C.J. Mosley calls shots for Jets defense
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills is stopped on a run during the fourth quarter by C.J. Mosley #57 of the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – C.J. Mosley wasn’t in the Patriots’ huddle the last time they played, but it felt like it to Bill Belichick.
The Patriots coach said Mosley knew some of the plays they were running in their Week 8 meeting at MetLife Stadium. The veteran linebacker has been known to call out the other team’s plays from his extensive film study, but he appreciated the recognition from Belichick.
“It’s definitely an honor, especially coming from a coach of his stature,” Mosley said Thursday. “Any time you get a nod or a pat on your back from one of those coaches, it’s always appreciated. But it’s in one ear out the other. We know we got him this weekend, but a lot of respect for him.”
The Jets (6-3) play at New England (5-4) on Sunday and will sit atop the AFC East with a win. Belichick will try to prevent that and probably will have some new wrinkles, so Mosley isn’t able to call out his plays again. It’s also possible that Belichick was just trying to soften up the Jets’ captain.
“You never know,” Mosley said with a smile. “You know the tactics. You appreciate it but you take it with a grain of salt. I put a lot of time and effort into my style of play, so it definitely feels good to get recognized for it.”
Mosley, 30, is the unquestioned leader of the Jets’ defense. The three-time Pro Bowler is the voice of that group. He makes sure everyone is in the right place.
According to Belichick, Mosley jumped on plays quickly in their last meeting.
“It looked like Mosley almost heard the play in the huddle. He was on it so fast,” Belichick said. “That's what good defensive players do. They anticipate things and they are able to sometimes get a read on what they think is going to happen.”
Mosley said he started to be able to call out plays in his third or fourth year in the NFL. This is Year 8 for Mosley.
It doesn’t happen by accident. Mosley has always been a student of the game. He keeps a notebook with him that he writes things all the time, he watches and studies films and tendencies and it pays off.
Mosley leads the Jets with 88 tackles after registering a career-high 168 last season.
“I always try to anticipate,” Mosley said. “I don’t want to be out there guessing or just reacting. I just try to see formations and try to get a tell whether it’s from a lineman, from quarterback, from a check, from a wide receiver being in a certain type of stance. It does take a lot of studying to see those kinds of things.
“Playing football for a long time, you start to see little things that goes with a game so some things you can’t really hide.”
Mosley said he’s right “more times than not,” and it’s a good feeling to know he’s in the right place and his teammates positioned properly to make a play.
“You want your guys playing fast,” Mosley said. “You want to try to anticipate things. That’s how good players make great plays. I just want to be . . . counted on for big situations.”
That’s what Mosley has been and continues to be for the Jets.
Tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner have garnered much of the attention for the Jets’ emergence defensively. But Mosley ties it all together. He’s the coach on the field and has the utmost trust and confidence from his coaches.
Robert Saleh still brings up the time last season that Mosley checked out of a defensive call because of what he saw. Saleh said that generally doesn’t happen, but Mosley made the right call.
“He’s always communicating,” Saleh said. “He does a great job anticipating. He is a tremendous asset, especially in the front, because he’s talking and you figure he’s in the middle of the defense, everyone can hear him except for maybe the corners. So, he’s been fantastic.”
According to Mosley he’s only wrong “a couple of times.” When he is, he said his teammates pick him up.
“I got 10 players on my side that help get me right,” Mosley said. “Whether I’m wrong or I’m right, I just try to play fast and get to the ball.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
