ESPN: Jets Secondary ‘Pans Out Pretty Well’
ESPN’s AFC East blog has an interesting assessment on the additions the Jets have made to their defense that’s well worth the read if you’ve not already seen it. Most of it is stuff we’ve been noodling and we’re glad ESPN took the time to write it for us. Riffing off of Joyner’s thoughts on Sheppard, they note this about Shep.
“Sheppard has been a hard guy to count on like he used to be, and he’s not creating the big plays he once did,” Williamson said. “But the nice situation here is, because Revis is so strong, they’re going to be able to consistently roll coverage to help out Sheppard.”
That’s where Leonhard comes in. Williamson called him “Ed Reed Light” to describe how Ryan likely will use him.
“Leonhard deferred to Reed,” Williamson said. “But Leonhard’s skill set is more of a free safety. He runs well. He isn’t real, real big. You don’t want him in the box, but that’s what Kerry Rhodes does well.
“So the secondary now pans out pretty well, where guys’ weaknesses can be covered by their counter-position’s strength.”
Rhodes could have a monster season under Ryan’s aggressive guidance. Woodson was dismayed by the way Mangini restrained Rhodes from getting involved.
Rhodes recorded seven sacks, nine interceptions and five forced fumbles in 2006 and 2007. He had one sack, two interceptions and zero forced fumbles last season.
“I guarantee you, Rex Ryan is going to free him up so he can showcase his talent,” Woodson said. “It’s fun watching Kerry Rhodes play because he has so much talent, but the guy should be making a lot more plays than he has been making.”
Second-year cornerback Dwight Lowery also could be a significant contributor. Lowery, a fourth-round draft choice out of San Jose State, started the first 10 games before falling out of favor with Mangini.
When I think of Leonhard as the ‘Ed Reed Light’ it almost makes me cringe. What about my boy Kerry Rhodes?
I don’t think it’s casting any shadows on him at all … quite the opposite. What Ryan wants to set up is just like the ILBs. We asked Corey Griffin and Bent to weigh in, here’s some of what they had to say:
Corey: I think it’s an interesting dilemma to have, kind of how Ryan said teams wouldn’t be able to determine whether Harris or Scott were the MIKE from down to down, perhaps Leonhard and Rhodes in a hybrid type of safety role with each using their skills to play to the down and situation.
Bent: I love the interchangeability of the ILBs and if the Safeties can be used in a similar way, that’s great. If not, then we know Leonhard/Reed was a success so inserting Rhodes for Reed should make him more productive than last year, at the absolute minimum … Rhodes gets no credit for his play that freed up Elam to make all those big plays.
The last point that Bent makes is crucial and something he’s written about at length. Elam was exposed in coverage and the team needed to use Rhodes to mask that. Because he was playing deep time and again, the team couldn’t use him in the box to rush the passer as much. Although Rhodes might be best in coverage, with two versatile (though physically & stylistically) different players at safety, the team could be in a great place for 2009.
Wow, a guy in the secondary that Mangini soured on? What a shocker … but that’s neither here nor there. All the same
20 Responses to ESPN: Jets Secondary ‘Pans Out Pretty Well’
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Well put. Aside from the talent of Scott and Leonhard. They also have experience with Rex’s system. They will help everyone else with the transition.
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DKnyj says:
I agree with most of this – but I am skeptical of Rhodes after watching him try and tackle – he seemed to start getting “Deon Sanders” syndrome towards the end of the year…. anyone agree with me on this – or am i just going crazy?
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Besides the fact that we have real talent on our defense especially in the back 8 we actually have a guy who can design a bigtime defense. Mangini (and I was a supporter) came from NE with a DB backround but there was always the thought was it Mangini or was it all Belichick that created that havoc?
Ryan has YEARS of experience designing and creating major problems for offenses. Plus he brought his DC from Baltimore….which alot of young coaches dont get to do…..(example Mangini)
Rhodes is going to insane this year. he wants to be Hollywood….nows his chance!!
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Good article by ESPN , and great write-up by Bassett. One nit to pick – Williamson calling Leonhard “Ed Reed Light” makes no sense to me at all. Reed is the best “centerfielder” in the game because he has ridiculously good range and ball skills. That’s not who Leonhard is. His biggest skill is an ability to always be around the ball and make big stops and cause turnovers. Leonhard isn’t the biggest guy, but he showed last year that’s perfectly capable of making plays at (or behind) the line of scrimmage.
I think Rhodes actually has better hands (notice his 9 int’s between ’06 and ’07) than Leonhard, but because both have coverage speed, I agree that you can use them somewhat interchangeably. I just hope – no, pray – that Rhodes gets put in position to make more big plays that he did in ’08. That, to me, was the single biggest weakness of Mangini / Sutton’s scheme.
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DKnyj…..I think youre going crazy
First off…Rhodes is not a Big time tackler. He is a good tackler that usually makes the tackle when his there. Have you seen Ed Reed tackle much? He is not much better. They will both stick there nose in there but play-making is their bread and butter…..
B Sanders and Poly are much bigger tackler than they are.
