Jets DT T'Vondre Sweat Shows Confidence in Stopping the Run
Ross Johnston evaluates the potential for the Jets Run defense to get back to a top-tier level in 2026 based off comments from DT T'Vondre Sweat.
Video Transcript
Look, when everyone talks about the twenty twenty-five New York Jets defense under head coach Aaron Glenn in his first season, we all talk about the no interceptions being recorded over the course of the year, because obviously, that was a very sad stat and is something that needs to be changed for twenty twenty-six.
But the Jets new defensive tackle Tavandre Sweat, by way of the Tennessee Titans in the trade with Jermaine Johnson, was asked about the potential of the Jets front today and as it relates to the run.
And I thought he had a good response that made me think a little bit deeper about the Jets run defense in twenty twenty-six.
Sweat said, quote, "I feel like the potential of the group is going to be great.
You got great run stoppers.
That's what we preach on is stopping the run.
I feel like we've got a great group of guys for that."
Now, included up front, besides Tavandre Sweat, guys they brought in in the off-season include David Onyemata, Kingsley Enigbari, and Joseph Ossai up front.
In free agency, they also drafted David Bailey, obviously with the second pick of the draft, and Darrell Jackson Jr. Out of Florida State in the fourth round.
So they really have added a lot of pieces to their front on their defense.
Now, important to note, last year, the Jets were ran on more than anyone in the league.
They had five hundred and thirty-nine rushing attempts against them and allowed the fifth most rushing yards in the league, averaging four-point-four yards per carry given up, which was closer to middle of the road on a per carry average.
Now, you may be thinking, "Oh, Aaron Glenn sucks.
He was brought in and-- to be the head coach and also call plays on defense, and we allowed the fifth most rushing yards in the league.
That's horrible."
Well, this isn't really an Aaron Glenn issue, at least over the course of recent history.
In twenty twenty-four with the Lions, when he was their defensive coordinator, they were fifth best in rushing yards, had the fewest carries against them in the league, but still averaged about four-point-five yards given up per carry against them.
And in twenty twenty-three, they allowed the second least rushing yards, so second best in the league from that standpoint, and had the third fewest attempts against them, and by far, their best mark, which was three-point-seven yards per carry.
Now, here's what this tells me.
When we look at the Jets defense, obviously, they were not good last year and they need to get better.
But the Jets offense also needs to be a lot better to help out the Jets run defense.
When Aaron Glenn was in Detroit and they had a competent offense that could sustain drives and keep good time of possession with the football, there were a lot less carries against them because the opposing offenses weren't on the field as much.
Now, with the Jets last year, when they couldn't sustain a drive to save their life, that in turn allowed them to be the team that had to deal with the most carries against them in twenty twenty-five, thus giving up one of the highest totals of rushing yards last season.
I like the addition of Tavandre Sweat.
He is huge, and he is a run stopper.
These other guys as well are going to help bolster their defensive front, like David Bailey, Kingsley Enigbari, Joseph Ossai, you name them.
But the Jets offense under Frank Reich and Geno Smith, with the playmakers like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, they have to be able to sustain drives and keep a solid time of possession and win that battle this season for the Jets defense to improve as a whole.
Just remember, there's always two sides to a coin.
