The last two HCs philosophy is predicated on pressure through the blitz. The Cards under Bowles had a really good D while leading the league in blitz %. To be able to blitz you have to have corners who can play man coverage. This isnt shocking or hard to understand that we need at least decent corner play if we're going to play that way. I dont get the negative in saying we need good corners for that style of defense to work while at the same time proposing a different style, one that requires a strong front end. Needing a strong back side is an issue but needing a strong front side attack isnt? Its one or the other and unfortunately we really havent been able to address the front, havent had too many chances at that edge rusher.
It's funny because I missed the first half of the jet giant game. I'm watching now. Lee had a tackle. More like a fly swat to the back and had they receiver not been off the ground it would have done squat. Beat by another receiver. Missed tackle at 9:56 of the second where he looks like me trying to play in the league. I know there's another play later in the game I did catch on Friday where his angle was complete shit. I'm sorry, I'm just not getting excited for his 3rd year. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
I don't think I'm alone in wishing that Bowles adopted a more "traditional" defense, one not based upon blitzes and gimmicks, bit one based on getting to the passer since the NFL is a pass-dominated league. Yes, he needs to have the personnel, and that's where Macc comes in, but is it a case of Macc not giving Bowles pass rushers, or of Bowles not asking for pass rushers because he believes in his approach? As a fan, I don't care either way, but I DO care that game after game I watch as even mediocre QBs take advantage of the poor pass rush and pick apart what is supposed to be a pretty strong unit. Given enough time, the greatest secondary in the world will be beaten. This is why I complained about taking two safeties last year. The greatest safety in the world will get beat if the QB has enough time. So it all comes down to pass rush, and Bowles needs to figure out how to produce that, or make sure Macc gets him the personnel to do so. As for Darron Lee, regardless of whatever stats he's produced, he hasn't made much of an impact, and a guy taken #20 should. Either he's not good enough, or the way he's being used isn't working. Whichever it is, it needs to get fixed.
Just because Lee might be better in some stats than other people in his draft class doesn't make him good. It could also be that his draft class sucks for LBs. Not many high picks on LBs that year and those that were high picks are better.
Not sure that we should expect the GM to redo the whole roster to play a 4-3 when he believes in and was hired off the success of that defense. Do we really want a GM to force a different philosophy on the HC? As for Lee I agree and say it often, he's not Ray Lewis but he's not a bust, he is what he is and could be a lot worse. If there was a clear cut player that should have been taken at 20 or he was a reach I would be pissed.
I'm not saying that Bowles should be forced to use a 4-3, but that said, I am saying that whatever he uses ought to work, and so far I haven't been impressed. This is his 4th season and he's gotten a lot of good players and had a chance to teach and install his system, so even though there are holes - no elite pass rusher - I want to see a big improvement this year. If not, he needs to go away. I never want a Jets player to fail so I hope Lee finally becomes the player they thought he could be when they drafted him. But he just doesn't seem to physically be an NFL caliber player - too small, not all that fast, not very good technique. Maybe this is the year he can put it all together, but if not, he too should go away.
At my job I am ranked in the top 5-7 analysts who are left handed and were hired in the year I was hired.
IMO you can make a better argument against Lee than for him right now as for me I am in the "against" camp . We all hope and wish this guy was better than he is that said we can argue this more in 2 weeks when the games are real.
Having to make a point comparing 3-4 to 4-3, sure I agree. But, have the Jets ever used a strict 3-4 in an ENTIRE game ? Most of the times I have seen them is lining up 4 down lineman - if you think I'm wrong - watch closely - I very rarely see them with a strict 3-4.
In order a 3-4, especially one like Bowles where pressure is predicated by the blitz, he led the league in blitz % with AZ, you have to have CBs who can play man as that the coverage they're going to play. He hasn't had that and hasn't blitzed anywhere near the percentage he did before. Don't think we've seen his planned defense hit the field yet. Again, Lee isn't Lewis but who was better at 20 that we should have drafted. A GM can't just snap his fingers and the pro bowl player he needs is available when his draft spot comes up, sometimes it's a matter of luck and who's available. If he doesn't improve, I'm with you, he'll be allowed to walk after his contract allows for it. Makes no sense to move him now
This is the bottom line: What really irks me is the type of topic where 'fans' moan and groan about a certain player's performance when everyone and his grandmother knows that the coach and the management are going to put him on the field as a STARTER for the remaining time of his tenure. This is like sitting on the side of a busy highway and making a bet with someone that there wont be a SUV among the next 100 autos that pass. Ever hear of TEAM players? They all stick together and try their best to make it work with what they have. Fans are the anti-thesis - "lets single out some one and hope if we keep moaning , they'll disappear" , LOL.
