This is the game calling. We'd like for you to show up on Sunday. Hey let me tell you that I am one of the guy's biggest supporters. Outside of the failed DT experiment and the collapse of our D last year, most folks are fairly pleased with his body of work. That being said. Where the hell is this guy? Is he on the field or is it an imposter in an Ellis costume? I've seen BRIEF flashes here and there, but nothing that you would expect from a player with his already-proven ability. Don't give me the crap about "The entire D sucks right now"- that's a bullshit argument. Guys like Rhodes are still managing to stand out on highlight reels even though the players around him (Barrett, Miller, et al) aren't pulling their weight. We are sorely lacking on D- both pass and run D, and he is really one of the key players for the unit. Right now, if you told me that Ellis was a first year walk-on from CW Post I'd believe you, as his play has been anything but spectacular. That being said, I really hope that the guy steps up his game. We've got alot riding on him ($), and I know that a failed NT experiment (Robertson) is partly to blame, but Ellis still needs to be held very much accountable.
I'm not a big Ellis fan but I think Shaun has been playing well. IMO He has been one of the more consistent performers on defense. Most of the runs have been to Von "Old" Hoffen's side. You would have to have anticipated that his sacks and pressures would go down with the move to the inside in a 3-4. In the 3-4, the LBs mainly the OLBs get the glory not the DEs.
I'm not even pushing for sacks- I'd just like some consistent play, which just hasn't been there yet. I recognize that DE's in a 3-4 aren't going to be pass-rushing monsters, but they've at least got to show up more than Ellis is on any given sunday.
It will probably take a year to get enough of the types of players needed to fit your new D-scheme. Unfortunately, that makes the D (whats holding the Jets back) a liability for the remainder of the season. Good thing you play Miami and the Bills twice a year!
Like I said, he's had flashes here and there, but not the consistent play he was known for. I believe he registered one tackle in the JAX game.
I actually met Ellis before the Jax game. He was out early warming up and came over and signed autographs for us. Nice guy. I asked him if he was going to get another 2 scaks this week and he said "I hope so." He was the only Jet to come over to us so leave him alone. But I think he is the least of our defensive worries.
Actually, Ellis is one of the few players that "fit". Remember Parcells drafted him to play the LDE position and he played it pretty well his rookie year under Groh.
Isn't that the nature of a D lineman though? Unless it's Bruce Smith they aren't going to dominate a game. Even with Gastineau and Klecko, they weren't in on every play, it's impossible. Again though, I didn't see the Jax game.
Excellent point. I can't figure him out, he's so up and down. Part of the problem was when they tried to make him play DT. He's getting a new scheme every few years, so hopefully he can get back to where he was. No DL should be making tons of plays in the 3-4, but if the run D is sucking, the blame goes to them.
Its hard for anyone to get a pass rush when you do not blitz. Ellis, like most DL cannot handle a double team. It is impossible to generate any pass rush by only bringing 3. More blitzing is needed.
Im more concerned about Vilma sucking it up right now. I mean he missed alot of tackles this year, where is he?
Except for the two sacks against the Colts, Ellis has been MIA since the Pittsburgh playoff game. He was horrible last year - invisible - and clearly was not giving full effort and then quit when the season went bad and sat out with a boo boo. This year, he has had one game with no tackles (Titans) and one with one (Jacksonville). $15 million bonus for this????????
Bit Harsh Koz. Like you I like him too. But you really can't say that He is crap and not say that the whole line isn't . Rhodes has stood out because he is a good(great?) player who has sometimes lined up in unordadox positions. Look at Vilma , hes a good/great player whos playing about the same as Ellis right now , so I would say that his attributes have fallen even lower , and why because as a unit they are horrible. The only person on the D right now earning their $$$ is Rhodes.
I believe the whole Ellis tantrum is getting out of hands: Football is a game of relative strength - you are only as strong as your weakest link is. Say, if you are the offensive coordinator of the opposing team. What do you want to do? a. Run against Ellis, and pay the price from time to time. b. Peck on the old dude, and the tepid tub of lard named R something. You KNOW you will be very, VERY successful there as well. Are you expecting Ellis to "fly over" other two spots and cover for them too? Moreover, if you DO choose to go against Ellis, you know your OLine can easily man-handle the other two fatsoes, so you always have the option of doubling him if that's the case. Is he to blame? I don't know. If the NT has been doing just enough of two-gap pulling, I don't think this would have even popped up.
Ellis is the least of my worries as a Jets fan. Especially at this point in the year where the 3-4 really hasn't been absorbed. Later in the year - if the D picks up as a whole and Ellis' contribution is still inconsistant - then I might worry. For now I am more interested in seeing the defense develop as a unit and embracing the Mangini scheme. Oh yeah - a NT would be a welcome addition.
