After watching the Jets slowish front 7 stumble through most of the first quarter of the season, I'm finally starting to feel more optimistic about their chances to regain their swagger from 2009 because some of their younger faster players back-ups are starting to see the field and looking good doing it. I was hoping Ryan would reach on to his bench and give guys who showed a little spark during the preseason like Maybin, Mauga, and Bellore some real snaps. Unfortunately, Rex is a slow adopter when it comes to mixing new talent onto the field (Wilkerson being one notable exception). He always has to be forced by injuries to give these younger guys some PT. Lucky for him, the unwanted injuries to Bryan Thomas, DeVito, and others are finally forcing Rex to add some speed, youth, and energy to his defense. Hoping to see more of this because I believe it's worth a try to see if guys like Mauga and Bellore can close the Jets vulnerability to the outside. Championship teams always include a blend of first-year role players well-integrated into the mix.
I don't think of speed and youth when I see young guys coming in, I think of more penalties occurring...
Sorry, but having westermann on the field on first downs is not a blessing. It is a liability that must be gameplanned around.
I was not bummed at all when BT went down, he's so inconsistent and I am done with him. Losing Devito for the Charger game would suck, he's one of the good young ones, don't need to bench him. Looks like Westerman and Maybin have helped. Ellis played ok but that's just one game.
Bryan Thomas is criminally underrated by uneducated fans like yourself. He's a hell of a run defender. You look at his sack totals and assume he's not a good player. I've said this at least five times, but it's a damn shame fans like you have tickets the games.
BT is terrible against everything except the run. No speed, can't cover backs or TE's, can't play zone d, can't rush the passer In reality, who really gives a chit about Brian Thomas? We are in dire of an upgrade regardless.
The place we are in dire need of an upgrade is at safety. You want guys on the front 7 who can stop the run cold. Thomas is as fundementally sound as any player on our D. Is he a standout terror absolutely not but he's solid. At Safety we aren't close to solid. It might help to get more speed on the edge but I don't think it will cover up for our overall poor safety play and having running backs drag our guys for another few yards a play might just expose our safties even more as they creep up to compensate for his lose.
I love BT and think his loss is huge...I'm thinking more of spelling Scott on some downs. Of course, Mauga just let me down.
I'm fine with Leonhard as long as we have a better cover guy at the other spot. Eric Smith has the mindset of a middle linebacker in the body of a safety. I'd love to have the guy in the middle of the defense if he had the size but he is a liability in coverage at this point at safety. Leonhard keeps making important plays on breakaways. His takedown of Tolbert today probably saved the Jets.
Does anybody know anything on Kenrick Ellis? I know he got the start yesterday, but after the first play I saw him limp off the field and he never came back in if I'm not mistaken. Anyword on the possible injury?
Sprained his ankle, not a high ankle sprain. He was seen walking around in a walking boot today. Hopefully he should be ready for Buff
