ESPN picks Henry Anderson as Jets player who needs change of scenery

A recent ESPN article lists New York Jets defensive lineman Henry Anderson as a player who could use a change of scenery this offseason.

The New York Jets are in the midst of a complete roster metamorphosis. The team will be undergoing significant renovations of both sides of the ball as they look to improve the roster for contention next season.

Although the offense will experience plenty of turnover, the Jets defense will likely face a pretty substantial makeover as well. Much of this is due to the recent acquisition of new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Williams has a history of running defenses who play a 4-3 scheme and although he’s likely to deploy multiple defensive fronts, the Jets base personnel grouping will have to change. That starts with the front seven players who may now find themselves without a defined role.

A recent ESPN article has labeled defensive lineman Henry Anderson as one player who could use a change of scenery in the offseason, mostly due to his lack of schematic fit with his current organization.

Anderson is fresh off a career year in which he tied for the team lead in sacks with seven and finished second in QB hits with 16, both easily career-highs. However, he is set to be an unrestricted free agent in just under a month.

The former Indianapolis Colt was originally kicked to the curb by his former team after they underwent a similar defensive transformation. The Colts didn’t feel that he was a fit for a 4-3 scheme so they traded him away for a seventh-round pick on draft day in 2018.

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Anderson has played in a 3-4 defense even dating back to his time at Stanford where he played a 3-4 defensive end role as well. Williams would likely be able to find some use for Anderson in various schemes but his playing time would certainly be limited to that of a role player.

Given the season that Anderson is coming off of, it’s unlikely he accepts a contract to be a rotational defensive lineman. It’s more likely that Anderson signs on with a new team for 2019 and into the future where he could be a true scheme fit and three-down starter.

Other Jets who may be without a defined role in the new defensive alignment include players like Jordan Jenkins and Steve McLendon. With McLendon set to be a free agent, it’s unlikely the team brings back the defense’s elder statesman, despite his locker room leadership. Jenkins, however, will find a new role somewhere with the team.

Next. REPORT: Jets expected to release Isaiah Crowell

It’s unfortunate that one of the Jets most productive defensive pieces in 2018 likely won’t return for a second season with the team.

But you can’t fit a square peg in a round hole, no matter how productive that peg was.

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