Al Woods is able to assault.
That may sound scary when you think about Woods is 6-foot-4 and 330 kilos, however the Jets’ defensive deal with has been ready to play in a protection just like the Jets’.
After years of enjoying in a 3-4 scheme the place he was requested to occupy blockers to release linebackers, Woods will now be turned free within the Jets’ attacking scheme.
“I simply needed to do one thing totally different,” Woods mentioned just lately of his determination to signal with the Jets. “I’ve been in a 3-4 for a very long time. I used to be simply bored with catching and studying.
“I’d stand on the sideline and watch different groups play and I’m like, ‘Rattling, I need to play like that.’ That [stuff] appears like enjoyable.”
It’s a departure for Woods to play in a 4-3 and it’s totally different for Robert Saleh to have such a giant man in the course of his protection.
Saleh prefers fast defensive linemen, which normally means smaller gamers.
The Jets wanted somebody to switch Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd within the center subsequent to Quinnen Williams.
Woods and his good pal Quinton Jefferson would be the ones splitting the duties.
“I’ll communicate for me, simply going out of our consolation zone a bit of bit,” Saleh mentioned. “You guys know me by now, I favor them a bit of bit small, quick, I take velocity over measurement daily. However in his previous, he’s proven he can [play fast.] And the way in which he takes care of his physique and the place he’s at this stage of his profession, he’s by no means actually had an opportunity to do it, however you’ll be able to see in his foot velocity on tape that he has the flexibility.
“And now it’s only a matter of him getting used to as [defensive line coach Aaron] Whitecotton would say, ‘Take the seat belt off and let’s roll,’ so I’m actually excited to see how significantly better he will get as coaching camp goes.”
Woods has had moments in coaching camp when he has burst by means of the road and blown up performs.
He strikes properly for a person of his measurement and he’s determining life within the Jets protection after enjoying for the Seahawks final yr.
“It’s a distinct model,” Woods mentioned. “That is extra of successful you within the face, let’s get nasty, let’s get dirty. I like that.
“Different groups I’ve been on have been extra catching, ensuring the linebacker is correct, which is cool too, however I like this model higher.”
At 36, Woods believes he nonetheless has loads left within the tank.
He mentioned he takes it one yr at a time now and sits down together with his spouse after each season to resolve whether or not he needs to maintain enjoying.
The Jets say his age has not proven up in any unfavourable approach in camp as he enters his thirteenth season.
“He’s received the vitality of a youthful participant,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich mentioned. “He comes out right here and assaults daily. Yeah, it’s going to be thrilling for him to reinvent himself in some methods. For his total profession, which has been a protracted one and an excellent one. He’s caught, he’s performed numerous 3-4 rules the place they learn offensive lineman, and he’s world class at that.
“He’s been among the finest within the league that for a protracted, very long time, so for him now to get a chance to place issues on his phrases a bit of bit and leap off the ball and create some havoc, it’s going to be thrilling to see as a result of he’s a giant, highly effective man that has extra velocity and explosion and athleticism than you suppose.”
