Home > The Way We Hear It ~ ~ ~ NY Jets April 11, 2008 Jets' secondary emerging as a formidable force The Jets have made a host of headlining transactions this offseason, signing high-priced free agents Calvin Pace, Alan Faneca and Damien Woody, and trading for Kris Jenkins. Yet, in the eyes of those close to the team, the best move was Tuesday?s extension of SS Kerry Rhodes? contract. Rhodes? five-year, $33.5 million deal makes him one of the league?s top-earning safeties, a title which befits his status as an elite defensive back. It also further cements the Jets? secondary as a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Second-year CB Darrelle Revis looks every bit a future Pro Bowler and young FS Abram Elam is a playmaking, albeit inconsistent, performer. But that?s not to say the Jets' secondary fortifications are done. In fact, the CB spot opposite Revis is in shaky hands. RB Darren McFadden and DE-OLB Vernon Gholston are the top candidates for the Jets to snag with the sixth selection, but if they?re able to trade down, a mid- to late-first-round corner is a distinct possibility. The Jets want to employ more man coverage in the secondary, a philosophy that will be made more feasible by upgrading the athleticism of their CB corps. > http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/default.htm
That's cool. I think that front 7 is more of a concern as far as the draft is considered, but I wouldn't be upset if we brought a starter in to play CB either. Although, it's easy to understand that with even a semblance of a pass rush, the secondary would benefit tremendously.
I really don't think one elite player and one very good player out of four make the secondary a "force." Elam and anyone CB that is on the roster other than Revis is a back-up at best. You can't have stars at every position, but have two week links out of four in our secondary is a bit disconcerting. Hopefully, the team will sure up the CB2 and/or FS position in the draft.
Elam is a STRENGTH of our defense. Outside of a couple boneheaded, rookie type mistakes he was terrific and a physical force on the defense. He was one of the main reasons along with Harris our defense turned around the second half. Honestly, the people who think Elam is not a very good player just have no clue.
Yet again another who can't read a roster....you missed Justin Miller....as so many others before you have....
Uhhh...I don't think Miller or the likes of Barrett keep offenses coordinators up at night. Let's just put it that way. There really was a reason why they were left out of the post (I think) with regards to listing ELITE starting CB's on the roster.
We don't know what the offseason will do for coaching up our Defensive Secondary candidates. This unit has to learn to play together, just like the Dline and the LBs. It's a little early yet to characterize them one way or the other. Having said that, if we do not get Gholston at No. 6 I would go for the best CB or OL available if we cannot trade down out of No. 6.
Elam...if he can avoid those boneheaded plays he can be a good safety for us. To bad he gets a bad rap from the people who only see the highlights b/c it seems like he was in a handful of notoriously bad plays for us last season. I am also concerned with our no.2 corner spot. I will give Miller 1 more season and hope that he can stay healthy AND get his act together. That or we resign Poteat, whom I think is extremely underrated by everyone.
The more CBs we have (if we don't get a great draft pick at CB) the better they will learn to play together. This is a talented motivated group, and they are lucky to have Revis and Rhodes and Jerome Henderson on their tails this year.
I agree 100% I also think Elam is one of the reasons the defense played so much better at the end of the season. Yes, he made some very stupid mistakes, he also made some monster hits. He was a rookie, those things happen to rookies. In spite of the boneheaded plays Mangini stuck with him, which tells me he really likes the kid. I think 3 out of 4 of our DB's are very good. Everyone is also forgetting about Miller. He had a very good camp last year, then got hurt in the second game. He has as much raw talent as Revis. His problems have been between his ears. I hoping last summer when he slugged Obomba's aid, it might have matured him a bit. We will see. This is a do or die camp for him I think.
I've rewatched some of the games and I think you guys are giving Elam way too much credit. IMO, Eric Smith is a little more consistent and that's what you need back there. In all fairness though, neither of these guys have had enough time back there so I guess we're going to have to watch this in camp and PS
Dude, J. Miller could be better than a Nickel back, but it's going to depend on him! Coming out of Clemson he had a first round grade but he slipped into the second round b/c of an arrest prior to the draft. He has all the tools you'd look for in a starting corner. He has world class speed, good ball skills, and he is a physical player. Remember, he is came out after his sophmore year at 20 yrs old, he just needed to mature and develope his technique and polish up his skills. Like a couple of you said before, he was having a VERY good TC last year before getting injured. I am NOT saying he is the answer at RCB but he certainly has the abilty to be a shut down corner. It's up to him!! He needs to grow up and take football and his career more seriously but let's give him a chance to build on last years TC for we disregard him all together.
You have to have something to miss it. Miller hasn't shown crap at CB during an NFL season since he was drafted. Preseason and TC performance is nice, but if that's all you have, then all you have is the defensive Justin McCareins.
Mezzavo, Good to see you posting. I always appreciate your insights. I wrote that post knowing full well Miller is on the roster. Considering he looked like a dime CB at best his first two years and is coming off a torn ACL, I really don't consider him starting material. Of course I could be wrong, but I am basing my opinion on facts rather than a Mangini comment from a year ago.
