Exactly... we will then sign a #3/#4 CB... but if Cro leaves Wilson will get every opportunity to start opposite Revis. It sucks the off-season will be shortened because of this lock-out.
It only sucks if the offseason is shortened AND new FA rules immediately take effect. The two sides were asked to meet again before the judge's ruling. I'm assuming if it's left to the court, 2010 rules are back in place and we keep Cromartie as an RFA. If they reach an agreement (right) and a new CBA is adopted, we'll lose Cro. In that situation, Wilson will likely become the starter as many have said. If we improve our pass rush this offseason, we can afford a drop off in play at the #2 spot and a new #4.
As long as Rex is our HC, you can never rule out taking a DB high in the draft. Ever. Rex builds his defenses from the DB's in, not from the DL out. Rex feels a top backfield can defeat the pass, and scrub lineman can stop the run. There you go.
I learned a long time ago that betting with people on the internet is a ridiculous thing to do. But if it were not, I could make a lot of money here betting against Wilson starting this year. Ain't happening.
Just wondering, who do you believe is gonna be starting opposite Revis if Cro doesn't re-sign? We drafted Wilson as our first round pick last year for a reason I don't see why the coaching staff wouldn't at least throw him out there after having a year under his belt.
First of all I think it more likely than not, also depending on what happens with the overall situation with the league, that Cro will be signed. I know Wilson was signed with the apparent intent of first becoming the nickel and then being in a position to start. Whether the intent or hope was that would be in his second, third or later years I can't say. But we do know Cro was signed last year, also the year Wilson was drafted. Before the Revis contract situation got out of control there for awhile, it was obvious they intended to have those three cover the lion's share of playing time at corner. But, Wilson proved to be too much of a liability on the field to get a lot of playing time to get himself up to speed. He showed some progress, but only some as the year went on. Enough I think to not throw in the towel on further efforts and hopes to bring him along, but not enough to be assured he will make it, some day, sooner or later. Given his situation, the smart move is to do what is necessary to take a middling course with Wilson. That means don't do what you would if you thought he had no future on the team, which might be to consider drafting another CB with a high pick. It also means don't leave yourself in a position where he has to start. So, if Cro is not coming back, Cro will have to be replaced with someone capable not only of starting but of playing man coverage, as this is the kind of play Ryan wants from his corners. The decision is largely going to be dictated by the combination of Ryan's defensive philosophy, which is a cornerbacks in approach, if you will, and a recognition that Wilson is not ready to start. In short, if Cro is not back, some other vet CB capable of starting and playing man will be sought by the FO. But I still think in any event it is most likely Cro will be back. It is too important to Ryan's approach to D to leave the Jets vulnerable, as they would be if Wilson were starting. Not happening.
That is of course true as a general matter, but as I said in my previous post I think Ryan starts out drawing up his D by putting in two guys at the corners who can play man coverage. Even with the addition of a better pass rusher, I don't see him changing that approach.
The recognition that Wilson is not ready to start - by whom? I have no such recognition because I am not a coach with day to day knowledge of the progress he has made. He might very well be ready. We'll know about that when they can again make moves and we'll see if they think he is ready to start or not by weather they get someone big or only a filler.
Because not only did he not start this past year, understandable with both Revis and Cro there, he looked mediocre at best when he was out there, which except for the Bills game was hardly at all. The only thing KW fans point to as a reason he's now ready to start was that he was a first round pick last year. That's not enough.
I would not worry to much about the safety spot this year, if Poole and Leonard can stay healthy we should be okay there. We could use one of our later picks on a young prospect who we could develop and coach up in the next few years. I might also add, the second tier guys are there, who can fill in, God forbid, if needed for a short period of time. As far as Wilson not being ready to start, who can say, I think the coaching staff will have to be the final judge on that. There are not too many rookies who can come in and start there first year. The leap from college to the pro's can leave even the best draft choice's head swimming from the information he needs to retain. This is may be double with the skilled players trying to learn everything. One last thing about the CB, we must also remember that Revis was not there most of camp to help Wilson. So both he and Cro were in fact learning a new system on the fly, without one of the best in the NFL to help out. Yet I am in agreement with the posters here who think the best way to help the secondary out is to improve the pass rush. No matter who is playing behind the front defensive line, a stronger faster pass rush will only improve that unit. If you ask me, that was our weakest link the last two years. If we can get a feared pass rusher either thru the draft of FA, along with maybe a healthy big Jenks (for the right price) and Pitoitua, Ropati who I felt was ready for a break out year before the injury. We would have a solid shot at having the #1 defense in the NFL. An again with a front D line like this , our LB's would wreak havoc in the backfield and our DB;s and safeties would be getting a lot more picks.. Add in Rex's brain for defense into this mix and I don't too many team who would look forward to playing the Jets
Wilson hasn't showed anything "starter" worthy. All I keep playing through my head are straight negatives with the kid. I hope he will turn it around, but McCourty was playing so much better then Wilson last year. I wish the Patriots took Wilson instead, I'm not going to lie. The CB's are a huge deal for this Defense. I agree, I can't see Rexy feeling comfortable at this point with Wilson as the #2 in this defense. I just can't.
If we lose Cro would rather put some real money into a Safety than another CB as I believe Wilson will take steps forward this season. Could possibly sign a vet on the cheap at CB as well just incase. What will truly make our secondary better is a pass rusher, hopefully we find one in the draft, preferably in the 1st round.
I think Cromartie is 75/25 to be back as a Jet. But if he's not, I would think we'll target a mid-level corner to come in and push Wilson, and look to upgrade safety. Not necessarily a big star at safety.. just someone better than Eric Smith or Brodney Pool. I happened to really like Pool last year, but his play could have been a product of excellent cornerback play.
I've been saying this for 2 years, if we go yet another year without drafting a good prospect DE we will regret it. I personally think Carlos Rogers would be a good fit and just drop Cro to be able to sign Braylon and Holmes.
I think he just did that because that was the team's strength. If the pass rushing was better than the secondary coming in, I'm sure he would have taken a different approach. He draws his D to fit the personnel, not the other way around like Mangini.
And it was the team's strength why? Because even with Revis already on the squad they went out and got Cromartie. They also wanted it to be even stronger, which is why they spent a first round pick on Wilson. No doubt about it, Ryan wants to have very good corners as his basic building block on D.
