Last year’s Week 6 game in Pittsburgh was an ugly one for the New York Jets. A 15-6 lead late in the first half turned into 37-15 defeat in which the Jets fell apart in practically every way. There were not many positive takeaways from that evening.
One exception was the way the Jets handled TJ Watt. The superstar defender was held to a single tackle.
That night a deservingly maligned Jets coaching staff decided that Watt was not going to beat them. You likely heard during the broadcast the phrase “four hands on every play.” The Jets provided right tackle Morgan Moses help on almost every snap whether it was in the form of a chip or a true double team.
It’s easy to say, “Just double team a great pass rusher.” It’s typically much more difficult to do in reality. Watt’s role in the Steelers defense, however, makes him more susceptible to this strategy than your typical defender of his caliber.
Most of the elite pass rushers move around. Sometimes they go left. Sometimes they go right. On a passing down, they might line up across from a guard or center to feast on less athletic linemen.
Watt is a throwback. Last year he almost always lined up on the left side of the defensive formation and the right side of the offensive formation. In fact, the Steelers defenders lined up in the same spots more than any other defense in the league in 2024.
Watt himself has suggested that he prefers lining up on the left side of the defense. It’s tough to argue with the comfort level of player that productive. Still, it does make the Steelers defense easier to scheme against than your typical unit.
This is the type of thing the Jets must consider entering their Week 1 game against Pittsburgh. Watt’s alignment on the left side of the defense means he will be lining up across from Armand Membou. It’s a big assignment for a rookie in his first NFL game. Membou has plenty of potential, but his uneven preseason play suggests that he will be in for some growing pains early in his career (as many rookie tackles have). I think it’s fair to say dealing with Watt is one of the few areas where the new Jets coaching staff should take its cues from the old coaching staff. If Membou ever has to block Watt one on one in this game it’s likely to turn ugly for the Jets.
Obviously, a nonstop double team does have an effect on the offense. On a true double team, the Jets will only be able to send four receivers out on patterns. Even with a chip, one receiver will be releasing late and be limited in the routes he can run.
This also likely limits the help the Jets can provide Olu Fashanu against Alex Highsmith, a talented pass rusher in his own right. Normally this would be the type of matchup where you would want to assist a second year tackle. Membou is the higher priority, though.
The Steelers have made a bit of noise about moving Watt around the formation more frequently in 2025. I’m a skeptic of coaching staffs declaring changes like this before I see them. It also seems pretty logical that Pittsburgh would hunt for the Watt vs. Membou matchup anyway.
The bottom line is that the Jets should be giving Membou plenty of help in this game. It could make a big difference.