FS & SS has been bugging me all season. They just don't seem to know what the other is doing and with the style of D that we play, TEs just rip us apart
Well, I wouldn't say they're the only 2 legit OLB's since 2006 to enter the league.. there is also Woodley, Hali, Dumervil, but your point is definitely taken. It's extremely hard to find guys who can produce at that spot. You are more likely to swing and miss on those picks, just look at Gholston.
What pisses me off even more is that "supposedly" one of the main things Leonhard brings to our DBs is the ability to be on the same page one another (call it comunication or whatever you want) and that has gone totally missing so far this season. Now I don't know if that's because the guy next to him isn't listening or whatever but they need to get their shit together.
Its the new dudes not being well versed in the coverage. But its gotten better this season. The pass rush isn't getting there. Its the main problem right now for this defense. When it does get there, they usually get the fuck off the field.
Def a pass rusher over a safety. A good pass rusher will limit the liability at both safety positions. inside out
Pool has been mostly solid so far, and I think any issues he was having early on were probably a result of miscommunications. Smith is not good in coverage and never has been, so I agree with WSW in that he shouldn't be seeing nearly this much playing time. Ihedigbo is a lot like Smith - he's a good role player but he can't be relied on in coverage. Leonhard has given up a few plays but he does so many good things on the field it's hard to fault him. I'd love to see Lowery line up at safety though.. that's something that's been talked about but I'm starting to doubt it will ever happen. We could use some changes at the safety position, but we don't need to draft one with a top pick. It doesn't strike me as a glaring weakness.
Leonhard stays on the team until he retires or Rex leaves. Madden wise he can be easily replaced, in the real world you don't let a leader like that leave...ever. The other safety spot could use some help. Either Pool gets better or they need to find someone else for next year.
I'm not a Pool fan thus far. He did make a couple of plays earlier this season but he disappears for long periods of time during the game. Pre-season we heard about his hitting skills but I've seen him take several bad angles towards ball carriers allowing YAC. Yesterday, I don't recall seeing him at all. Leonhard, on the other hand, is all over the field and is a sure tackler even though he is usually physically overmatched. That spot opposite Leonhard is like a black hole that needs to be fixed since opponents are attacking us in the middle of the field.
Unless Pool finally "gets it." So far, it does not appear that he has. The difference between he and Rhodes is Pool's willingness to try and get better.
We also haven't seen multiple blown zones in the middle of the field this year. Guys are getting beat more than last year but at least they are playing the defense correctly.
The first and second rounds should be forgone conclusions that the picks should be a 3-4, pass rush DE or an OLB that can play DE(Akeem Ayers), and a nose tackle. The thrid round we traded for Cromartie. I think the Jets may draft either the best O-Line man available or a WR should one of Edwards/Holmes go. Will there be many good safeties left in the later rounds? Someone like Quinton Carter or DeAndre McDaniel(I would literaly sh*t my pants if we got him)? And Jim Leonhard isn't going anywhere, he's a leader on the field, he does play above-average defense and i think he's underrated. And Leonhard's the man.
I mentioned to my brother yesterday that I would love if the Jets could find some way to get a safety that is a presence in the secondary. Someone that makes all receivers take note of, whether or not they are a ballhawk or physical presence. Just someone who scares the shit out of players. That would make this defense damn near unbreakable...
Someone who would knock the head (figuratively of course, I don't want a fine) off the reciever coming off those shallow crossing patterns would be nice.
