Open Competition: The Safeties
Still have a long way to work through on the All Time Jets, but I wanted to throw out another position by position discussion series. With a month until training camp, and an open competition for most every job, who do you think will be the starters for this team come Opening Weekend? Or will we see some sort of situational and game by game rotations? All the same, who are the “go-to” guys for the Jets?
Losses: Oliver Celestin (Seahawks)
Acquisitions: None
Rookies: Eric Smith (MSU), Jamie Thompson (OSU)
Strong Safeties: Kerry Rhodes, Andre Maddox
Free Safeties: Erik Coleman, Rashad Washington, Eric Smith, Jamie Thompson
This series will start with the defense and work it's way across the ball. With another head coach who is very familiar with the defensive backfield, what do you make of how this unit will shake out? Can Andre Maddox contribute now that he is healthy again? Will Rashad Washington make the best of this clean slate? Do Kerry Rhodes and Erik Coleman have what Mangini is looking for to keep their starting jobs? Can the new blood, Eric Smith, impress during camp this summer? Can Jamie Thompson keep his cup of coffee warm with the team?
I think that this unit will see a lot of situational rotations this season, but I believe that Rhodes and Coleman will hold onto their jobs, at least for now. Last year Coleman kept company (in terms of # of plays in which he was involved) with players like Adrian Wilson (Cards) and Michael Lewis (Eagles).
So what about Rhodes? Now remember, he played against some pretty good tight ends last year, and didn't really embarrass himself. Sight unseen last season after the draft, I thought he could be special. After looking at some stats from last season I stole from Football Outsiders on effectiveness of defensive players, I was shocked to see that he had similar numbers, NOT THE SAME THOUGH to one Troy Polamalu. I guess my point is, if this is what Rhodes could do on a bad team, as a rookie, is he capable of more on a good team, with another season under his belt? Remember he did transition to defense from QB during his college career, so if Rhodes can avoid mental mistakes, play the run better, and be more opportunistic against the pass, I see no reason for him turning into a solid defender for a while.
That being said, watch Eric Smith closely during camp and the preseason. If anyone can challenge for the starting job, it's him. He was clearly a guy handpicked by the braintrust.
4 Responses to Open Competition: The Safeties
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Bassett says:
Interesting. Just as an FYI, I was going based on how Ourlads has it set. You do make a good point about Smith's abilities versus Coleman or Rhodes, but I am sticking to my story.
Also, with the influx of other Linebackers (Kassell, Chatham & Schlegel) and low number of turnover in the safeties, I don't suspect that McClover will make the team. -
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Hmmm. I envision it more like this…
SS – Smith, Maddox,
FS – Rhodes, Coleman, Washington
Camp fodder/practice squad – Thompson
Remember SS = closer to the LOS and needs to be a good tackler and FS = more in pass coverage support. (Sorry, BB, I keep doing this!)
The two positions are apparently still somewhat interchangeable in the Pats scheme, which we have to assume will look something like ours, so at the moment, I think Rhodes with his range is the FS and Coleman is pencilled in at SS, because although the others may be a better fit, they do not have his experience.
I'm sure Maddox and Smith will contribute and they are both big hitters, so I expect they will become fan favourites (sic).
There are also some potential position changes. At 225 McClover is way too small to be an every down player in a 3-4, but he could be switched to SS. Barrett and/or Strait have been mentioned as possible FS converts in the past. Drew Coleman played S in college, but is probably too small.