The Jets are expected to switch from a 3-4 base defense to a 4-3 base defense given Saleh’s teams in the past. The distinction between the two isn’t as important as it once was given how infrequently teams run base defense in today’s NFL, but it should still be noted with New York needing to make decisions on what kind of edge rushers they will be looking to add to the team this offseason.
In terms of coverage, Saleh comes from the Seattle “Cover 3” coaching tree, but his defense has evolved in recent years as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. Per PFF’s coverage charting, the 49ers actually ran more quarters coverage than any team in the NFL this past season while still running Cover 3 at a top-10 rate.
That’s a big departure from the defenses that New York ran under Gregg Williams over the last two years. Since 2019, New York ranks 28th in quarters usage and 31st in Cover 3 usage, ahead of only the Las Vegas Raiders. They ran more Cover 2 than any defense in the NFL over that span while San Francisco ranked last.
Stylistically, it will be a big shift for the Jets.
In terms of coverage, Saleh comes from the Seattle “Cover 3” coaching tree, but his defense has evolved in recent years as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. Per PFF’s coverage charting, the 49ers actually ran more quarters coverage than any team in the NFL this past season while still running Cover 3 at a top-10 rate.
That’s a big departure from the defenses that New York ran under Gregg Williams over the last two years. Since 2019, New York ranks 28th in quarters usage and 31st in Cover 3 usage, ahead of only the Las Vegas Raiders. They ran more Cover 2 than any defense in the NFL over that span while San Francisco ranked last.
Stylistically, it will be a big shift for the Jets.