So I was thinking about the offseason moves we made in the secondary last night. I tried to juxtapose our moves with what we know about Rex Ryan’s tendencies after seeing him operate as a HC for a year. This is my theory: I think all of these points build together into one big idea. After benching Kerry Rhodes last year I think Ryan saw that Eric Smith is a capable starter with his strengths being his physical play against the run and his intelligence and his weakness being his ability in coverage against bigger and taller TE’s. After Rex saw what he needed to see out of Eric Smith, he knew right then Rhodes was expendable and put him back into the lineup so that his future trade value wouldn’t take a hit. As all of you who watched last season very carefully know, Rex focuses on individual matchups over scheme in his defensive plan. Of course every coach considers both but Rex focuses much more on matchups as was evident in his carousel of players at the #2 CB spot. Keep in mind that Rex also likes to mix up where he has people lining up. That brings us to Cromartie… Rex maximizes players potential on defense because he uses them to their strength. I think that Rex will use a rotation of Eric Smith AND Antonio Cromartie as Safety. I know this sounds crazy but hear me out… When our defensive game plan calls for the safety to be heavily involved against the run and for not a lot of pass coverage against a receiving TE, I think Rex will line Smith up at safety and he will excel in that type of game plan. When our defensive game plan calls for the safety to cover a bigger pass catching TE such as Gonzalez, Gates, Clark, etc., I think Rex will slide Cromartie into Safety to cover the TE in pass coverage. He might have to put a little more size on but he definitely has the frame to support it (he’s 3 inches taller and 15 pounds heavier than Revis). With something like this, CB would still be a high priority in the draft. Also, we could be vulnerable to the run if teams see Cromartie lined up at Safety since the elite TE’s like Gates, Clark, etc. would have a big advantage run blocking against Cromartie. Don’t get me wrong, I still think Cromartie will be in man coverage as a CB most of the time. I just think that move him to safety against certain teams would prevent Eric Smith from becoming a liability in pass coverage against TE’s he can’t cover.
i don't see rex using cromartie, one of the most physically gifted corners in the nfl, as a safety. he will use cromartie to be a shutdown corner on teams' #2 wr, while revis locks down the #1s. this will allow us to do a ton more exotic blitzes because cromartie won't need to have safety help over the top, giving an extra man to rush the qb on most plays.
This is a decent theory and I too wouldn't be surprised at all if Rex goes CB fairly early in the Draft as well. Especially if a good man-to-man corner is there. Cromartie has been used by the Chargers in the past to cover big TE's, and does an excellent job. So, unless the Jets draft a S that can cover big TE's one-on-one AND is capable of hitting hard, I can see them using Cromartie to cover TE's (maybe not as a S, but in the 46).
Ummm, better stuff then crack. Smith can cover, he can't tackle and Cromartie can't tackle, he can cover. We need a safety that can cover and tackle.
i was just about to rip you apart because smith can tackle pretty damn well, its his coverage skills that need work, but im guessing you wrote it wrong as you said both guys can't tackle but can cover
There's no way a HC in the NFL is starting players solely to increase their trade value. Sorry, this is a little ridiculous. Your theory is certainly interesting and I wouldn't put it past Rex to do something innovative, but I'd have to agree with the other posters: you need a safety that can tackle. Hence, why Rhodes is a Cardinal.
Putting a guy who can't tackle on a TE---makes no sense. Cromartie will be on the #2 Wr. We need depth at CB and S. The ability of our secondary only further opens up our pass rush. Look for at least 1 more solid CB and Safety addition and a large handful of UDFA's to try and impress there way onto the roster. Rex used to run his D with the Ravens hinging on Safety play (Ed Reed)...he runs our Defense funneled (w/ blitz) frequently to Revis (hence why he was top5 in passes his way...despite being the #1 cb in the league). If we are able to add a competent #2 cb (cromartie) or a stud safety (rookie...even if only for a few plays)----our defense will be even more flexible in playcalling/coverage.
Your whole theory goes down the drain if we draft a safety on the first or second day of the draft... or sign someone like Atogwe.
I agree that Cromartie will be on the #2 WR MOST OF THE TIME... But let me ask you this... If we are playing the Colts, Falcons, or Chargers: and we go CB first round and don't acquire another starting safety, would you rather have a 6'2, 220 lb Cromartie on Clark/Gonzo/Gates in pass coverage and Lowery/rookie CB/Coleman on the #2 WR or would you rather have 5'11, 198 lb Eric Smith trying to cover those big TE's in pass coverage? I'm talking about situational matchups not permanently moving Cromartie to safety. And the main reason Rhodes played over Smith down the stretch is that we played guess who? The Colts, Falcons, and Chargers. Smith got a lot of playing time against the Bengals who are a run first team without a threat at TE. They could draft a safety 1st rd, sign Otogwe and I could be completely wrong but to all of you dismissing the idea... do you really think this isn't something Rex at least has thought about? I'll take my whipping like a man but I'm bringing this thread back in 6 months if Cromartie ever lines up at safety.
the mistake we are making in trying to make sense out of the off season is when we examin the cuts and trades through the lens of last season. don't assume the jets' team we saw in 2009 will be anything like the team we will see in 2010. rex has a vision that he only partially realized last season. rex is cutting and signing players for a reason, and for that we will just have to wait and see.
after watching the Mike Pettine interview on the JETS website I think the JETS will was Cromartie as a WR in some small role
Well, it's a good thing you posted this at 4:20. I don't see Rex moving a non-tackling cover corner to safety in any event, although he may put Cro on receiving TEs in passing situations much like he put Revis on Gates a couple of times against San Diego in the playoffs. Could be a situational call, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's being rotated as a safety. It just means the defense is treating a TE as a receiver.
since we just picked up a safety, granted one who might get injured on his trip from cleveland based on his past, i think its safe to say this theory is as good as dead.
