Joe Douglas’ No. 1 priority last offseason was fixing the offensive line.
After starting 13 different combinations up front last year, nothing mattered if that didn’t happen.
“I think that was goal one,” the Jets general manager said in the spring.
After years of failing to get the offensive line right, either due to underperformance or injury, the early returns are positive, and that’s even with starting right tackle Morgan Moses expected to miss a few weeks with a sprained MCL and bone bruise.
Of all the positives so far in the Jets’ 2-1 start, from Aaron Rodgers’ play to the production of Will McDonald at defensive end to surprising contributions by rookie running back Braelon Allen and receiver Allen Lazard, the offensive line might be the most important development.
Rodgers has been sacked just five times in three games.
Last year, Jets quarterbacks were sacked a whopping 64 times, tied with the Titans for the fourth most in the league.
They are averaging 100.6 rushing yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry, and that’s with a shaky performance on the ground in the opener against the 49ers’ robust front seven.
It is an almost entirely new group.
The Jets traded for Moses and signed left tackle Tyron Smith and left guard John Simpson.
That trio joined second-year center Joe Tippmann and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, who was limited to five games a year ago after tearing his Achilles tendon.
Douglas also used his first-round draft pick on Penn State star Olu Fashanu, who replaced Moses in the Patriots game and will start in his place for the time being.
Coach Robert Saleh said Fashanu played well in his debut in limited action.
Tippmann was terrific in the win over the Patriots, not allowing a single sack, hit or hurry across 43 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
He graded out to a career-high 85.8 in the one-sided victory. In the week 2 win over the Titans, it was Smith who graded high as the No. 3 offensive tackle by PFF.
“Tyron looks great,” Saleh said. “He’s moving people in the run game. He’s protecting really well.”
Against the Titans, the Jets allowed just one quarterback pressure and one sack, and Tennessee has the makings of a strong defensive front.
The run blocking was particularly impressive against the Patriots, amassing 133 yards on 33 carries, which enabled the Jets to dominate time of possession at a ridiculous rate.
They had the ball for 40:04 on Thursday night in the home opener at MetLife Stadium.
It’s obviously still early, and that group will be tested without Moses.
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There are a lot of age and injury concerns with this group, particularly with the tackles.
Smith and Moses are both 33 while Vera-Tucker has appeared in only 12 games the previous two seasons.
But so far, so good.
Early on, a Jets weakness for several years appears to be a strength.
It’s not a coincidence this is also the best the Jets offense has looked in quite some time, either.
