Since we've been debating a lot about the lack of a pass-rush... http://blog.newyorkjets.com/2010/11/24/pace-feeling-great-breakthrough-near/ Pace Feeling Great … Breakthrough Near? Posted by Eric Allen on November 24, 2010 – 1:38 pm There is good news this week for the beleaguered Jets pass rush. Calvin Pace, who has racked up 2.5 sacks in his first six games back after breaking his right foot in the preseason, is feeling better than he has all season. “The foot is good — 100 percent,” he told me this Thanksgiving week. “I didn’t know if I was ever going to say it felt this good this season. Even with the short week, I feel good.” After Pace returned to action in Week 5 with a 1.5-sack performance against Brett Favre and the Vikings, he said that he didn’t think the foot would be 100 percent for the rest of the season. But the Jets medical staff did another wonderful job and when you coupled that with Pace’s diligent rehab work, the 6’4”, 265-pounder actually said the toughest part of his return was shaking off the rust. “When you don’t play, you’re trying to get back out there and you’re trying to get into the flow of the game and you’re trying to get your eyes right to see different things,” he said. “It’s tough, man, and that’s anybody — I don’t care if it’s one game you miss.” Jets fans are worried about a lack of pressure on opposition quarterbacks as the Green & White rank tied for 13th in sacks (21) and 17th in sacks per pass play. OLB Jason Taylor leads the way with four sacks, veteran DE Shaun Ellis has 3.5 and OLB Bryan Thomas has pitched in three. “Every guy up here would like to have double-digit sacks, but that’s just not the case right now. We’re trying to get there and every game has different flows to it,” said Pace as the Jets finished up preparations for the Bengals. “Some people want to hit us with the quick game and some people keep more people in to protect. “But the fact remains when we do get a chance to rush 1-on-1, we have to get there and guys have been working extra trying to work different moves and line games. We’re going to get better. It’s not going to happen overnight, but the key is to be good on first and second down, so third down you can just pin your ears back.” Perhaps the strangest statistic for the defense this year has been its five-interception total, which ranks tied for 30th overall. A team that features the best CB duo in football in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie hasn’t had a theft in five games, but the home squad will have opportunities against Carson Palmer if it can bother him in the pocket. “We have to affect Carson, get some hands in his face and pressure him so he’s not sitting back there like it’s 7-on-7,” said Pace. “I think we get a lead and then we turn them loose,” added head coach Rex Ryan. “That’s something that we’ve got to really look at. We have excellent pass rushers led by Jason Taylor, Shaun Ellis, Trevor Pryce and Calvin Pace. That’s a pretty good group of pass rushers. Now we don’t always ask those guys to rush the passer — maybe we need to do more of that.” The defenders are licking their chops to get back on the field after Sunday’s fourth-quarter breakdowns against the Texans. And you just get the sense that Pace, who combined for 15 sacks his first two seasons with the Jets, is poised to break through here soon. “As the weeks keep going on, I feel like it’s coming,” he said. “I’m still waiting to go out there and have that big game. Hopefully Thursday, a primetime game, that will be the case.”
Pace also has been less effective in coverage this year than last... here's hoping he'll improve on that also.
The problem is he probably can't put as much power on the foot as he'd like and that makes him slower... since being explosive is the main trait of an OLB (both in rushing and in being able to cover) he's not playing well. Hopefully he really is healing and he can get back to his old self.
I've always been a fan of Pace because I felt like he was underrated, but he really needs to step it up a notch.
He's also lost contain on a bunch of outside runs ... He's been avg at best this year, hopefully he's over the foot issue
Nah, just before he got hurt in the preseason he was a terror. Almost took Eli's head off. He just needs his foot to heal. He opted for the quick surgery to get back on the field fast....because he's a warrior. I'm confident he'll start making plays.
Hah well played, I set myself up for that one. Now that I think about it that post is kind of weird for people that don't know about that joke...
While the pass rush definitely needs to pick up and the last few games the QB has had too much time on some plays, I still think getting the QB to unload quicker and forcing bad throws is still there. The Jets are holding teams to a 51% completion percentage, lowest in the league. Right now top 5 in points allowed, top 7 in yds allowed and top 10 in a few other categories. I expect with Pace getting 100% and making a few more changes in play calling and execution to not let teams drive the field late, by the end of the season the D should be top 5 in most categories.
