Honestly while Jimmy Leonhard is a pretty small guy, one thing that saves him is that he is extremely smart when it comes to positioning and knowing where the ball is going. I like Jimmy and I think he's invaluable to our defense. Ol' black ass on the other hand is getting beat by a TE or RB every single week. He has no recovery speed, he is constantly out of position, and he has been whiffing tackles like a motherfucker. Is Brodney Pool that bad that we have to keep starting Eric Smith? I don't hate Smith but outside of his capability to hit hard he hasn't brought much this year and along with Cromartie keeps getting picked on in 2nd/3rd and longs. What do you folks think?
What stats? The guy has no recovery speed at all, you don't need stats to see when he loses a guy it's game over. He's also more focused on knocking a guy out than wrapping up a tackle. One of the main reasons why our run defense was bad early in the season. He wasn't the only one in that regard, but his foot speed is atrocious. He is a major liability, and really the only flaw in Rex is the fact that he will continue to stick with veteran players he likes, regardless of bad performance. You have to be an absolute shit show for him to play someone over you.
Eric Smith is one of the main reasons the Jets run defense was atrocious? So Eric Smith is ahead of BT being injured, Pace/Devito/Wilkerson not setting the edge or Westerman being awful against the run or missed tackles by the ILB's and OLB's etc. etc. etc. Damn all the games I have been watching I missed Eric Smith's importance to stopping the run.... Edit: If a safety is one of the "main" reason's a run defense is awful, that run defense is in huge huge trouble.
If I had to guess I would say smith generally grades out positively on the whole. He does tend to give up when very noticeable play a game but I'm not seeing him blowing a coverage on every series or anything. Something everyone needs to realize is that the offense is gonna make a couple plays a game and it is generally going to be on one of the safeties because no safety effectively match up one on one against tight ends and slot guys all game.
^^^This is spot on....everyone looks the fact that our defense gives up 2-3 big plays a game to usually a tight end. Its simple to blame it all on smith, but if you watch any other game you will notice that teams are doing this more and more. ex. heath miller against the pats, Chandler of the bills last week. What our secondary does is impressive enough, plus there aren't many safeties with both the speed and size to "blanket" shift RB's out of the backfield, or athletic tight-ends.
I remember hearing or reading in the offseason that E. Smith graded out as the Jets worst defensive player for the second straight season.
You don't think that Rex and Tanny were unable to find someone better to bring in? If they can kick Edwards to the curb and bring in Plax, and for Crotchery, Ellis 92, etc etc etc? Spot on. Too bad Gronkowski isn't a Safety, then only he could cover Gronkowski... EDIT: How about QBs are going after Smith more cause the #1 ~ #3 WRs are unavailable thanks to our spectacular CBs?
Fuck no, I love seeing him get beat. I hope he gets burned the next two weeks in a row on game winning touchdowns in the final seconds. that would be awesome, because as a Jets fan I love to see our players suck and it be a detriment to the team.
