'It's a big man's game': Why the Jets felt they ha...
Key takeaways
- Tipping the scales: Adhering to coach Aaron Glenn's "mass-kicks-ass" philosophy, the Jets shifted into "jumbo jet" mode in the offseason.
- They traded for nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat, one of the largest players in the NFL at 366 pounds (his listed weight).
- Glenn said there was a concerted effort to get bigger in the offseason.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Tipping the scales: Adhering to coach Aaron Glenn's "mass-kicks-ass" philosophy, the Jets shifted into "jumbo jet" mode in the offseason.
They traded for nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat, one of the largest players in the NFL at 366 pounds (his listed weight). They will have at least five defensive linemen on their opening-day roster in the 300 club, including rookie Darrell Jackson Jr. (315).They signed middle linebacker Demario Davis (248), 32 pounds heavier than last season's "Mike" backer Jamien Sherwood, who shifts to the weak side.They watched Braelon Allen, a 240-pound power back, add 10 pounds as he rehabbed from knee surgery. At 250, he's one of the biggest running backs in the league, about the same size as his friend and mentor, Derrick Henry."It's a big man's game -- it will always be a big man's game -- and for us to be able to add large men that have the ability that those guys have, the agility that those guys have, it only makes us better as a team," said Glenn, alluding to the defensive players.
Glenn said there was a concerted effort to get bigger in the offseason. Part of that was because of the shift in defensive scheme. The 3-4 front, which will be an integral part of their package, requires bigger linemen to handle two-gapping responsibilities. It's a departure from the previous regime, which placed a premium on speed -- not size -- in the front seven.