The New York Jets have attempted to place a square peg in a round hole for two consecutive seasons.
In 2023, they got away with it. So far in 2024, not so much.
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When the Jets traded for Chuck Clark in the 2023 offseason, most Jets X-Factor writers approved of the move. Clark’s history with the Baltimore Ravens was rock-solid, and the main skill he brought to the table was a welcome change from the previous year: don’t make the critical mistake.
Clark’s arrival also seemed to signal the end of Jordan Whitehead’s tenure with the Jets. After all, they both played the same position: box safety. When Whitehead remained a Jet, the natural conclusion was that they planned to play big nickel more often with Clark taking the place of a linebacker.
However, when the Jets went into OTAs in 2023 with Clark and Whitehead as their safety duo, it was a real head-scratcher. How did the Jets intend to start two strong safeties?
When Clark tore his ACL in OTAs, the Jets signed Adrian Amos to take his place. That made more sense, as Amos played free safety with the Packers. Then, early in training camp, it seemed that Tony Adams had taken over as the starter, which also made sense. Adams is a rangy player who can play single-high.
Keep an eye on Tony Adams; he has the range the #Jets need at FS. They love this kid.
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) July 21, 2023
I'm a fan of Tony Adams and believe he can rise to the challenge if he ends up as the starting FS.
Showed promise in his tiny sample at FS near the end of 2022, including in coverage. He wasn't targeted once over 50 coverage snaps. Did a great job executing his assignments pic.twitter.com/6h0o1GBchH
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) May 12, 2023
When the Jets had Amos, they still used Whitehead and Adams as their primary starters. Amos played primarily deep safety when he was in the game. But when it was just Whitehead and Adams, Whitehead played single-high safety more often than Adams.
Jets X-Factor’s Robby Sabo explained this phenomenon. He said that Adams’ history as a college cornerback makes him the ultimate chess piece in the Jets’ defense. When Adams plays closer to the line of scrimmage, he can use his man coverage skills to take on a tight end or even a wide receiver.
Unlike for other defenses, where a safety on a receiver would be a mismatch, it is far less so when Adams is the safety.
However, putting Adams in the box meant sacrificing the range of a single-high safety. Whitehead played deep just 28.8% of the time in his final season in Tampa Bay. In 2022, Whitehead occasionally played single-high with Lamarcus Joyner dropping down in the box, but it was rare; Joyner played 73.2% of his snaps deep.
The Jets attempted to put Whitehead, a box safety, in the free safety role. Hence, a square peg in a round hole. They got away with it — mostly. Although Whitehead allowed seven touchdowns, more than any other safety, all came when he played in the box and either botched his responsibility or was flat-out beaten. They didn’t come from playing out of position but rather from his poor coverage skills in general.
Through two games this year, though, this attempt to use a box safety as a single-high has hurt them tremendously. It was one thing to put Whitehead, who had the speed to play free safety but not the coverage instincts or tackling ability in space, as a single high. Playing Clark, who lacked speed before his injury (4.54 40-yard dash) and is now 29 and coming off an ACL tear, at high safety is a different matter.
The Jets have used a single-high safety on 55.9% of their snaps this year, up from their 48.5% rate in 2023. Adams and Clark have essentially split that role. When Clark plays deep, the Jets are very vulnerable to deep passes.
They saw this clearly on Calvin Ridley’s 40-yard touchdown catch. Sauce Gardner was in a prime position to knock the ball away, but he likely saw Clark coming over the top and may have even heard Clark call out. Gardner looked astonished after the touchdown, as he thought Clark had picked the ball.
Clark’s lack of speed and range bit the Jets on that play. Whitehead or any other safety with decent speed would have intercepted it.
Even before Clark’s injury, intending to keep him as a single high made no sense. But after his injury, it can be catastrophic.
Against the Patriots, this likely won’t matter all that much. New England has completed just 11 passes to wide receivers all season. They can’t pass protect long enough to throw deep; Jacoby Brissett has been pressured on 44.3% of his dropbacks, and two of his starting offensive linemen are out.
But throughout the season, the Jets will face some elite receivers. Justin Jefferson, Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, Marvin Harrison Jr., D.K. Metcalf, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle will lick their chops if Clark is over the top against them. Other teams also have a speedy deep threat who can burn the Jets if Clark is the single-high.
Oddly, not only have the Jets been using Clark out of position, but they have been attempting to disguise their coverage more often than usual. This means that Clark is often forced to sprint to the middle of the field post-snap, making his job even more difficult due to his speed limitations.
Clark has had other issues in coverage, not just as the single-high. Deep coverage was never the strength of his game altogether. His biggest struggles in the past were in Cover 2, a two-high coverage. But using him out of position places glaring emphasis on his weaknesses.
The Jets’ defensive coaching consistently receives the benefit of the doubt due to their success over the past two seasons. But if personnel, scheme, and usage questions continue to arise this season, it will be fair to criticize Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich for thinking they can put a player in a bad position and get away with it.
