Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed & the No. 1 ranked New York Jets pass defense

Having practice reps versus Aaron Rodgers during training camp has only made Sauce Gardner and the New York Jets pass defense better.

Last season the New York Jets led the entire NFL in opponent pass yards allowed per game. Sure, defensive back Sauce Gardner and D.J Reed didn’t tally up a bunch of interceptions but they did combine for 21 pass deflections.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be afforded the opportunity to blitz opponents often knowing he has a group of stellar defensive backs. Jarrick Bernard-Converse also had a good preseason and will likely see reps as the slot defensive back when Ulbrich goes to his nickel personnel.

 

Reed, Gardner, and Bernard-Converse all have the ability to play man coverage and will allow safety Chuck Clark to cheat inside to help with run stop support. Opponents weren’t forced to throw the ball a lot versus the Jets last season because the Jets were horrific on offense but that’s likely to change.

The 2024 Jets’ offensive attack will lead to more scoring and game leads this year forcing opponents into passing the ball at higher volumes.

There isn’t a wide receiver in the NFL that does not respect Gardner as an elite defender. Having been afforded the opportunity to get practice reps versus Aaron Rodgers during training camp, the Jets’ pass defense will only become more potent as the season progresses.