The Bryce Huff Experiment-Results… Playing Lights Out!

[32EBoozer]

https://jetsxfactor.com/2023/10/10/ny-jets-bryce-huff-experiment-results/

Out of respect for Michael Narnia, and the terrific work he does, I’ve only posted the first part of the article. Video breakdown and additional info in the second part of the same article. My Conclusion: Keep Huff on the field for 50% of all defensive snaps!

Bryce Huff is rewarding the New York Jets’ faith

Last week, we discussed how the New York Jets finally began to fully unleash their best pass rusher, Bryce Huff. The Jets started trusting Huff to play on first and second down more often, which allowed him to log more pass-rush snaps for the relatively modest price of playing him against the run more frequently.

In the Week 4 game against Kansas City, Huff played 39% of the Jets’ defensive snaps, his highest percentage since the Jets moved him into a pass-rush specialist role at the start of the 2022 season. Huff maximized the opportunity by posting career-highs of seven total pressures and a 38.9% pressure rate (per PFF).

This wasn’t just a one-off. In their next game against Denver, the Jets increased their faith in Huff even further by pushing him up to 44% of the defensive snaps.

And how did Huff respond? Well, all he did was raise the bar again.

Against the Broncos, Huff beat his career-highs in total pressures and pressure rate for the second consecutive week, racking up eight total pressures on a 40% pressure rate.

For perspective on how dominant these performances were, consider that the league-average pressure rate for edge rushers in the 2022 season was 10.8%. Huff more than tripled that number in each of his two games since the Jets began expanding his snap count.

On the year, Huff now stands alone as the most efficient pass rusher in football. Despite being 60th among edge rushers in pass-rush snaps (87), Huff is seventh in total pressures (26). Huff’s 29.9% pressure rate ranks first among all defensive players in the NFL with at least 30 pass-rush snaps, regardless of position. That’s out of 280 qualified players.

Here are the league leaders in total pressures, alongside the number of pass-rush snaps they have played:

• 1. Aidan Hutchinson, DET (35) – 210 pass-rush snaps
• 2. Maxx Crosby, LV (34) – 182
• 3. Micah Parsons, DAL (29) – 142
• T4. Chase Young, WAS (27) – 129
• T4. Nick Bosa, SF (27) – 159
• T4. T.J. Watt, PIT (27) – 179
• 7. Bryce Huff, NYJ (26) – 87

 

And here are the league leaders in pressure rate among edge rushers (min. 50 pass-rush snaps):

• 1. Bryce Huff, NYJ (29.9%) – 26 pressures on 87 pass-rush snaps
• 2. Rashan Gary, GB (25.6%) – 20 on 78
• 3. Myles Garrett, CLE (21.5%) – 23 on 107
• 4. Chase Young, WAS (20.9%) – 27 on 129
• 5. Josh Uche, NE (20.5%) – 16 on 78
• 6. Micah Parsons, DAL (20.4%) – 29 on 142
• 7. Maxx Crosby, LV (18.7%) – 34 on 182
• 8. Victor Dimukeje, ARI (18.5%) – 12 on 65
• 9. Tanoh Kpassagnon, NO (18.4%) – 14 on 76
• 10. John Franklin-Myers, NYJ (17.9%) – 22 on 123

[Barton]

Big mistake not to sign this guy earlier. And dont buy the excuse that Huff wouldnt sign. This is a contact sport , guys sign long term deals for money before free agency all the time. 

[varjet]

Huff will look good in another team’s uniform next year.  Watch someone make him into 3-4 OLB. 

[JiFtheOracle]

80% of the snaps and had him a contract.

[Bobby816]

Should’ve signed him long term this last offseason and not wasted a 1st rounder on an edge. Now we have a 1st rounder that barely plays and now Huff will cost us probably 50% more than he would’ve this last offseason. 

[Same Old Jets]

Huff should be a NY Jets for life. Lock him up, dump Lawson, Cook and Cobb (doubt these two get cut or traded). Trade for a RT, draft a LT, WR during the offseason. Bump Seiman, cut Boyle. 

 

[32EBoozer]

Now that Huff has blown up the false narrative that he can’t hold the edge against the run… Let’s get this guy signed! Regarding the narrative that if we signed him in the off-season, we could’ve passed on McDonald… He was the Jets highest ranked player on the board. First round you take.BAP. Can we give the kid half a season before we call him a bus!

[Rob Moore]

Why does every Huff thread turn into, “Woe is me! We can’t sign him! He’s going to look great in another uniform!  Our front office is incompetent for not locking him up already!”

First off, give JD credit for signing him as UDFA, then let’s give coaches credit for developing him, and give him credit for honing his game.

Why CAN’T he be re-signed?  Lawson is off the books next year as will be Cook.  Provided his contract desires are not asinine, nfl teams find a way to keep important players they want to keep.

