Three on D: Carter, Sherwood, Clemons

After each game, we'll be highlighting three defensive and three offensive players and looking in detail at their performance. We'll start today with the defense:

Is the Deuce worth the squeeze?

After signing an extension worth over $10 million per year ahead of last season, Deuce Carter had a disappointing 2024 season as he was banged up all year and had a massive drop in production from 50 tackles and nine pass breakups to 24 tackles and only one pass breakup.

In 2025, the expectation was that a healthy Carter would return to his best. However, that's not been the case so far, and he now looks set to miss this week's game with a concussion.

On Monday night, Carter lasted just 18 snaps, but even during that time he was struggling. His worst play saw him give up a big play on 3rd-and-long as - not for the first time this season - his awareness at the snap was lacking and he got caught up on a totally not deliberate rub route.

His only other tackle apart from that one came on a play where Miami ran for an eight yard gain. There was also this play where he overpursued and missed a chance to tackle Tyreek Hill short of the marker on 3rd down, although he got away with this one because Will McDonald drew a holding penalty.

The Jets said they have a plan for Jarvis Brownlee Jr. after they traded for him and you have to wonder if perhaps that plan involves him taking over in the slot from Carter, who is increasingly looking like a potential cap casualty. They might be forced into that change this weekend, assuming Brownlee is ready to return from his own ankle injury. If not, they'll likely revert to Isaiah Oliver, as they did on Monday night.

Slanging that 'wood

Jamien Sherwood had 10 tackles on Monday night but it was interesting to note that only one of these was a solo tackle. That perhaps emphasizes how Miami was prioritizing getting blockers to him, knowing that the other linebacker (rookie Kiko Mauigoa) is a lot less likely to blow plays up in space. It's especially notable because Sherwood led the entire NFL in solo tackles last year, while being paired with Quincy Williams.

Here's an example of the sort of tackle he was getting credit for. Andre Cisco actually makes the play with Sherwood helping to finish the ball carrier off a few seconds later having initially been driven back by the tight end at the second level.

There was another play where the tackle initially sealed him inside and De'Von Achane looked set to gain good yardage but slipped on his cut so Sherwood was able to fall on him.

This was a rare example of him being able to get to the ball quicker, as he anticipated and beat the block, but again it was someone else who made the play really - this time McDonald.

In coverage, Sherwood had a nice active game. He jumped up to bat a pass at the line of scrimmage which saved a potential touchdown to Jaylen Waddle and helped break up a pass with a nice hit on the receiver underneath, although this was officially ruled as a drop rather than a pass defensed.

In addition, he also got his hands on the ball to deflect the pass on which Sauce Gardner was called for pass interference. That makes the penalty call even worse because any contact after the ball is tipped is by definition legal. So they can only have flagged this is there was a grab earlier on as the receiver made his break, rather than on contact at the catch-point. Needless to say, there was not.

The other concern with Sherwood is the overall communication in the secondary. While it's always impossible to apportion blame when receivers are running free on crossing routes, as they were on multiple occasions on Monday night, Sherwood has to bear at least some of the responsibility, as the guy with a headset and the primary communicator back there.

It took a while for Sherwood and Williams to gel last season so the fact Williams is going to spend a month on injured reserve couldn't really have come at a worse time. New York could be essentially eliminated by the time he returns for them to work on their chemistry.

Applying for Clemons-y

The much-maligned Micheal Clemons had a solid performance on Monday night, as he had three run stuffs and three pressures. Not bad for the man Jets twitter has been calling the worst player in the NFL.

Rather than seeing his playing time curtailed by his recent penalties, Clemons is still starting and actually played more snaps than any other defensive end on Monday night, presumably because he was doing a good job.

Here's a good example of the Jets' team run defense, with a touch of role reversal as McDonald sets the edge and Clemons hustles downhill to make the play. You'd usually expect it to be the other way around.

This is Clemons' best rep though, showcasing power and technique to drive his man back, shed his block, force the run outside and free himself with outside leverage to make the play.

As a pass rusher, Clemons only had one pressure in the first three games, but had three on Monday night, although he slipped when he had his best chance to get to the quarterback.

This was legitimately a good game from Clemons, whose role should shift back to a rotational one with Jermaine Johnson expected back. It will be up to him to show that it is a sign of true progress within this system rather than just a one-off rare mistake (or bad call) free performance.

Three-on-O will follow tomorrow.