The bar for the New York Jets defensive line was raised thanks to John Franklin-Myers.
It’s early in the offseason, but from spring practice this week, Franklin-Myers said Gang Green’s defensive front has all the tools to get things done in 2022. The list of things the Jets defensive line can’t do might be shorter in his mind.
“We don’t have any weaknesses,” Franklin-Myers said via video conference on Wednesday. “Everybody brings a different element to the table.”
But Franklin-Myers did pull the reigns back a bit. He knows his words won’t mean much without execution come September.
“On paper is one thing. You can talk about what we have on paper, but we have to go out there and we have to be that and live that. That’s what our plan is,” he said.
The real trigger word for New York’s D-line is “depth.” That’s what the team sees as an invaluable tool to any potential success next season.
“It’s exciting to think about what they can become as a group,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “We didn’t have that luxury last year because of the depth that we didn’t have, so the fact that we have some more depth now, you can get back to really the essence of this front. Let these guys just absolutely rip it.”
“A lot of depth, a lot of competition, it’ll be exciting to see who emerges from that group,” Ulbrich added.
Franklin-Myers had career-best season for New York in 2021 highlighted by his six sacks and another half-dozen tackles for loss. Other returners include Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins in the middle.
Fresh faces tossed into the fire are first-round rookie Jermaine Johnson and a former No. 3 overall pick with the San Francisco 49ers in Solomon Thomas who signed during free agency.
Hard to debate the depth isn’t there, but Franklin-Myers is right: The Jets will have to prove the depth’s talent.
