Jets coach says McKnight could be two-way player Jets BlogPOST STAFF REPORT Last Updated: 6:10 PM, October 4, 2010 Posted: 5:50 PM, October 4, 2010 Comments: 0 More Print Joe McKnight couldn't get on the field for the Jets' first three games. Now Rex Ryan is talking about McKnight never coming off. The Jets head coach on Monday said the running back's performance on the scout team defense has initiated ideas of him playing two ways. "Yes. Why not? It’s been done. Guys can play both ways," Ryan said. "Troy Brown was one. I think Cleveland had a guy with a receiver jersey last year (on defense). It’s been done. "We’re pretty set now at corner, but it just shows you. He’ll go out there now and compete. When our guys are running routes against him, he’s competing like crazy out there. You see some natural corner skills." McKnight was active for the first time in Sunday's win over the Bills, playing mostly on special teams before getting some garbage time on offense. Ryan said McKnight's enthusiasm never waned while not playing, and his athleticism impressed the team during practice. "I think he could play corner. I don’t think there’s any doubt when you see him," Ryan said. "I think (defensive backs coach) Dennis Thurman would love to have that opportunity to coach him. I was told when we took him out of (USC), I had a coach tell me that he was the best receiver and the best corner on their campus the day he showed up. He has that kind of athleticism." McKnight's slow adaptation to the NFL was a topic on "Hard Knocks" and his roster spot was questioned as the Jets have let go of Leon Washington, Danny Woodhead and Chauncey Washington to keep him around. Ryan showed he thinks the Jets will be proven right in the end. "I can say this, he’s the guy that had to make himself a better player," he said. "His enthusiasm and everything else, when he hits the practice field, has been different. I don’t know why that is. I don’t want to say pressure, but maybe there’s just something to it, where he decided that, 'Hey, I know a way to get myself back on this team and to be active, and that’s to do it myself.' I think that’s what he’s done." Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets...D41qpVibK?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz11R3cJxCh
ill believe it when i see him lining up at corner on gameday i love rex but he talks up his players alot
Other than OL Aaron Kia ("God, he's terrible"), every player under Rex's watch is an All-Pro in his eyes.
There is no reason for that to happen. He's not talking him up when the same thing was said at USC the day he got there as a freshman. Troy Brown needed to play corner because the Pats were decimated by injuries. When the Jets lose Revis, Cro, Wilson, and Lowery, he might get a shot. You don't want that to happen.
^Forget the day he got there. Carroll said that LAST year. He worked out at CB on his own time so he could seize every opportunity to play rather than be mired in a committee. Carroll, however, didn't want to risk him.
Interesting. I really wanna jump into more Leon-McKnight bullshit, but I'm just gunna say I like my POV.
Ya know, watching hard knocks it felt like he had to try to live up to so much hype with all the 'second coming of bush' talk @ USC, and some of his interviews I watched when we drafted really show how much pressure he felt he was under - I feel like he's got a triple dose of that rookie 'need to be a hero' thing, like sanchez was talking about after the buffalo game. Maybe he'll respond better to this kind of talking up. Who knows, maybe a switch at position on the scout team is clearing his head.
Don't insult me. Rex hypes up all of his players, including Gholston. That's all I'm saying. Once, McKnight does something productive I'll renege on my statement.
I've never seen fans get SO down and SO bitter towards a 3rd string, rookie 4th round pick.. Do we badly need him out there right now this week and he is letting us all down or something? Did I miss that?
