Bottom line is in this type of system isn't conducive for racking up individual stats. We've all praised Mangini and Sutton for mixing things up showing different formations and coverage schemes so isn't it obvious some weeks more than others Vilma will be put in a better spot to make plays? Look at Tedy Bruschi. In 2002 he had 123 total tackle, 79 of them solo. Vilma is on pace for 132 and 76. He's not going to be racking up 200 total tackles anymore and you know what, I don't care. It's not about playing in the Pro Bowl, it's about playing in the game the week before that.
You got that right, Glenn. Like I said, if we can go 4-1 into January, ask me how much I care about Vilma's stats. Still, it has to be bothering Vilma just a bit. I can't imagine him not wanting the stats to look better, I just hope he's not overpursuing and making mistakes thinking he's not contributing enough and needs to "improve" what he's doing.
I've been a huge supporter of Vilma throughout his career and fully believe he will be the leader of our defense for the next decade, but if you aren't slightly concerned with how little he's done this year you're kidding yourself. He has been invisible in some games, and that's not what we've seen in his first two years. I'm pretty confident he will make the transition fully with some more games at the 34 ILB spot though.
Man some people just love to bitch and complain. And not one comment about how the stats that people were quoting to denigrate Vilma, don't seem all that out of line with the other big name LBs. Would one of the Vilma bashers care to chime in on that?
I know this thread was started the other day, but here's an article in today's Star-Ledger on this subject: http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/116495133392490.xml&coll=1 Right Calls by Vilma a Big Hit Friday, December 01, 2006 BY DAVE HUTCHINSON Star-Ledger Staff HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Jonathan Vilma has had a lot of tackles in the Jets' new 3-4 scheme -- 91 to be exact. But the inside linebacker has had few impact plays. And it's Vilma's lack of highlight-reel material that has been a source of concern among many observers. Vilma, a Pro Bowl alternate last season, has no sacks, no forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery. It's hardly the stuff of legends and could make you wonder if he's ill-suited for the 3-4 alignment. Don't worry, says coach Eric Mangini, Vilma has been a major impact player this season, you just haven't noticed. As the Jets' defensive signal- caller, Vilma is much like quarterback Chad Pennington when Pennington is orchestrating the no- huddle offense. Vilma makes the calls and pre-snap adjustments, sometimes literally pointing players to the right spot. And, oh yeah, Vilma also has to play his position. "Over the last three weeks, we've been pretty successful in terms of points allowed (35), and a lot of that goes into things that Jonathan does," Mangini said yesterday. "Week in and week out, Jon is like the quarterback of the defense where he has to talk to the front (seven), he has to talk to the secondary and the sub-defense. "There's a lot of moving parts, and you need that guy, that player to direct traffic. And not just direct traffic, but someone who has to have the final say. Jon usually has the final say, and he's usually right." As a traffic cop in shoulder pads, Vilma has had to sacrifice for the good of the team. His sideline- to-sideline forays, the sacks, the forced fumbles and fumble recoveries and the interceptions have all been put on hold while he gets everyone else lined up. "I wouldn't say me making calls has come at a price of me making plays," Vilma said. "I'm just getting used to this defense now, and once I get comfortable and really understand the defense, I'll be able to play a little faster and make more plays." Meanwhile, safety Kerry Rhodes, linebacker Victor Hobson, nose tackle Dewayne Robertson and defensive end/linebacker Bryan Thomas are making plays, in part, because of Vilma is putting them in the right position. "Jon is doing a real good job," said Hobson, who is having a career year with 61 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles (one returned for a TD) and an interception. "He picked up the defense very fast. He's helping us all out in addition to trying to get his own job done. He's being a great team player." Vilma said the first eight weeks of the season were extremely difficult and sometimes frustrating. The worst part was fighting his own instincts. The 3-4 defense is very disciplined and structured. There's a right and a wrong. Not much freelancing. "Even now, I still do (have to fight those instincts)," he said. "In this defense, it starts with the first step. If you make the wrong step on your first initial reaction, you're messed up for the rest of the play." Mangini said Vilma understands the defense to the point now where he can disguise it by putting different players in spots to confuse the opposition. "He's able to move the pieces around without changing the integrity of the defense," Mangini said. Even so, Vilma is a playmaker at heart and wants to be everywhere. That, says Mangini, will come. Mangini said Patriots Pro Bowl inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi had growing pains his first season in the defense as well in 2000. "It's one of those things where as you understand the defense and get the reps and start to see the plays develop, then you start to put your style within the system," Mangini said. Until then, Vilma says he'll be patient. "As a competitor, of course, you want to make plays. That's human nature," Vilma said. "But for me, it's about everybody making plays and everybody doing what they're suppose to do. "As long as I keep working at it and really trying to get better, I know I'm going to make plays eventually, and I'm going to be all right. ... The big picture is to win. Right now, we're playing good defense. If we can to do that and win games, personal stats are put aside."
^^^^ Who cares if hes quatrerbacking the defense, and putting people in the right place who cares that as soon as he starts to understand the defense, our d has been playing great the last few weeks ? Who cares ?!!! I want some sacks, and interceptions or hes USELESS. (sarcasm)
Mangini is the best. Vilma is just flat out awesome. Saying he doesn't give a damn about his stats, that winning is all that matters and the numbers will work themselves out is the EXACT attitude this team, and it's players needs. As Glen Foley said, I don't care about the Pro Bowl (I never watch anyway.) I only care about the week before.
I agree. Although I'm an optimist, it still seems that he's always around the ball. He needs time to adjust just like everyone else who was used to the 4-3 do. This is such a great time to be a JETS fan!:jets:
I think many guys miss the point. It not that vilma is not a awesome LB, we have to find a true NT. When this happens, he will flourish again. Look at Baltimore, a few years ago they switched to the 3-4 and lewis got swallowed up, you didnt hear his name anymore except "hes done" They go out and get a true NT and we hear lewis name more. What has happened to Vilma this year should not be a surprise. And the ravens even went back to more 4-3 to put lewis in more positions to make plays. It has all paid off. It may not show in the stats, however I believe Vilma is a key piece to why this dfense is starting to excel. Hes smart, calls the signals and get guys in their right spots.
Vilma has improved everyone around him. Mangini believes his contribution is the reason why our DEF has given up only 35 points in 3 games... and that's good enough for me. What good is it if Vilma has sensational individual stats but our DEF yields 27 points per game? I'll take his stats being low and the Jets yielding 11.6 points per game.
Man, that was a great article to post on Vilma. There have been a lot of self-appointed experts running amok talking about how worthless Vilma had become once he turned invisible. Football being a team sport would dictate that not everyone can be THE impact player. It seems to me the style of defense we have been playing is allowing different people success, rather than only 1 or 2, perhaps? But, at any rate if your defense is playing well, that takes a team effort, so how would anyone be worthless in that respect?
