Larry Izzo: Can He Make the Cut?
It was announced yesterday that the Jets were signing Larry Izzo to join the team.
After losing David Bowens to the Browns, the team went out to get the former Patriot Larry Izzo. Izzo has a connection with Jets Special Teams Coach Mike Westhoff from their time together in Miami. The team has seen him extensively his whole career due to his AFC East ties. Izzo has always lauded as a great leader for the Patriots and the special teams unit in particular, but he’s undersized (5-10, 228 lbs) to truly play linebacker in a 3-4. Over the past 1.5 years, Izzo has been tied with connections to the Barry Bonds BALCO case. Just about a month ago, Izzo was asked to testify (but has been linked since 2007) in the case specifically about BALCO.
With the team getting rid of Kassell, Spencer and Bowens, it’s special teams was looking thin and Izzo was hired specifically for special teams . When you boil it down, Izzo is gritty player, but is an aging special teamer who’s been linked to PEDs to maintain his play in the league. At 34, it will be interesting to see if he can make the final roster come September.
11 Responses to Larry Izzo: Can He Make the Cut?
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CGB says:
Hmm.
A tall, tough receiver was just releases by Cleveland.
worth a look? -
Mel31602 says:
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afceast/0-6-57/Scouts-Inc—Jets-need-to-address-passing-game.html
This makes some good points but really is depressing. I think he’s a little too down on Brick and Woody though.
And CGB, I think Jurevicius is way too old and injury prone for us…
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Harvlis says:
The Izzo pick-up is one of those situations where, the Jets must know something that we don’t know. If not, to take a 5’10″ 34 yr old special teams player, is whacked. With all of the free agents out there, this is what we come up with? He better not lose Elam.
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Bent says: He is a multiple time PRO BOWL special teamer. For the veteran’s minimum it’s a great pickup*.
I can’t see why anyone would have a problem with ANY pickup for the veteran’s minimum. What’s the worst that can happen.
As long as he is healthy, there’s no doubt whatsoever he will make the team to play specials only. You said it yourself, the cupboard is bare in terms of ST linebackers.
*Although I am still nervous he will deliberately suck and then return to Belichick with all our secrets once he is cut.
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Brandon from Illinois says:
The signing of Izzo may be the first corner cut. He’s cheaper and that seems to be the main factor, as the Jets appear to be saving space for future signings. I hope Izzo is a good fit and doesn’t hurt the special teams unit. The Jets could use a new punter while they’re at it. With the focus now on the defense, the offensive production could suffer. However, with an elite punter the Jets would consistently win the field position battle, which would put less pressure on the offense. Punters are often overlooked, but are crucial to a team that doesn’t dominate offensively. The cardinals got by last year on the erratic leg of Ben Graham, but they have Warner, Fitzgerald, and Boldin. If the Jets expect to go anywhere in 09, they MUST get an elite punter.
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trevor says:
seems smart
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Bent,
I think special teams are tremendously important. I hope Izzo turns out to be a monster. I just feel that with so many other needs, Izzo is a strange pick-up.
I just heard that we have a week to match Cleveland’s offer to Elam. We should have taken care of Elam, a long time ago, and we wouldn’t have to be in this situation.
Brandon,
Totally agreed, a punter is huge. Field position will be a major factor, for our Offense. Don’t really know what our options are, at this point. It should be alot more important than signing Izzo.
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Bent says:
Harvlis:
I don’t buy that at all. Since they have a week to match, why offer him more than any team might be willing to pay him? You offer him the minimum and then if you’re than keen on keeping him, you match any offer you get until it becomes higher than you are willing to play.
I don’t think anyone is sold on Elam enough to give him a long term deal (you did see the Denver game, no?), especially now they’ve signed Leonhard to presumably start. In fact, they may have lowballed Elam so they had the option to keep him if Leonhard signed elsewhere but now Leonhard is aboard, they may see him as surplus to requirements.
We’ll see how important they think he is. By the way, don’t perceive the delay as necessarily meaning they are not desperate to keep him. Teams often wait until the last minute to decide because that locks up the other team’s offer for a full week, potentially giving you an advantage should another guy become available that you’d both want.
A punter IS huge, but Hodges was already a big upgrade over Graham and is dirt cheap. I don’t think they’ll do anything there.
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Bent,
I understand what you are saying about Elam. If I were the Jets and I felt that Elam was a keeper, I would have tried to extend him (at less than $1.5M per) awhile ago. He might have wanted to test the FA waters so, my thoughts on wrapping him up early might be wrong.
Leon Washington is another example of waiting too long and, possibly, having to pay the price. Once you know that you have a talent on your hands, you have to take care of business, so that it doesn’t get to the point where someone might be willing to pay more than you. The longer they wait on Leon, the closer it comes to him testing the waters.
As for Hodges, it is funny, at Hofstra practices Graham’s punts were consistently higher and farther than Hodges (if Hodges was the 2nd punter that I was watching). It was not even close. It was a man against a boy. I guess that, when Graham gets into a game, he has a problem with the pressure. You would think that coaching could have done something about that.
Why do very few pro punters angle the ball towards the corner of the endzone? I did a good deal of punting, while playing ball, as a youngster. This is not the most difficult thing in the world to do.
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Bent says:
His nerves and lack of directional punting success are particularly confusing in relation to Graham who had a ten year career in Aussie Rules playing in front of huge crowds and in a sport where directional kicking is more important than in football.
We’ll learn what they think of Elam soon enough. I wonder if Mangini will counterbid if they match? Remember Leonhard is only getting 2m per year himself.
First move by Rex & Co. I disagree with. Izzo is too old, too small, and can only play special teams. We should have kept Bowens. Bowens is a special teams dynamo, and can play LB, and is younger. Bowens had more to offer.