We are in need of a shutdown CB. We have Justin Miller playing opposite David Barrett. I don't know how many times Barrett got burnt last year, but it was a bunch. Jimmy Smith burnt him deep on that overtime game vs JAX and he was beat in KC a few times, so that leaves us with a need here. I would say either possibly draft Kelly Jennings second round or make a signing soon. We can't overlook the secondary, although there is help needed elsewhere too.
With all the other holes we have at this point, I'd rather Mangini try and work some of his DB magic with the guys we have back there this year before we make it a top priority for upgrade. Miller has the potential to be a real good CB, so let's see what we have there, first.
Barrett didn't play that good, but you can't fault him for the Jacksonville game. He was right on top of Smith, Leftwich just placed the ball as perfect as he could of so that Smith was leaning out of bounce OR into the endzone. He was in position, but he would have to be huge to defend that pass. Maybe Sutton and Mangini will teach the press or bump and run as we know it. It's much easier to defend rather than giving them a jump start. Dissecting the zone.. 1. What they do is they bump at the line with a cornerback initially throwing the wide receivers off line and off their route allowing for more time for the pass rush to develop. 2. Drop a middle linebacker back in zone to protect over the middle, and usually drop him DEEP, so that the safeties don't have to worry about it. Middle linebackers need to be very fast at backpedalling into their deep slot. 3. Cornerbacks rotate to a zone coverage near the sideline from 1-10 yards covering all backs and tightends usually that come into their zone. They usually defend curl routes effectively because they are placed in front of the 7-10 yard marker. Cornerbacks need to have strong arms and good lateral hip movement. 4. Safeties rotate over to take receivers one on one in deep ball situations. Safeties need excellent ball skills. 5. Mix up blitz packages among the front seven. Rarely will you see cornerbacks or safeties (outside Harrison) blitzing, because they use such a precise zone to stopping the pass. 6. One outside linebacker blitzing at nearly all times. This year it was McGinest and Colvin. They need to get around the corner quickly and just make the quarterback feel the pressure. If you watch tape, Wilfork, Seymour and Warren all got good pressure once McGinest or Colvin collapsed the pocket. They didn't always finish though, which is key because that leads to interceptions. It's really all about the safeties and defensive line. You can work around average corners and linebackers. You can't work around good safeties or d-line.
Keep dreamin' the dream. Want magic? Here's Mangini's magic with the Patriots secondary last year: Official NFL record. Team passing defense rankings 2005 season: http://www.nfl.com/stats/teamsort/NFL/DEF-PASSING/2005/regular
How many of the Patriots starters were injured in the secondary last year? Exactly. You can stop with the act, troll. Everyone is onto you. Give it up.
With injuries to both Rodney Harrison, Randall Gay, and Artrell Hawkins. That leaves them with three cornerbacks on the roster.
Solution for Jets' lack of CB depth: http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/marcusmaxey.html http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/jonathanjoseph.html http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/willblackmon.html There are obviously better CB's in the draft, but these 3 guys would be available in the mid-late rounds.
And those numbers arent what you think. Look at the top three. Green Bay, NYJ, New Orleans. The reason those three are so good, is because they were always losing so the opposition would just run on them. Now look at the bottom of the list. For the most part those teams were good so other teams were passing to catch up to them
Rule #37: I shallnot trust any football players who weigh less then me. Gotta go by the book on this one...
Barret has a tendency to struggle early in the season and then pick up his game as the season goes on. After the Jax game he played solid the rest of the way. Not great but good enough to be a starter in this league.
