Jets linebacker Calvin Pace does not have to think long when asked for the reasons for his fast start this season.
It’s simple: He actually is on the field.
Pace missed the first four games of the 2009 (performance-enhancing drug suspension) and 2010 (broken right foot) seasons. This year, the outside linebacker started the season on time and has been one of the Jets’ best defensive players.
“I approach every season trying to be dominant,” Pace told The Post in a phone interview last week. “The fact of the matter is my dominance, or trying to be dominant, has been halted by my own mistake the first year and just being hurt the second year. It’s easy to play when you’re on the field and you’re not missing games for whatever reason. As long as I can get on the field, with [coach Rex Ryan’s] defense [I’m] going to make plays. That’s been the half the battle for me.”
Pace is fourth on the team with 33 tackles and tied for the team lead with three sacks. His play has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.
Ryan singled out Pace after last week’s 27-21 victory over the Chargers.
“Calvin Pace was a monster in that game,” Ryan said. “He was physical in the way he was rushing the passer, setting the edge. Calvin, I think, is having the best year he’s had since I’ve been here. I don’t think it’s even close. So he’s really doing a tremendous job for us.”
Though Pace has been a force, his play has gone under the radar. Part of the reason for that is Pace has avoided the media. The 31-year-old is rarely in the locker room during the period when the media is allowed access.
“People beat us down, whether it’s commentators, analysts, reporters, ex-players,” Pace said. “I get tired of hearing it and seeing it and having people smile in your face and write terrible articles about stuff that’s not even true. Instead of going in there and listening to it, I choose to do other things.”
Pace always has had a perception problem with the Jets. The team signed him to a six-year, $42 million deal during their spending spree of 2008. That big contract put a target on him for fans and media. When he did not put up Mark Gastineau-like sack numbers, Pace started hearing questions.
His frustration has grown since Ryan became the head coach in 2009 — not with Ryan but with how people view his role. The Jets defense has a group mentality that spreads the wealth around. Pace gets frustrated when people wonder why he doesn’t have
15 sacks but don’t see the other things he contributes.
“I’m a guy who holds many hats,” Pace said. “Sometimes the hats that I hold might not allow me to go out there and rack up three, four sacks a game. You’re never going to hear me complain about that. Sometimes I’m asked to be in coverage more. Sometimes they tell me to go ahead and rush more. The Jets don’t work for me. I work for them. Whatever Rex and Mike [Pettine, defensive coordinator] call up, I do it. I don’t complain about it.”
For example, Pace said one of his main duties last week against the Chargers was keeping tight end Antonio Gates from getting a clean release at the line of scrimmage.
“That’s going to hinder me getting to the quarterback, but you know what? Aaron Maybin got a sack, so that’s cool,” Pace said. “And it helped the guys behind me. It helped Kyle [Wilson] and [Donald] Strickland with their coverage. Sometimes to get to your ultimate goal, which is to get to Indianapolis, you’ve got to sacrifice. I’m cool with it. I know my numbers will come.”
Pace said he’s thinks the Jets are treated unfairly.
“There’s a team who people call the ‘America’s Team,’” Pace said. “But what have they done? People constantly give them outs. They’re always the favorite. When you look at what we do, we just so happen to have a coach who speaks his mind and speaks about us in a positive light.”
brian.costello@nypost.com