Jeff Ulbrich insists he doesn’t converse to his gamers in regards to the continued holdout of imported former Professional Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick, however the Jets defensive coordinator had a message for these defensive linemen competing for taking part in time in his absence.
“For each single defensive finish on this crew, one much less rep for the man that might have been right here is another rep for all of those gamers,” Ulbrich mentioned Wednesday on a Zoom name. “So it’s collectively, from a Will McDonald standpoint, from a Micheal Clemons standpoint, and each single one of many guys behind them, it’s an incredible alternative, it truly is. They usually’re profiting from it.”
The 29-year-old Reddick, the two-time Professional Bowler acquired from the Eagles in April, formally requested a commerce Monday. His holdout, which is costing him $50,000 for on daily basis he’s not in camp, reached Day 23 on Wednesday.
Reddick, whose cap hit for 2024 is $14.25 million, has totaled 50.5 of his 58 profession sacks over the previous 4 seasons, together with 11 in 17 video games for the Eagles final yr.
GM Joe Douglas publicly shot down Reddick’s commerce request, however the Jets are left for now with a gaping gap to fill on the precise aspect of the line of defense — reverse left defensive finish Jermaine Johnson — after the departures of Bryce Huff by way of free company and John Franklin-Myers in an offseason commerce.
“I believe the blokes perceive the enterprise a part of this, and it’s actual, and we acknowledge and acknowledge it, however on the identical time, we’ve acquired work to do,” Ulbrich mentioned. “For the blokes which can be right here, we’re going to work, and attempt to be the protection that we need to turn into and are able to turning into.”
McDonald was final yr’s first-round choose, however even because the fifteenth general choice, he performed sparingly as a rookie and completed with three sacks in 15 video games.
Clemons, whom the Jets grabbed within the fourth spherical in 2022, is also receiving a chance to snag the beginning spot on the precise aspect.
The Jets may make use of them as a two-pronged mixture if Reddick’s absence continues, though Ulbrich praised the 6-foot-5, 263-pound Clemons as “a first- and second-down participant who’s actually making a case for a third-down position now.”
Ulbrich famous the Jets tried to get Clemons to placed on some kilos final yr, however he’s again all the way down to his earlier enjoying weight.
“He’s a giant, sturdy man,” Ulbrich mentioned. “He has all of the toughness, and he has all of the size, and he has all the dimensions, and he has the ability and the mindset, and all that.
“Unexpectedly, we acquired him again to that weight that he was at, and he seems to be superb. His motion is so significantly better than it’s ever been. His move rush is absolutely beginning to develop. I’m so enthusiastic about what he will be, excited to see the place Mike’s going.”
Each gamers determine to decorate in Saturday’s preseason sport in Carolina, though Ulbrich mentioned will probably be a game-time determination on how a lot, if in any respect, the opposite defensive regulars will play.
The protection gave up 331 yards and two touchdowns in final week’s preseason opener, a 20-17 win over Washington.
“Simply [looking for] incremental enchancment in each manner,” Ulbrich mentioned. “Sport 1, usually from a defensive perspective, tackling isn’t the best. As a result of that’s our first actual alternative to get guys to the bottom.
“So if there was one factor that I completely can level to that has to get higher — and can get higher — is our tackling.”
