Jets' defensive line has been a force, even without edge rusher Carl Lawson

The loss of edge rusher Carl Lawson for the season hit the Jets hard initially, but the defensive line has rallied, responded and are following Robert Saleh’s blueprint for disruption.

Saleh’s defense is built on attacking the quarterback and trying to make his life miserable. It starts with his front four rushing and wreaking havoc. That’s the way it was when he was the defensive coordinator in San Francisco, and that’s how it is here.

The Jets defensive line has embraced this style and approach - and are excelling at it.

Perhaps to the surprise of many, the Jets are tied for fourth in the NFL with 13 sacks. They had seven in Sunday’s overtime win over Tennessee – their most in nearly four years – and hit Ryan Tannehill 14 times.

Saleh’s presence is being felt and his message is getting across to his players.

"I’m very vocal, our defense is very vocal, [defensive coordinator Jeff] Ulbrich’s very vocal, with the fact that we win or lose based on our D-line on that side of the ball," Saleh said. "They’re the heartbeat of that side of the ball and they take ownership in that.

"Obviously, it’s still a team game and the young guys in the back end are doing a phenomenal job giving them the time to get home. But that D-line takes pride in what they represent for this team and they’re a bunch of dogs and they play their butts off and it shows every Sunday."

The defensive line was expected to be a strength, even after Lawson suffered a ruptured Achilles during an August joint practice with the Packers in Green Bay. The Jets had talent and depth there. But there were questions about how Saleh and Ulbrich would create pressure without a proven edge rusher.

They’ve been answered. It’s all about rush-and-cover in Saleh’s scheme.

The Jets have been able to generate a pass rush with their front four winning one-on-one matchups while their young defensive backs have done better in coverage than expected.

Third-year tackle Quinnen Williams leads the group with 3.5 sacks and six quarterback hits. He had two sacks Sunday and continues to grow as a player. Williams already has surpassed his sack total from his rookie season and is halfway to matching last year’s number.

Defensive end John Franklin-Myers has had sacks in three of the Jets’ four games, and had three quarterback hits Sunday. Bryce Huff, who replaced Lawson as a starting end, got home for 1.5 sacks Sunday and three QB hits.

Tackles Foley Fatukasi, Sheldon Rankins, Nathan Shepherd and end Shaq Lawson also have contributed to the fast start for the Jets’ defense.

"The veteran leadership in that group and the mindset and the drive and all that have been up there," Saleh said. "They’re just about as good as anybody in football in terms of how cool that room is built."

The Jets have finished in the top 10 in sacks only once since 2011. If they accomplished that this season, without Carl Lawson, it would be impressive.

Lawson, the Jets’ big free-agent signing, looked destined for a big season the way he was dominating camp. The players on the defensive line knew they had to step up to replace Lawson, and they have.

"It was just a sense of like we got to pick up where he left off," Huff said. "He brings that intensity every day, that attention to detail, his focus and how serious he takes every aspect of the game on and off the field. We put a good bit of pressure on us knowing that we have to elevate our games to make up for the loss."

Notes & quotes:The Jets placed rookie linebacker Hamsah Nasirildeen on injured reserve and signed offensive lineman Isaiah Williams to the active roster.