As unsure of a prospect as Jets' first-rounder Quinton Coples is considered to be, the beastly defensive lineman out of North Carolina may, in actuality, provide what Gang Green has lacked up front on that side of the ball since the beginning of 2009 -- stability.
In 2009 and 2010, as well as last year, defensive tackles Sione Pouha and Mike Devito picked up the slack in impressive fashion. Pouha was recognized by Pro Football Focus as the NFL's top 3-4 nose tackle of 2011.
But while New York has been mostly stout up front on defense, it somehow seemed to still be finding itself the last few years. Whether that was the reality internally is unsure, though Jets coach Rex Ryan and his staff are making sure the Jets' defensive line goes into 2012 with an identity.
Gang Green drafted a defensive lineman in the first round in each of the last two years -- Muhammad Wilkerson in 2011 and Coples in 2012. With two young, talented and explosive trench warriors etching their places alongside Pouha and Devito, Ryan, who is well-versed in all thing defensive line, is excited about the possibilities.
"We need to be successful collectively," Ryan told reporters Friday. "Individually is great. Individual honors are great. ... (but) it’s going to take the collective effort of people to get any of those things. Even sacks, a lot of times it’s the work of others."
To put it simply, the Jets' defensive system is built for particular parts of it to draw attention so other parts can make plays. That's where a player like pass-rushing specialist Aaron Maybin will come in -- the big guys on the defensive line look to garner enough attention so guys like Maybin can fly around and make the play. Because to Ryan, causing production is just as, if not more, important than producing numbers.
Ryan said following the draft that he thinks Coples can be a player who causes a lot of production.
"We want everybody to have that desire to be great," Ryan said. "(Coples) has the God-given ability to be great, because he has the size, the speed and the athleticism, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. We know there’s no substitute for hard work, no shortcuts to it. We’re excited about, you don’t want to say his potential, but it is the potential of what this young man can do. When you team him up with a Muhammad Wilkerson, a Sione Pouha, Mike DeVito, I mean, we really like our group."
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