3 biggest NY Jets team needs after tough MNF loss to 49ers in Week 1

The NY Jets managed to last all of one game before all of the hype and excitement got sucked right out of the building. Even though Aaron Rodgers put together some impressive throws, the Jets were thoroughly smacked around by the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

While the Jets could still make it to the playoffs, this game showed this team is currently nowhere near a championship contender, as was shown when they faced an elite team like San Francisco. This team has a lot of work to do, especially when it comes to plugging their biggest holes.

The Jets have some major team needs that need to be improved upon if they want any shot at staying alive in a do-or-die 2024 season. While the time for trading and drafting is largely done, Robert Saleh needs to kick his troops into high gear as soon as possible.

3 biggest NY Jets team needs after tough loss to 49ers

3. Run-Blocking OL

While new additions like Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses mostly hold up against a very tough pass rush, Joe Tippmann and Alijah Vera-Tucker were knocked around quite easily on the interior.

Breece Hall never had any holes to run through, and the interior run blocking is to blame. While the offensive line is miles better than last year, this problem must be fixed quickly,

2. Third Wide Receiver

Mike Williams was active yesterday, but you wouldn't have known it, as he only played a handful of snaps. Malachi Corley was hyped as a Deebo Samuel-type playmaker, and he may as well have been inactive. Garrett Wilson was excellent against the 49ers, but that is to be expected.

Allen Lazard had a tremendous game, catching two touchdowns. However, that type of production can't be expected every single week. Unless Williams gets up to speed really quickly or the Jets start leaning on one of either Corley or Xavier Gipson, expect another year of wide receiver struggles.

1. Run-Stuffing DT

You don't even need to know football to see the Jets have a very suspect run defense. Jordan Mason looked like Walter Payton, and even high-end linemen like Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson had some rough showings. Even if they had kept John Franklin-Myers, that move alone wouldn't have fixed this.

While Leki Fotu will return in the next few weeks, he won't be good enough to fix this issue totally. While Saleh's aggressive scheme may make it tough to consistently eat up space on the defensive line, showings like Monday night can't happen if the Jets want to be viewed as a postseason contender.

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