Can the same position be different?
That might sound like a silly question, but the switch from Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich’s defense to Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks’ shows that the defensive tackle spot has a number of variations.
Shortly after the hiring of Glenn, I [wrote an article expressing a hope](https://platform.ganggreennation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/86/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25859648/overfront.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100&_gl=1*krhm75*_gcl_au*MTcwODIwMTc3Mi4xNzU0NjU1NDk2*_ga*MTc4NjI5NTY2Mi4xNzU0NjU1NDky*_ga_2M5GYNY1YS*czE3NTc1MjU4NjEkbzE2MiRnMSR0MTc1NzUyODIxNiRqNTYkbDAkaDA.) that the way the Jets deployed Quinnen Williams would change under the new coaching staff.
> When Williams lined up at defensive tackle last season, he was on the right side more than 90 percent of the time.
What precisely was significant about that? The Jets under Saleh frequently ran an over front. This meant that the defensive tackle on the strong side (typically the side of the formation with the tight end) lined up at the 3 technique, over the outside shoulder of a guard. The weakside defensive tackle lines up at the 1 technique, between the center and the other guard.
What exactly is the big deal about this?
With Williams lining up so frequently on at the right defensive tackle spot, it was easy to manipulate his deployment. If you stuck the tight end (red circle) on the right side of the offensive formation, Williams (orange circle) was at the 1 technique. That’s a spot where you are getting a double team.
The other defensive tackle (yellow circle) is much tougher to double team since he is on the outside shoulder of the guard, and the tackle has to block the edge rusher. (I know there are actually two tight ends in this picture, but the guy in the red circle is the one setting the strong side.)
Accordingly, Quinnen had to deal with double teams on 62 percent of the snaps in 2024.
As you likely know, the Jets traded for two defensive tackles, Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs at the end of the preseason. Both of them have reputations for being strong tackles who eat up blocks but aren’t necessarily great penetrators.
I was interested to see how the Jets would deploy their new defensive tackles in Week 1 against Pittsburgh.
What I found was interesting.
In the Glenn/Wilks defense, it appears there are essentially two defensive tackle positions. One group of tackles lines up at the one technique. Another group lines up at the three technique.
Quinnen Williams is almost exclusively a three technique in the new Jets defense.
I took a look at defensive alignments for the Jets on first and second down snaps. (Third down is a passing down so alignments get mixed up to maximize the pass rush.)
Williams had close to a 50/50 split lining up on the left and right sides. It didn’t matter which side he lined up. He was playing the three technique.
The new staff certainly seems to be focused on getting Quinnen away from double teams.
Now I’m sure people will come away with the impression Saleh Approach = Bad and Glenn Approach = Good.
I don’t think it’s quite that simple. It’s a philosophical difference. Philosophical differences aren’t a matter of better and worse. The previous Jets coaching staff had the mindset that Quinnen could beat double teams regularly, and inexpensive veterans would overachieve against the constant one on ones Quinnen drew them. It worked well when the inexpensive veterans were Sheldon Rankins and Quenton Jefferson. Not so much when it was Javon Kinlaw.
The new approach is to let the best defensive lineman on the team feast one on one. Phillips and Briggs aren’t here to make plays. Their job is to eat up two blocks and let Quinnen get to work.
I am certain Quinnen is happy with this. It should certainly make it easy to get numbers avoiding those double teams.
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