The New York Jets have languished in a decade and a half of below-average pass rush from their front four. Even in the heyday of the Rex Ryan defenses, there was an overemphasis on pressure through exotic and disguised blitzes. Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson had their flashes, but there was never a consistent, dominant presence upfront. The last time the Jets had that was back in 2005 when John Abraham manned the outside.
For a franchise proud of its pass rushers, most notably The Sack Exchange of the ’80s, this deficit has been particularly painful.