Whats really frustrating is Lee is the type of athlete who ends up w Baltimore,GB or Seattle & becomes a difference making pro bowler..Flying around the field,fastballing lead blockers & disrupting passing lanes.. It just doesnt seem to matter who this team brings in..esp on D.Think about all the high regarded defensive prospects this team has made in the last 10 years.Does the D play any bigger,faster,stronger or Frankly BETTER for more than a week or 2?? The D looks exactly the same as it did 10 years ago.Same lethargic,rigid agility challenged mediocirity. 4 defensive head coaches in row..countless early round picks..and still the same results. If someone has an idea of when this changes or gets better id really love to hear it
Another point is that I don't think there a many veteran NFL players taking preseason games very seriously - enough to go the extra for a complete 1/4 or half. I wouldn't judge to heavily on a 3rd - 4th year player's performance in preseason. If teams like the Patriots and Eagles look horrible in pre-season, there starters are laying back.
All-Butter PanCaked by Sara Lee. . OLs find him soft, moist and delicious. You're an OC: who are you looking to iso in coverage? #58lostinspace .
Bart Scott is basically calling Lee soft. https://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2018/08/heres_what_jets_darron_lee_thinks_of_bart_scott_ri.html
Jonatha Vilma was never the problem here in NY within our 3-4 defense. Vilma was an all out stud straight out of Miami U. The problem was Dewayne Robertson @ NT within a 3-4. He was a slouch of a pushover and former 4th overall bust. It's a crying shame how so many Jet fans attacked and singled out a former 1st round pick, DROY and 1x Pro Bowler who later turned future 3x Pro-Bowler & Super Bowl Champion; all because D.Rob was unable to man his position. It's also a damn shame how we lost Vilma in 2007... and then landed Kris Jenkins in 2008. What could've been. Jonathan Vilma would have feasted behind Kris Jenkins (and opposite of David Harris the thumper) as would Darron Lee T-off behind a Dominant 3-4 NT (I've seen this story before). Darron Lee, just like Jonathan Vilma (identical in size) I feel and believe would flourish behind an NT/DT run stuffing 360 lb monster such as a Kris Jenkins, or better yet how about a 6'3 355 lb First-team All-Pro of a run sniffing and run stuffing animal in Damon Snacks Harrison, who Lee unfortunately never had the opportunity to do so. Our dominant run defense fell off a cliff the very moment after (keeping Wilkerson &) losing Damon Harrison. It's no coincidence how Damon Snacks has gone on to become a 1st-team All-Pro with NYG... While a 9th year veteran in McLendon, has not. But yet certain types of Darron Lee critics refuse to acknowledge this fact while using Darron Lee as a scapegoat. 2015 was Damon's last season as a Jet. Darron Lee arrived the very next season; 2016 as only a (raw) rookie. Had we kept Damon Harrison: Darron Lee would currently be flourishing while heading into only his 3rd season. If anyone deserves blame for our interior run defense and overall decline, it's Steve McLendon ala the forgotten player Jet fans refuse to acknowledge, let alone criticize (and one whom replaced Harrison). He came here from Pittsburgh in 2016 in replace of Snacks and ever since... our run defense has drastically declined. Not a coincidence either. No, I'm not saying he's trash but what I am saying is that @ 310 lbs he's not half the run stuffing animal as the likes of Jenkins and Harrison were for us (and more importantly for our IMLB's). I guess people just see the IMLB position and 3-4 defensive scheme a little bit differently than myself, as I like to focus on the whole picture instead of and rather than blind criticism. As you all know the 3-4 NT Position (Robertson/Jenkins) - (Snacks/Steve) holds more weight against the run than that of an IMLB within a 3-4 defense. One would think that a 7th & 8th year NFL Vet of a run stuffing 3-4 NT would be expected to lead and carry a run defense more than that of a 1st & 2nd year IMLB within a 3-4 defense would, no? But yet it's Darron Lee who seems to be "everyone's topic of discussion" as only a 3rd year player all while a 9th year Pro & NFL Veteran in Steve McLendon (when talking toughness and run defense) seems to get a free pass from the heart of this fan base... It's head scratching to me. And bothersome.
In preseason, is there any surprise to this? This is what basically comes down to when playing preseason games - not defending Lee but I'm sure that there are many other players doing the 'soft' shuffle - why should a vet go 100% ? Only rookies and 2nd year backups need apply
He was only 1 of 2 LBs drafted in the 1st round if I recall correctly so what you are saying is that 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounders are outplaying him, got it.
