The TJB20: We’ll Catch You!!!
As the TJB20 comes into the turn here at Augusta National, we’re looking for a Cinderella story, outta nowhere. Team chemistry, the viscosity of gel, consideration of the pending schedule and much more, after the jump.
Need a second to review the rules and the panelists, check out the introductions.
9) New-age-feel-goodery trust falls aside, how long will it take for the new-look defense to come together?
Jason Fitzgerald from NY Jets Cap: I think whenever you make this many changes the rule of thumb is three to four weeks to come together. That gives the team a quarter of a season to get used to all of their individual tendencies and realizing what exactly their new teammates like to do. In the Jets case it will also give the defense and the defensive coaches time to see just how weak the Jets offense is as well. A talented defense that knows it has to hold teams to less than 14 points a game to win often plays with much more intensity than a defense that just does not know what the offense can do.
Max from JetNation.com: If history is our guide approximately 40 seasons. It is tough to say how many weeks it will take until the schedule has been released. It depends a lot on who they are playing. If Chad Pennington and Miami come to town early on, I would be willing to bet that the Jets defense will look pretty good.
Just remember not to expect too much, too soon. You are looking at a rookie head coach, a new defensive coordinator and a few new parts on defense. There will be an adjustment for the returning players now that they will be allowed to blitz.
Erik Manassy (@e_man) Crazy Season Ticket Holder: I’m thinking 5-7 games in to REALLY gel.
Josh Alper from NBCNewYork.com: I don’t see this being a problem.
Matt Loede from NFLGridironGab.com & JetsGab.com: Well, let’s hope that the offense plays well enough so that the defense can afford to get off to somewhat of a slow start. The unit should be in form about the last quarter of the season, and lets hope that they are .500 or better so they can make a run at the post season and AFC East.
Bob Bullock from Jetstream(NJ.com): Ah, Hopefully WEEK ONE! Seriously though, I think with the additions of all of the ex-Raven players, it should come together pretty quickly.
R in CT from DamnedCT: It seems to me that defenses get in sync faster than offenses — throw in Ryan’s expertise and intensity, having a few of his guys on the field (Scott and Leonhard), and staying in the 3-4, I expect the defense to be up to speed by game one of the regular season.
Bent from TheJetsBlog.com: This isn’t a complete scheme change, so the transition should be easier than from Herm to Mangini. Having Scott and Leonhard on board is only going to ease that transition and they’ve only actually lost one starter (Barton).
Corey Griffin from TheJetsBlog.com: Depending on the placement of the bye week, I could foresee the defense rounding into form around week 9-10. The best option for the Jets would be for a bye week around week 7 or week 8 so as to allow the team enough tape to study in the extra week but not enough for the team to have dug itself a hole before able to re-evaluate things under a first-year head coach. I expect around the beginning-middle of November we’ll start to see the defense making plays on 3rd and short and creating turnovers late in games.
Leave your comments below on the subject below.
7 Responses to The TJB20: We’ll Catch You!!!
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Bent says: Corey…
The Pats schedule was apparently leaked and they play the Jets in week 8 coming off their bye week. Of course this may or may not mean that week 7 is the Jets bye week too.
Hopefully the defense will come together at that time, because that’s certain to be a big game.
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Ben says:
Jim Leonard wore the radio helmet for Rex last season. I think this element of continuity will help the defense gel immensely.
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SackDance99 says:
I think when you evaluate how long it will take the defense to gel, you have to look at the individual positions and guess how their assignments will change. I don’t see a big change for the front 3. In fact, because they may 1-gap in certain blitz packages, the transition should be easy. For the LBs, Scott knows the defense, so it’s Harris, Pace and Thomas we have to worry about. But, I also can’t believe that Rex will ask them to do anything they haven’t done before. They should gel by the end of pre-season. In the secondary, Revis is the no. 1 man-cover corner…I doubt his role will change much and Lito Sheppard has played in Jim Johnson’s blitz-crazy defense in Philly, so I don’t expect any transition issues for him, either. Leonhard knows Rex’s system. So, the player and position that will be most effected is Kerry Rhodes in the FS/Ed Reed position. He’s the key and I think he’ll be pretty comfortable in his role by Week 4.
I rarely criticize commenters here, but Corey, c’mon! If it takes the Jets D 9-10 weeks to gel, then the coaching staff has to be fired. Training camp and pre-season lasts a long time and the players already have their playbooks. Moreover, Scott and Leonhard (18% of the defense) will know exactly where everyone should be and what has to be done. Also, I can’t wait to hear feedback from the defensive players because there’s a chance that they’ll say the new schemes are easier.
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Marc says:
I agree that it will take time for the defense to reach its full potential, probably after the bye week, but I expect their full potential to be great. If they don’t finish in the top 10 defensively it will be a let down.. unless the offense keeps them on the field too much. With all of that said, the defense should still be damn good in the beginning of the year.
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Anthony says:
It should not take as long as the last change, because the personnel fits. It was harder last time around because of square pegs into round holes.
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LW29 says:
http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/04/01/pats-leaked-their-schedule/
This site says that the leak was inaccurate for the Pats schedule. We’re all eagerly awaiting next Tuesday.
Corey, GO TO YOUR ROOM YOUNG MAN.
Under Ryan this D will gel as soon as they can find the football.