Who are our high profile guys that we will be trying to extend next year besides Huff and Becton?

[Larz]

Needs to convert more pressures into sacks imho. Didn’t even show up on the trench warfare true sack rate list. 

[FidelioJet]

They are not signing Huff.    

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

6 minutes ago, Larz said:

Needs to convert more pressures into sacks imho. Didn’t even show up on the trench warfare true sack rate list. 

Jets need to get some more leads, play a little more man and stop those easy outlets for QBs in the face of pressure.

If they can do this, Huff’s sack rate will go up.

He’s quick off the line and can win 1 on 1 fairly quickly.  He’s not a guy who simply hussles his way to pressures.  He’s a tactition.

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

2 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

They are not signing Huff.    

Why?  That would seem foolish.

I would bet you some serious coin they do.

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

2 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

They are not signing Huff.   

19 minutes ago, Rob Moore said:

Why does every Huff thread turn into, “Woe is me! We can’t sign him! He’s going to look great in another uniform!  Our front office is incompetent for not locking him up already!”

First off, give JD credit for signing him as UDFA, then let’s give coaches credit for developing him, and give him credit for honing his game.

Why CAN’T he be re-signed?  Lawson is off the books next year as will be Cook.  Provided his contract desires are not asinine, nfl teams find a way to keep important players they want to keep.

Who are our high profile guys that we will be trying to extend next year besides Huff and Becton?

The Jets don’t have their second round pick next year.

Still have several holes and might need a QB of the future.

Yet some fans are concluding we won’t sign Huff or Becton, 2 guys we won’t easily replace via the draft and 2 positions that aren’t always so rich with available talent in free agency.  

[Darnold's Forehead]

11 minutes ago, Larz said:

Needs to convert more pressures into sacks imho. Didn’t even show up on the trench warfare true sack rate list. 

He doesn’t play enough.

[Integrity28]

1 hour ago, JiF said:

80% of the snaps and had him a contract.

Yeah, this seems like an obvious resource mgmt ****up.

[Jetsfan80]

4 minutes ago, OtherwiseHappyinLife said:

The Jets don’t have their second round pick next year.

Still have several holes and might need a QB of the future.

Yet some fans are concluding we won’t sign Huff or Becton, 2 guys we won’t easily replace via the draft and 2 positions that aren’t always so rich with available talent in free agency.  

Huff seems like a clear candidate to be let go for a comp pick.

I don’t necessarily support that but it seems to be the reality of the situation.  Paying any EDGE guy when we use a rotation like we do seems unlikely.

[FidelioJet]

3 hours ago, OtherwiseHappyinLife said:

Why?  That would seem foolish.

I would bet you some serious coin they do.

They reached to draft a second round prospect at #15 overall to replace him.  The moment that happened the ship sailed on Huff.

How much?

 

[Hal]

9 minutes ago, Integrity28 said:

Yeah, this seems like an obvious resource mgmt ****up.

I’m worried they double down to try to protect the McDonald draft pick.

[Hal]

8 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

They reached to draft a second round prospect at #15 overall to replace him.  The moment that happened the ship on Huff.

 

 

Jinx! Lol

[Barton]

Let’s wait for huff to have 10 sacks and then resign him. 

[Asymmetrical]

1 hour ago, Jetsfan80 said:

Huff seems like a clear candidate to be let go for a comp pick.

I don’t necessarily support that but it seems to be the reality of the situation.  Paying any EDGE guy when we use a rotation like we do seems unlikely.

I hope they're smart enough to realize that the rotation works much better when the players are actually good. Huff is the first plus edge rusher the Jets have developed in what, almost 20 years? They don't exactly grow on trees

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

1 hour ago, FidelioJet said:

They reached to draft a second round prospect at #15 overall to replace him.  The moment that happened the ship on Huff.

 

 

Nope, he’s Lawson’s replacement plus the Jets prefer a heavy rotation.

JJ, Huff and McDonald are the future core at Edge.  JFM will be in his last year and they seem to want Clemons on the inside.  

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

Plain and simple, the Jets are not a team that can get rid of talent.

JD has been spotty at best in Free Agency.

They only have 2 premium draft picks.

They do have a fairly healthy cap situation to resign some players.

If we let Huff go, we have to wait a full year to get a compensatory draft pick at a time we are looking to win now with Rodgers.

Makes no sense to let Huff go which means we probably will ;).

Jokes aside, the Jets are already testing Huff with more reps, including running downs, and he is passing with flying colors.

If he has a few more strong weeks, then I see no reason for the Jets to at least try to sign him long term.  

[Beerfish]

He is playing more and has been good but he has one sack, lets not send him to canton yet.

I like my pass rushers to get sacks and turnovers.  The jets Dline always seem to lead the league in nebulous stats like 'pass rush win rate'  and 'pressures'

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

14 minutes ago, Beerfish said:

He is playing more and has been good but he has one sack, lets not send him to canton yet.

