Jets' DE Bryce Huff Streaks into Regular Season
Bryce Huff has made consistency a big part of his game.
The New York Jets' defensive end consistently applied pressure on opposing passers in a rotational role last year and it's been much of the throughout this preseason.
Huff, who accounted for a 21.6 percent pressure rate in 2022 according to the NFL's @NextGenStats, frequently got to the quarterback over the course of Gang Green's four-game exhibition schedule. The fourth-year pro recorded at least one-half sack in all four contests.
Making his first of 3.5 summertime sacks, Huff accounted for the team's lone official quarterback takedown in the Hall of Fame Game on August 3.
With the Cleveland Browns marching the opening kickoff down to the Jets' 24-yard line, Huff stopped the drive dead in its tracks. He dropped passer Kellen Mond for a seven-yard loss on 3rd-and-10 and Cade York missed the subsequent 48-yard field goal attempt.
"We think the world of Huff, and he’s going to be a big part of this football team moving forward," said head coach Robert Saleh after the pass rusher logged 25 defensive snaps in the preseason opener in Canton.
Back out on the field for the exhibition in Carolina, Huff was part of a dominant defensive effort that sacked the Panthers five times and permitted only 3.4 yards per pass attempt.
On a 3rd-and-5 play late in the second quarter, Huff and Jermaine Johnson met at the quarterback and buried Matt Corral for an eight-yard loss. The sack resulted in a third consecutive three-and-out series for the home team.
"It was fun," said Huff of the 27-0 shutout in Charlotte. "Had a lot of fun out there with my guys. Got into some rhythm and just got active out there. It was a great turnout."
Huff brought the heat again in a 32-24 win over the New York Giants on August 26 at MetLife Stadium.
After the Jets took a 14-0 first-quarter lead on a Pick-6, Huff impelled the Giants to punt on their ensuing possession. The lightning quick edge rusher blew right past the tackle to sack Tommy DeVito on a 3rd-and-3 play.
One week earlier, he forced a three-and-out on Tampa Bay's second offensive series of the game on August 19. Huff hit Buccaneers' quarterback Kyle Trask on a third-down snap and jarred to ball loose in the process.
With a seeming ability to perfectly time the snap, Huff has shown an especially fast get-off this summer.
"I just kind of go off reaction," said Huff. "I just try to stay strong in my legs and lower half throughout the season. I kinda lift heavy in the weight room and try to load my body up to get off as fast as possible."
READ Back Delays Comeback for Jets' Veteran Defensive End
The 25-year-old Huff initially made the Jets' roster as an undrafted rookie in 2020.
Taking only 20 percent of the defensive snaps in his third season as a pro, the Memphis product registered 3.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits last year. His strip sack late-game strip sack of Josh Allen allowed Gang Green to post a 20-17 home victory over the division champion Buffalo Bills in Week 9.
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