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Harvlis says:
Rex is the key here. Once he sees what Rhodes has to offer, he will set up the defense to best utilize his talent. For the past three years, we did not have a brilliant defensive coach who was able to do that. With all the talent that we now have in the defensive backfield, Rex is going to have a lot of fun this year.
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david i says:
The Football Scientist (KC Joiner) should put an asterisk next to Sheps numbers from last year and re-run them.
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JetFaninSeattle says:
I think the biggest difference this year over the past few is that we have a coach and a DC who will design schemes around the strengths of the personnel. Under Mangini and Sutton they tried to “fit” personnel into their schemes. When you think about it, we had some really, really good defensive players who couldn’t “fit”, most notably Jonathan Vilma.
How much better are our current players than guys like Abraham and Vilma? The better question will be how much better are our defensive coaches at utilizing the talents of these players?
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Bilal says:
Reed may not be a consistent tackler but he definitely lays the wood on people once in a while. He uses his speed to explode on people something Kerry has yet to learn how to do!
I like Kerry but honestly hes a good coverage safety and decent tackler. He has yet to record a hit that would make a top play countdown. Reed has killed people on the field- ask Housh!
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Billy says:
it would be even more better if Ivy signs, gives the secondary tremendous depth
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Reed does lay wood from time to time but he also misses tackles that way. Kerry is a wrap up tackler and does a nice job….Reed is the best in the business but tackling is not the reason why….
Even D Barrett layed out Housh…and he is a crap tackler!!
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Reed tackles totals per year are not that high, the reason everyone likes Reed is because he turns plays into touchdowns but when you watch Ravens’ games you hardly see Reed make any tackles hence his low tackles totals
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JesusRevis says:
Reed is an average tackler, but I have seen him light up receivers from time to time. Kerry Rhodes rarely makes a big hit on an opposing player.
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Bent says: I see Rhodes as a reliable tackler. I think last year one or two plays got overblown because people were frustrated that he wasn’t making the same impact plays all over the field, but there were other reasons for that. If you watch the footage of Hillis, Lynch and Jackson running all over the Jets at the end of the year, it was Elam, Smith and the linebackers missing tackles, and rarely Rhodes.
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No Farve no problem says:
Hey Bent,
If you saw the buffalo game in which Rhodes was the last line to stop Marshawn Lynch’s 20 + yard gallop in the first quarter and really didn’t tackle him as lynch bounced from defender to defender, and the way Fred Jackson pushed the “pile” of jets defenders especially Kerry Rhodes into the endzone then you would see that Kerry Rhodes was responsible for not getting the job done. He is exactly what his nickname is “hollywood” he is not your tough running safety. As the leader of the secondary he must display his stengths and the fundamentals of his position which includes tackling and being quick enough to the point of attack. Unfortunately last year was a waste for him lets see if a change in his attitude after seeing Lowery next to him demand so much space who is now removed (sheppard) will help him get back to his 2006 and 2007 form.
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alwaysgreen says:
Rhodes and Reed are finesse players. Don’t depend on them to lay the wood on anybody. Last year if a RB broke through the front 7, you started to cringe. I don’t see that changing next year.
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Bent says:
Granted, Rhodes could have done better on both plays, but Elam missed the tackle on Lynch completely leading to the big gain (whereas Rhodes, although he was pushed for about 10 extra yards, did eventually get him out of bounds) and Smith was the guy who met Jackson head to head and was driven into the endzone – Rhodes got there too late to be able to do anything.
Anyway, we’ve been over this enough times. I think Rhodes will have a better year and since we are both Jets fans I’m sure you will join me in hoping I’m right, even if you doubt that I am.
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Its all about schemes and now we have a coach who is talented enough to design schemes to capitalize on the skills of each player. Lets not look back. This is a new opportunity for everyone to excell.
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Green dream says:
Hold on fellas, Ed Reed has punished many people AND made plays and that’s why he’s a complete safety and a future hall of famer; Kerry on the other hand has had 2 really good years and has a ton of potential because of his range, athleticism and smarts ( a former QB). He is not A ENFORCER, and is not relaly physical which was the knock on him coming out of college and what Herm was working with him on before he got the boot. It is not a fair comparison between reed and Rhodes except in big play potential. Leonhard as Ed reed light, C’mon. Even he has said in his interview he is the Lunch pail guy who does the little things that let the star do his thing and that is the same role he will play here. Elam could be that guy but he doesn’t have the cover skills and I don’t feel he’s too bright, but he’s the only guy in the secondary that really lays wood – yet he’s whiffed more than a few times as well ( remember the Denver game, ugh). Revis is a solid tackler, and so is Lowery. The x factor will be Shep. IF he plays even 3/4 of his pro bowl form and stays healthy, then we have the best secondary in the game. Look, if you pick on shep when he’s right, then he’s gonna get some picks, and when he gets picks there gonna go back to the house. You can’t throw to Revis cause he’s got half the field on lock. You can’t throw deep because Rhodes has got it covered. So then you throw underneath, but now we have Leonhard and Scott. And Hopefully, by the time you figure all this out, The pass rush is punching you in the mouth. YEP, I’m feeling realllll goood about the D.
This secondary has a lot of speed, with an inside Linebacker that can cover in Scott