Prior to arriving for training camp, Jets edge Will McDonald IV focused on his health and nutrition with an eye on setting the edge in the run game.
“I added a couple of pounds,” McDonald told reporters Thursday following the team’s third consecutive practice in pads. “I bulked up a little bit and obviously I’m going to use that more in the run game. Obviously, there is room for improvement in my run game, so that’s another thing I’m really big on.”
McDonald, one of 12 players to hold a streak of consecutive 8-plus sacks seasons, is an accomplished pass rusher. A twitchy athlete with impressive bend, McDonald totaled 18.5 sacks and 43 QB hits the past two seasons.
“Pass rushing has always been his wheelhouse,” HC Aaron Glenn said. “And I think you guys know, I know, he knows that his improvement has been the run game. Listen, he came in this year, he’s 240 pounds, he looks really good, I know you guys see that. He took it upon himself to understand, have awareness of where I have to improve at, and I have no doubt in my mind he’s going to get better in that aspect.”
The Jets addressed the edge position in the offseason with the free agent additions of Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai and the early draft selection of David Bailey. Glenn, who hired Brian Duker as his defensive coordinator, will call plays for a unit that will play both 3-4 and 4-3 and feature 5-man fronts.
“Those are really good guys – good run defenders, good pass rushers,” McDonald said. “There are things that I learn off of them and there are things they learn off me, so I think just having those guys in the room helps me. It helps the rookies and it helps everyone else out.”