have been a bit more complicated. Former first round pick Quinton Coples continues to disappoint with just 2.5 sacks on the year, and his future with the team is becoming questionable. In his defense, Coples is a solid run defender and would almost certainly see more success in a 4-3 scheme, but the fact that he hasn’t developed is concerning.

On the opposite side, Calvin Pace is having a decent season with 21 tackles and 4 sacks, but he leaves a lot to be desired. Like Coples, Pace can’t cover anyone, and he’s not the type of pass rusher to scare opponents. He is doing a solid job as a placeholder in his 12th season, but the Jets need to add a long term option in the offseason.

As far as reserves go, Jason Babin has chipped in two sacks as a situational pass rusher, but overall he has made very little impact. Antwan Barnes returned from the PUP list a few weeks ago, but he has yet to make an impact. The Jets need something out of one of these veterans down the stretch.

Nick Bellore and Trevor Reilly contribute on special teams, and both have done a nice job in that area. However, neither plays on defense, so they aren’t worth grading. The Jets have also cycled through a few other bottom of the roster linebackers who have been strictly special teamers.

Overall, the Jets’ linebackers have been solid but have to improve against the pass, both in terms of coverage and pass rushing. The Jets need an impact pass rusher at outside linebacker, and they’ve struggled to cover tight ends all season. The grades are pretty good for the linebackers, but the Jets need them to be better.

Final Grades:

David Harris: B

Demario Davis: B+

Quinton Coples: C

Calvin Pace: B-

Jason Babin: C

Greg Sulik is a New York Jets writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @GregSulik or add him to your network on Google