From kffl: Jets | Mangini likes D. Strait's versatility Wed, 2 Aug 2006 16:55:44 -0700 During his press conference, New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini likes the versatility CB Derrick Strait brings to the table. "The ability to play outside as a corner, inside as a substitute in nickel and dime packages and the ability to play safety. That versatility is something I really like in players. Derrick has done a good job with that. He had a good spring as well," said Mangini. Let's hope he can turn the corner this year and be a contributor, and not just a mediocre nickel back. Has anyone that has been to camp noticed anything special about Strait?
That's good to hear from him. I was high on him coming out of Oklahoma, not LSU and I just don't think he has been given a long enough shot on this team to know how good he can really be. I also like how Mangini likes versatile players. It allows you to have more roster space in a way because a guy can do more than one thing.
Did he put in some grad school at LSU, cause we drafted him out of Oklahoma.:grin: I agree with this completely. After seeing the Patriots make a superbowl run with rookies and second rate DB filling in the holes for injured starters, I love the versatility of the players can have in this defensive scheme.
I hope you mean OSU... He went to Oklahoma. L is below the O on the keyboard...so I am giving you a pass....:smile:
Shit I thought that might have been wrong but I didn't check...I get it confused all the time cuz I have a pic of him playing LSU and making a tackle....my bad
Mangini also said that there's a number of other players with the same diversity to play multiple positions. Strait is a solid NickelBack and is very effective there, however I wouldn't want him to be covering the #1 or #2 WR on the opposition more than he needs to.
I've thought for a while that Strait might be a better fit for us at Safety, because when he was at Oklahoma he played a lot in (and usually had his best success) in zone coverage. Now that Mangini's here that's less likely, because he'd be a coverage safety like Rhodes/Coleman, and I bet Mangini will have a true SS in there by next year. Strait can still be a good player, hopefully Mangini knows how to utilize his talents rather than just bury him like Herm did.
It is still is just based on potential. If Rhodes takes the next step, that is a good starting step. I think I can say that at this point we have the deepest secondary in the AFC East.
Strait stikes me as an average player. He isn't great any at one position, just competant. Versatilty is his main assett. Rhodes has really looked impressive to me. He has bulked up a little bit, but almost looks to be a hair faster than last year. He has gotten VERY good at making reads, usually beating whoever is at SS to the ball carrier. In fact, if I had to pick one player that has stood out in camp, it would be Rhodes (forgetting Graham's ridiculous display on Tuesday).
