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The heat will be on the entire Jets franchise as they begin their quest to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010, but a few of them will feel it a little more than the others. So SNY made a list of the five Jets who'll be under the most pressure this season.
No. 5 was running back Le'Veon Bell. The countdown continues with No. 4 …
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams
The Jets would have to go back to 2010, Rex Ryan's second season, to find a coach who had done a better job for them than Gregg Williams, their controversial, 61-year-old defensive coordinator. And to be fair, it's almost impossible to find a coach in their history who has ever done more with less.
Williams took over a defense that began with no edge rusher and no reliable cornerback, then lost his second-best linebacker in the preseason and his best linebacker in the first regular-season game. The injuries never stopped. By the end of the season he was picking up players off the street every week.
Yet somehow the Jets finished with the seventh-ranked defense in the league.
That was a miracle, really. And as a reward for that performance, what did Williams get? Certainly not a lot of help. The Jets didn't load up with reinforcements this offseason. But Williams is still being asked to work a miracle again.
As GM Joe Douglas focused his offseason plan on the Jets' offense - particularly their offensive line - the defense became almost an afterthought. They were desperate for help at cornerback, but the best they could do was sign Indianapolis Colts castoff Pierre Desir. They had a huge hole at edge rusher, which only led to them bringing back Jordan Jenkins. Even in the draft the best the Jets got was a pair of third-round defensive players -- a third safety in Ashtyn Davis, and a pass rusher in Jabari Zuniga, who was a bit of reach.
Yes, getting a healthy C.J. Mosley back could be huge, considering he missed all but two partial games last season after signing a five-year, $85 million contract. If Avery Williamson returns to full health, too, the linebacking corps could be greatly improved. But it'll still be up to Williams to disguise the deficiencies in his secondary and scheme his way to pressure on the quarterback even though he doesn't have one pass-rusher seemingly capable of double-digit sacks.
His job won't be in jeopardy if he can't do it again, but the Jets' season certainly will be. Whatever gains they make on offense could go to waste if the undermanned defense falls apart.