edit: to clarify, i had a long response but changed it because I just didn't feel like discussing the topic anymore.
Due to Leonhard's injury situation I could still see the door open a crack for depth. I dont see his salary being that cost prohibitive.
We got bush, allen, landry, bell, smith. Adding leonhard would mean 6 safeties on the roster. Seems a bit much. That said if someone goes down , id say there's a 100% chance Leonhard is a jet, if availavble
I heard the other day that Leonhard was vigorously working out trying to get back healthy. I would honestly be shocked if the Jets didnt re-sign him sometime before the season starts. I remember hearing Rex gush about him over the years, and with the terrible safeties on the roster, I really can't see Rex not at least giving Jim another shot. This is a guy so football smart that he could be signed the day before the opener and start. I wouldn't be worried as a Jet fan, they may not be done.
This makes sense to me. We also have the best cornerback tandem in the league. While we may not have a pass-covering safety, we do have 2 great and 1 spectacular cb. Together, with the run stoppers + cbs, we might become a top 3 if not top 1 defense in the league.
I am upset because I perceive a DOWNGRADE at the FS position when it wasn't necessary. Yes, we upgraded at SS and we did so in spades, but there's no way Landry is better than Jim Leonhard in coverage. Landry replaces Smith. Bell should be a backup to Landry along with Smith. You keep saying there were no options at FS. Bullshit. We had Pool and Leonhard and we chose to not re-sign them and stock up with SS's.
How do you know Leonhard is even healthy enough to start, much less be as effective as he was before having a season-ending injury? The Jets are probably unsure of his health/future as well so they are making necessary adjustments to the large possibility of Leohnard NOT being ready for the season. (If he is ready I still believe we will resign him)
I agree with everything you siad other than that. Bell is an average starter and Landry is one of the best safeties in the league when healthy. He was on his way to a DPOY award a season or two ago before injury, no? 2010 Washington Redskins 9 GP 9 GS 85 Comb 66 Solo 19 Asst 1 Sack 8 PD 1 Int 1 FF Eric Smith is an average backup (terrible starter) and the others are too young to say anything about.
That's nice but most NFL teams pass a lot. Moreover, even teams that don't prefer to run will pass when they figure out that the Jets defense is dedicated to stopping the run while being mediocre, at best, in stopping the pass.
Except we also have the best cornerback tandem in the league. If Kyle Wilson continues to grow (and Revis doesn't hold out) we shouldn't have a problem with pass protection even with no true FS.
So the Jets were 5th against the pass last year and has lost nobody significant to the defense yet they're mediocre? I'm so sure. Our problem last year was our run defense. Even though we ranked 13th, it was still below average by our standards. Just like a good run game sets up the pass, a good run defense helps the pass defense. If we can stop the run like we did in 2010 (3rd in the league) with the way our pass D has played (besides against TEs), the Jets can easily be a top 3 defense in the league.
You're an idiot. Annyways, I think best case scenario be drop Smith and pick up Jimmy as soon as we feel comfortable enough with his health. Jimmy isn't getting the credit he deserves right now, he's a good safety. He's well above average in coverage and even though he's not a big bruiser like Landry who can lay the wood, he's a sure tackler no doubt. Example: Lead to us winning the game.
A must in Rex's defense is for safeties to tackle thats why Rhodes was traded away for nothing and pool was never considered anything more then a back up (fyi both blew absolute dick at it). Yes Leonhard can tackle very well but he injured the same leg two years in a row, I understand that the fractured fibula isn't a serious or reoccurring injury but the torn quad tendon was in the same leg is, and remember he tore that tendon on a simple tackle that should not have resulted in the tearing of one of the strongest tendons in your entire body. This could very likely be repercussions of the fracture. Trust me I know anatomy and a torn quad tendon is a very serious and difficult injury to return from. The jets did an amazing job regardless of what you say I assure you!
Eric Smith is actually very good on special teams and he's a decent backup -- I would rather drop a rookie if he is underperforming.
I agree that smith is a good special teams guy and backup but at this point in his career i think he'd be the odd man out in that scenario.
As "good" as you want to sugar coat it Pool amd Leonard were and are both trash.... Pool got ran over Leonard got caught over I think all of are safeties needed to go from last year and look what we have now. I know they dont have the "Cover" Skills but this defense is relied upon Schemes and "jobs" I'm sure Rex has a plan to keep these guys playing well
Who is sugar coating things? I promise you those two are better in coverage than any safety on the roster right now.
