Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox, behind top, jumps into the end zone past New York Jets safety Jordan Whitehead and cornerback Sauce Gardner for a touchdown.
AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes
FLORHAM PARK — It was the unspoken blemish on what was a dominant group last season. The New York Jets had a fatal flaw in their top-five defense last season and it resided solely in their backend.
New York’s safety position was ranked as one of the worst in 2022 in several key statistical categories like missed tackle rate, yards per target allowed, and snaps per penalty according to Jets X-Factor in February. Despite the poor numbers across the board, the returning group from last season doesn’t always agree with the criticism being pushed upon them.
“I want to say that I don’t believe we were one of the worst safety groups in football,” Tony Adams told AMNY Thursday. “If you go watch the film, the boys played great ball.”
Regardless of the current core of guys disagreeing with the analysis, the Jets turn to 2023 with a revamped safety room thanks to some new faces and improved youngsters looking to make the most out of their opportunity.
One of those youngsters is Adams. Thrust into a starting role due to the offseason injury to Chuck Clark, Adams has been an impressive sight throughout training camp. Top defensive players like Quinnen Williams and C.J. Mosley have named Adams as the most improved defender going into 2023.
It may be a humbling experience to have All-Pro talented vouch for you, but it certainly isn’t for Adams.
“It means a lot. Everything you do, you do to earn the respect of the guys in the locker room,” Adams explained. “I think everything that has come out about me is cool, but hearing it from the guys in this locker room means the world to me.”
Adams isn’t the only young safety to get an increase in playing time though. Ashtyn Davis made the 53-man roster after a tough training camp battle. While his role is…
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