Since no one is bitching about their performances I will (just for the sake of discussion). I'm talking about Pace, Taylor, Ellis & Leonhard, Pool, Smith. Last year, almost in every game, Pace and Ellis were in the QBs face more often than not. While it's reasonable to think Pace has lost a step because of his troublesome foot (fracture) Ellis is showing he is starting to feel his age (and his troublesome knee). Taylor was supposed to come in and rotate with our main rushers but after the first games his contribution has declined. Don't ge me wrong, they're all solid players... but they don't provide the spark they used to anymore. And in the rushing aspect of the D that spark is imporant... it's what last year created numerous turnovers. As far as our Safeties I think they're the main reason we give away 3rd and long opportunities. I love Leonhard, I really do... but you can't expect him to cover 6'5" TEs! you have to scheme around his obvious weakness... As far as Pool and Smith they're both adequate but more often than not they don't provide the safety blanket a FS should provide (especially in a man coverage D). Pool seems very much out of place in this D (having missed a lot of TC doesn't help)... I was hoping to see a bigger improvement out of him sooner than later. Still optimistic but he has to start showing improvements. Smith is a solid player but he's no center field type FS. He'll do the job required (which is excellent) but he can't range all over the field and make plays... and this D needs that. My problem is these two guys are too similar to each other... I hope Pool can evolve in what Rex wanted out of him when he picked him up. All in all nothing too alarming but if we want to really dominate our opponents I think we need to display better play at the two positions posted above. Faithful in the CS they can get it done... go JETS!
We lack a solid pass rusher, we need to draft one this upcoming draft. That is our main issue. With our running game not chewing as much clock as it did last season this constant bum-rushing the QB isn't as effective because the QB has more chances to make a play over the course of the game. Good Post
Well if you put an extra TE and FB to block that only leaves you with 3 passing options...2 of which are covered by Revis and Cromartie.
I think next year draft should be loaded enough that we can get a good OLB or a good DE wherever we draft in the 1st...
This. I saw a ton of plays with both Smith and Best in at the same time and picking up blocking assignments instead of going out for a pass. The Jets are seeing a lot of blockers and are still getting great pressure. Although I will agree that we need some speed in the passrush and a NT who can draw double-teams on passing downs. Pouha is a beast against the run but he's marginal at best against the pass...unless he's dropping back into coverage.
Yeah, that'd be huge... Jenkins as the backup NT playing say 25% of the snaps... or even just the 3rd downs... I hope they find enough tissue to get his knees back together again. He deserves it.
Sorry guys but I think our dreams of Jenkins having any type of role next year is a pipe dream. Gotta think we'll be using the 32 pick in this upcoming draft on a true passrusher.
Good OP. When it's all said and done, though, our safeties are good enough, and while we don't have any big-name pass-rushers, our defense finds ways to get pressure. I know Jenkins missed quite a bit of last year too, but the lack of a dominant NT plays a part in our lack of pass-rush. Also, I wouldn't consider Ellis a "main pass-rusher".
Why do they keep rotating Taylor to the inside right b4 the snap? He's not an inside rusher, he's been an edge rusher his entire career.
