Jets' Will McDonald has been a one-man sack attack
Will McDonald IV of the Jets, right, reacts after a sack during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium on Thursday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Will McDonald has more sacks than nearly half the teams in the NFL.
The Jets have played three games and most teams have played two, but the second-year edge rusher is off to a fast start and filling a very big void on this defense.
McDonald already has five sacks, which is more than 15 teams. All of them have come in the last two games and helped spark the Jets to victories. McDonald had two in Thursday night’s dominant 24-3 win over the Patriots.
“He’s an elite athlete,” defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw told Newsday. “He can do some crazy things that I’ve never seen from anybody. The element of his game he’s just adding, the power aspect of it is going to open him up even more to do what he does and be even more effective. It’s been great watching him.”
This is not how the Jets drew it up, but they and McDonald have adjusted well.
Haason Reddick and Jermaine Johnson were expected to be the Jets’ main pass rushers coming off the edge. McDonald and Micheal Clemons were supposed to be a part of the defensive line rotation.
Reddick is holding out for a new contract and has requested a trade. Johnson tore an Achilles tendon last week and is out for the season. McDonald and Clemons are starting and are having an impact.
They shared a sack in the first quarter Thursday. Clemons jumped up and performed Johnson’s signature sack celebration. McDonald did it later on another sack.
“Will’s done a great job taking advantage of [his opportunity],” Robert Saleh said. “For him, it’s kind of a blessing. Without Haason being here, it’s giving him a lot more reps than he probably would have taken had he been here.
“Credit to Will. He’s getting better and better. He’s only going to get better. Credit to him, the work he’s put in.”
The Jets selected McDonald 15th overall last year, and it was surprising that they didn’t draft an offensive lineman to help protect Aaron Rodgers. McDonald had a quiet rookie year, finishing with three sacks and playing the eighth-most snaps on the line.
This season, Quinnen Williams is the only defensive lineman to play more snaps than McDonald, who leads the Jets in sacks, quarterback hits (seven) and tackles for loss (four).
The soft-spoken McDonald isn’t ready to say he’s arrived with this fast start, though.
“I’m not impressed yet this season,” he said. “I got to finish the season to be impressed about what I did. Those don’t really matter unless we get to the championship and win that ring.”
The Jets believed McDonald would beat bigger tackles with his speed, athleticism and quick spin move, and after last season, they pushed him to get bigger and stronger and to develop a power game. His weight stayed the same — about 236 pounds — but he’s showing more strength and power.
“You all just got to be patient,” Saleh said. “He’s coming along.”
Kinlaw, a former first-round pick of the 49ers, is nearly 100 pounds heavier than McDonald. He reminds McDonald to rush with power.
“I say it to him every once in a while: ‘Use that power. You’ve got it. You just got to use it and know how to use it,’ ” Kinlaw said. “It’s going to be a great year for him. It’s already going great.”
Notes & quotes: Saleh doesn’t expect right tackle Morgan Moses’ knee injury to be season-ending. If Moses were to miss time, rookie Olu Fashanu would replace him . . . Saleh is “confident” that linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) will return on Sept. 29 against Denver.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
