FLORHAM PARK -- Darron Lee doesn’t buy the notion that he’s too small to play inside linebacker in the New York Jets’ 3-4 scheme.
He doesn’t buy into theories that his struggles, and the entire defense’s failings, in the first two weeks of the season are about lack of effort or inferior skill level.
The title of Lee’s book on what ails the Jets’ D is succinct: Execution.
Or in the Jets’ case -- lack thereof.
In the course of a three-minute interview on Friday, Lee used that one word -- execution -- four times to respond to questions about how the Jets defense can improve.
“And there’s nothing else I can really follow up on that,’’ Lee said.
The Jets play their first home game on Sunday when they host the Miami Dolphins (1-0) at MetLife Stadium. A loss would drop the Jets to 0-3 and give the naysayers all the validation they need that this will be a disaster of a season.
In the team’s 45-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders last week, Lee was credited with five tackles and no sacks. But what he’s remembered for is being obliterated by Oakland tight end Lee Smith.
Smith met Lee in the hole and completely pancaked the linebacker, freeing up Marshawn Lynch for a third-down conversion. Lee said he slipped on the play but he would not dwell on it.
"I'm confident in what I do," Lee said. "That's about it. I'm not sitting here saying I'm worried. If you're going to say I get worried over one play, that's not smart. I'm not concerned whatsoever."
The Jets took Lee with the 20th pick in the 2016 NFL draft. At 6-1, 232 pounds, the former Ohio State star was expected to give the Jets more speed on defense.
He clearly possesses above average athleticism but the jury is out on his transition to the NFL. He had 73 tackles and just one sack last season. This season he’s posted 17 tackles and one sack. He’s still looking for his first career forced or recovered fumble.
"My assessment of Darron is fine," Jets coach Todd Bowles said. "He's a linebacker for us. He plays well. He has some mistakes he can correct, just like everybody else on defense."