In-depth analysis - Giants "at" Jets (Preseason Week 3): Defense

Over the course of these past few days, we've been breaking down the performance of every player that took the field in the Jets' preseason game against the . We'll conclude today with a look at the defense.

Edge Defenders: Ossai can you see?

We finally got our first look at Joseph Ossai, who was in the starting lineup to get some game reps even though all the regular starters were rested. Aaaaand...it's gone!

Yes, Ossai only played briefly before suffering a torn plantar fascia and now may not be healthy in time to play in the opener.

For as long as he was in there, Ossai made one contribution as he hit the quarterback and got a piece of the ball on a Jameis Winston incompletion. That was a hair away from being a forced fumble.

Braiden McGregor, who we noted last week had been playing quite well, earned a spot on the roster and was one of the better performers on an overmatched defense on Friday night. McGregor blew up an end around in the backfield and had a nice run stop near the line. He also had two good bull rushes to create some pressure. However, he did have some negatives against the run - as everyone did because the Giants' front pushed the Jets around at will for the most part.

Nate Lynn fell short of earning a roster spot but he's on the practice squad after registering another sack with a good outside rush. He also showed good pursuit across the field to make a run stop, and had two plays where he took out the lead blocker so someone else could make a play against the run.

Paschal Ekeji who, it must be remembered, had never played a real football game until preseason started, continued his pattern of at least showing something each week as he shed a block on the edge and made a run stop. He did have an illegal hands to the face penalty and was blocked to the ground once, though. He's incredibly raw but definitely proved himself to be a handful, who could progress with a year as the extra international member of the practice squad. It will be interesting to see what he looks like in 12 months if he attends camp in 2027.

The only other edge to see action was recent signing Anthony Dunn who was in on a few tackles but didn't really make an impact.

DNP: David Bailey, Will McDonald, Kingsley Enagbare, Tyler Baron

Interior Defensive Line: Page against the Machine

Much like Ossai, T'Vondre Sweat saw his first preseason action in this game and the Jets looked strong up front with him in there. He had one highlight as he blew by John Michael Schmitz to stuff a run.

As noted, the defensive line got pushed around by the Giants once backups were in the game. Here's one of many examples of how bad it got.

Payton Page did well in the first game but he was driven back, blocked to the ground or sealed off repeatedly as he did not respond well at all to having to play more reps at nose tackle.

Jack Heflin deserves a mention because while he was also overmatched at nose tackle and blocked to the ground a couple of times, he battled well. He was credited with nine tackles, including two near the line, and also drew two holding penalties.

Page and Heflin both made the practice squad but if they ever get elevated they should play defensive end.

Darrell Jackson, Mazi Smith and Junior Tafuna were all pushed around most of the time too, although all three at least managed to put something positive on film. Tafuna was fired up after shedding a block to stuff a run, Smith came downhill for one run stop and split a double team on another and Jackson made his best play of preseason when he shed this block for a run stuff.

This is a technique we've seen many times from Karl Dunbar-coached Jets linemen, so hopefully this is a sign Jackson is going to improve quickly. To be fair to Jackson, he was pushed around less than Smith and Tafuna too.

DNP: Harrison Phillips, Jowon Briggs, David Onyemata

Linebackers: For he's a jolly good Keller

Marcelino McCrary-Ball made a big impact this week with his interception and forced fumble and was also in on nine tackles, including a couple near the line of scrimmage. However, he struggled in terms of the defensive communication side of things because there were a lot of receivers left wide open, including on a few plays where he was directly involved.

Kiko Mauigoa returned to action and had a nice tackle for loss on the edge, but he was also out of position a lot. The fumble was a great recovery by McCrary-Ball but the pass was completed because Mauigoa turned the receiver loose with nobody in support.

Once again, Jaden Keller and Chase Wilson got the majority of the rest of the playing time. Keller made a couple of good tackles in the flat, including one on third down to force the Giants to kick a field goal, but he also had two bad missed tackles. Wilson fared a little better with one good play in coverage and six tackles, but he gave up a first down in zone coverage.

Interestingly, Keller made the practice squad but Wilson did not.

DNP: Demario Davis, Jamien Sherwood, Mykal Walker

Cornerbacks: Wright-ing a wrong

The third previously injured defensive addition to get his Jets debut with the backups was Nahshon Wright but he made no real impact as he gave up a first down and missed a tackle.

Qwan'tez Stiggers obviously made a good impact by deflecting the pass that was intercepted and later recovering a fumble, but he also got torched deep by Odell Beckham and had a missed tackle on a running play.

Tre Brown didn't play much this week and his best play was arguably a pass rush where he beat the running back with a spin move. Obviously he got hurt because he's now on injured reserve.

Samuel Womack, on the other hand, led the team with 65 snaps. He was good, allowing just eight yards on four targets with a tackle for loss in the flat and a few disruptions.

Jordan Clark was called for a questionable pass interference penalty in the end zone but otherwise held up well. He had a missed tackle but it was on a play where he forced the runner to go wide on a outside stretch play.

Womack and Clark were added to the practice squad along with Mory Bamba.

Finally, Keenan Garber struggled, giving up four catches on four targets, including a first down on a crosser and Xavier Gipson's long touchdown catch. He had one good play against the run.

DNP: AZ Thomas, Jarvis Brownlee, Brandon Stephens, D'Angelo Ponds, Mory Bamba

Safeties: Malachi Poor

Malachi Moore once again didn't make much of an impact, although he was in blanket coverage when Beckham caught a 17-yard pass against him.

He was out of position a few times, worryingly misreading this play on which Jairus Monroe basically bailed him out.

Monroe, who also missed a couple of tackles, has a habit of being too deep in coverage and the Giants exploited this a few times. However, on the deep ball to Beckham, he was not deep enough and reacted far too late.

Dean Clark and another recent addition, Tanner Wall got the rest of the reps. Clark had an unblocked quarterback hit near the end of the game and Wall (who did well on special teams) was in on a run stop near the line.

The Jets have just four safeties on the 53 and none on the practice squad, but rookie VJ Payne is eligible to return from injured reserve in week five so presumably they feel that gives them adequate depth.

DNP: Andre Cisco, Dane Belton, Minkah Fitzpatrick, VJ Payne