With veteran defensive end Sean Ellis now wearing Patriots colors, it’s up to veteran linebackers Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas to step up and lead the Jets pass rush.
This is the first time in three years that Pace was able to wear a uniform on opening day. In 2009, he had to serve a 4 game suspension for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy. Last year he broke his foot in preseason and missed the first four games of the season. He had to have screws put in his foot, and by the end of the season his foot was only about “20 percent healthy” according to coach Ryan.
Now 100 percent healthy, Ryan believes Pace can get to double digit sacks. The Jets have not had a player in double digit sacks since John Abraham in 2008.
Bryan Thomas, who led the Jets in sacks last year with six, also feels ready to have a breakout year. The Jets this past training camp have worked on bieng more aggressive with there pass rush moves and really working on getting to the quarterback.
Defensive line coach Mark Carrier and outside linebackers coach Jeff Weekes, looked at all the film from last years games and decided they needed to be more aggressive and just let loose.
In practice the coaches have had the front seven working on “converting from a run stance to a pass stance more quickly” according to Jenny Vrentas of the Star Ledger. Both Thomas and Pace know, that it’s all not about the sack totals. They are both asked to drop into coverage on certain passing downs and that takes away some oppritunities to get to the passer.
The Jets had four sacks on Sunday – two by Pace with Thomas being very active in run support. If Week one is any indication of how aggressive the Jets front seven was against Dallas on Sunday, quarterbacks better be ready to face “The rush of the Jets!”
