The New York Jets’ offensive line had a brutal Sunday in their Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions, and big man Olu Fashanu was right in the middle of it all. Quarterback Geno Smith was hit a season-high five times, and Fashanu, the starting left tackle, had what can only be described as a career-worst performance. He was at the absolute forefront of the protection issues, leaving everyone wondering what’s happening up front.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Talk about a tough day at the office. Pro Football Focus slammed Fashanu with blame for six pressures and three sacks against the Lions. Think about that: three sacks allowed in one game. His PFF pass-blocking score for the day? A truly lackluster 35.1. That’s a number that screams “trouble,” and frankly, it tells you everything about the kind of afternoon he had trying to keep Geno Smith upright. After the game, Fashanu himself didn’t mince words, admitting, “It wasn’t good enough.” He knows his job is to protect his quarterback, and he flat out said, “I didn’t do that today.” You gotta respect the honesty, but the film review is going to be rough. He vowed to “watch the film, look at what I did wrong and attack the next week,” but the immediate reality is grim.
An Early Season Regression?
What makes this even more concerning is the trend. This isn’t just one bad game in a vacuum. According to TruMedia, Olu Fashanu *already* leads the entire NFL in sacks allowed with four. Let that sink in. Last season, he gave up six sacks on a whopping 634 pass-blocking snaps. This year? He’s already allowed four QB takedowns on a measly 127 pass-protection reps. That’s a massive jump in inefficiency, and it’s looking like a clear case of early-season regression. It wasn’t just Fashanu struggling either. The Jets’ starting five on the offensive line collectively allowed 19 pressures against the Lions, per Next Gen Stats. Josh Myers and Joe Tippmann each took responsibility for a sack, and even running back Braelon Allen couldn’t escape blame for struggles in pass protection. When the whole unit is crumbling like that, it’s a huge problem.
The Jets’ offense is in a tight spot, and it’s clear they desperately need Olu Fashanu to dig deep and sort through these struggles. With the kind of raw talent he has, you’d expect better, but the numbers right now are undeniable. He’s got a lot of film to watch, and a huge challenge ahead to turn things around before this early season regression becomes a season-long crisis. Let’s see if he can attack next week with a vengeance.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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