I like my pass rushers to get sacks and turnovers.  The jets Dline always seem to lead the league in nebulous stats like 'pass rush win rate'  and 'pressures'

The running backs and tight ends kill us.  Close down the easy outlets and the sacks will come.  

[32EBoozer]

2 hours ago, Rob Moore said:

Why does every Huff thread turn into, “Woe is me! We can’t sign him! He’s going to look great in another uniform!  Our front office is incompetent for not locking him up already!”

First off, give JD credit for signing him as UDFA, then let’s give coaches credit for developing him, and give him credit for honing his game.

Why CAN’T he be re-signed?  Lawson is off the books next year as will be Cook.  Provided his contract desires are not asinine, nfl teams find a way to keep important players they want to keep.

Who are our high profile guys that we will be trying to extend next year besides Huff and Becton?

 I would think a player like Huff would be pleased having a rotational package. Keeps players fresh and minimizes injuries. I think he also likes the attacking style of defense we play.... and of course our "motivational speaker/ HC" Bobby, who gives players off during camp!

[JetsFanInPA]

These aren't Lawson pressures.   There were plays in the  KC game where Huffs pressures led to Mahomes incompletions.  Drive altering pressure. 

 

[FidelioJet]

2 hours ago, OtherwiseHappyinLife said:

Nope, he’s Lawson’s replacement plus the Jets prefer a heavy rotation.

JJ, Huff and McDonald are the future core at Edge.  JFM will be in his last year and they seem to want Clemons on the inside.  

JJ's Lawson's replacement.

McDonald is Huff's.

 

[32EBoozer]

1 hour ago, FidelioJet said:

JJ's Lawson's replacement.

McDonald is Huff's.

 

And who are the rotational guys if you’re letting Lawson & Huff go? Huff needs to stay.

JJ, Huff, JFM, McDonald on the outside. Clemons, Q, Woods and ? Inside for next year.

Hoping Lawson is ready to ball after Bye week

[FidelioJet]

9 minutes ago, 32EBoozer said:

And who are the rotational guys if you’re letting Lawson & Huff go? Huff needs to stay.

JJ, Huff, JFM, McDonald on the outside. Clemons, Q, Woods and ? Inside for next year.

Hoping Lawson is ready to ball after Bye week

Lawson and McDy's are barely getting reps right now.  Joe will find guys cheaper than Huff and Lawson to play 20%

[Dunnie]

5 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said:

Huff seems like a clear candidate to be let go for a comp pick.

I don’t necessarily support that but it seems to be the reality of the situation.  Paying any EDGE guy when we use a rotation like we do seems unlikely.

Do udfa's garner comp picks ?

[Jetsfan80]

5 minutes ago, Dunnie said:

Do udfa's garner comp picks ?

Any UFA signed by another team can garner a comp pick, so yes.  

[Barton]

Easily the jets pass rusher since John Abraham. We are talking 15+ years. Jets are clueless if they don’t resign this kid. 

[jetstream23]

Huff, JJ, JFM, McDonald would setup a nice longterm rotation at DE.  In terms of contracts the Jets have really only invested in Quinnen and JFM on the DLine.  Lawson is obviously departing.  Huff, McDonald, JJ are all either on 1-year or rookie deals.  The Return on Investment for the DEs is almost off the charts.  Can't imagine a bigger bang for the buck potentially. But, it will soon be time to pay the piper if the Jets want to keep these guys.  Sauce and GW loom in the future as well, along with Breece and AVT.  Not going to be cheap.

Lots of contracts coming up, not enough money, especially with AR on the payroll.  Unfortunately, if I had to guess who shakes loose and how the Jets would prioritize things I'd guess that Huff, Breece and AVT....in that order, might be the guys the Jets would unfortunately have to stomach letting go (or trading).  Huff because of the near-term cost, Breece because of the value of the RB position (despite potentially looking like a Top 5 NFL RB), AVT because of the injuries and OG/RT position.  NO, I'm not saying I want any of those guys to go, but if you had to prioritize all the Jets young players right now I think Sauce and GW are at the top and then it gets tough with arguments that can be made both for and against all the Jets talented young players.

The key for the Jets, IMHO, is to see what McDonald can do at DE.  Similar to how we now know JJ is a much better and complete replacement for Lawson, we need to know if McDonald can be anything close to Bryce Huff so that this team could feel like it would survive a loss of Huff.

[jetstream23]

26 minutes ago, Barton said:

Easily the jets pass rusher since John Abraham. We are talking 15+ years. Jets are clueless if they don’t resign this kid. 

I agree, but it won't be easy with all the other upcoming needs.  Best option might be 2-year deal that would roll off as guys like AVT, GW, Sauce, Breece are all coming off rookie contracts.