Link: Rhodes Explains Relationship With Pettine
Dennis Waszak of the AP writes about how Kerry Rhodes is going to be a big piece in the Jets gameplan this Sunday, and recounts some of the issues that Rhodes encountered this season and how he’s found favor with his coaches.
The problem was that he didn’t live up to Ryan’s hype, producing no turnovers through the first 10 games. The coaches began to have doubts about the desire of Rhodes, who has aspirations of having an acting career after football.
“Guys are going to do what they do off the field, but we just want to make sure it doesn’t affect his job,” Pettine said. “That’s one of my jobs as a defensive coordinator is to make sure the guys have bought in and are doing what it takes to be successful as a group.”
So, Pettine pulled Rhodes from the base defensive package.
“From Day 1, I don’t think me and Pettine really saw eye to eye,” Rhodes said. “That was nothing that he did or I did, but it’s something when you have guys come in and they have their favorites and we were new to each other. We didn’t know each other. I never really felt that vibe with him, and I just think now that we talked about it like men, we see eye to eye and it’s been a lot smoother.”
It was initially believed most of the tension was between Rhodes and Ryan, who also said he was unhappy with his player’s production.
“It’s never been a problem with Rex at all,” Rhodes said. “It was more me and Pettine.”
The note about ‘favorites’ immediately makes me think that he’s talking about Jim Leonhard. I’d be curious to see that delved into a little more deeply. We’re glad that Rhodes has responded to the adversity that’s faced him during the course of the season. I do think that he struggled at times this season, and I still think that his tackling against open-field runners can use some improvement, but he’s shown resilience during the season and we’re going to need him more than ever with Gates this weekend.
When the Jets played the Chargers in 2008, Gates was held to just 2 catches for 25 yards and a TD, the difference of course was that Vincent Jackson and the rest of the receivers weren’t so much considered the threat at that point that they are now.
21 Responses to Link: Rhodes Explains Relationship With Pettine
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brian311 says:
whats scary is that this is the #1 pass defense – even with getting less than 100% out of rhodes. imagine how good this D could be with a fully bought-in rhodes
earlier in the year i was tired of his act and wouldnt mind trading him if we could have gotten a 2nd rounder and/or player in return. now he seems to have turned it around and i think the team is certainly better with him that without him
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steviek says:
“favorites” like leonhard don’t matter if they dont play the same position.
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Brad says:
a couple of days ago rhodes was on the michael Kay show- he didnt seem too optimistic about being here next year- saying that when the season is over he will be looking at his options. I dont see us getting anything better than a 3rd rounder for rhodes if we traded him. Can the team live with E. Smith and Ihedigbo at safety. Maybe one of the top 3 safeties will drop to us in the draft in the first round- Eric Berry is gone in the top 10, Taylor Mays or possibly Earl thomas- kid from Texas- had a superb year. Mays I’m afraid of being a Rhodes clone- not making big plays anymore.
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miketaliaferro says:
Adversity is one of the best tutors available. Always has been; always will be.
This year, Kerry’s gone from being the anointed top stud on bad-to-barely good teams to the weak link on a potentially great team.
That gets your head on a swivel every time — Who am I? What am I?
Now… there’s What You Want, and there’s What Is.
As Kerry saw this year, after you realize that folks aren’t kissing your butt anymore, you only have two paths to take: bail or get better. Leave or join the team.
To his credit, while he’s still trying to figure out what to do with the ego (which has always been a big part of his game), he’s stepped up, manned up and has jumped all-in for the season. Next year is next year. It doesn’t count. What he does now is all that matters to anyone, no matter WHAT superfluous questions writers and TV guys pump him with.
Kerry’s future spins off of his present, and he slowly seems to be growing aware of that fact.
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Tom T says:
We are definatly using afirst round pick on a safty! Just makes me laugh how some people think. We are definatly goin after a d-lineman first round. If not, a corner who specificly can cover wes welker.
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Meant to say definayly NOT using 1st rd pick on safty
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Bent says: Overall, he had a pretty decent season. PFF had him rated as the 2nd best safety in the whole league this year.
He definitely slipped around midseason, but has been a key part of this late season run.
“Can the team live with E. Smith and Ihedigbo at safety.”
No.
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BubbyBrister/shovelpass says:
miketaliaferro – I agree with your assessment of Kerry Rhodes, and have said before that “Kerry is, as Kerry does”. he is average at best when he is not focusing on his technique, and very good (I’m not buying the second best safety speak of PFF) when he’s motivated.”
If he moves on to play for another team in the future, it is in his (and ultimately the Jets) best interest to showcase his skills in the present.
I think he has finally “gotten that”. -
He’s still pointing fingers. “you have guys come in and they have their favorites” – He’s certainly a big part of our Defense but I don’t like the way he never takes any blame for playing below his potential
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Chris, I see a tone change however.
Earlier, his statements like the one you give were clearly attacks. Now, however, they seem like face-saving barks, just to protect himself. But his heart doesn’t seem to be in them as it was earlier.
No tangible back-up for my thought, but it sure feels that way.
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jeff i says:
I agree with Chris and I think Bassett is being too easy on Rhodes giving him credit for the way he’s responded. I don’t see much difference in Rhodes’ game. He still avoids head on contact (unless it’s a defenseless receiver coming over the middle) and he’s still looking to blame someone else for what happened. It’s clear the Jets coaches decided not to upset the apple cart which is why they relented a bit on taking him out of the base package. Typical Rhodes delusion thinking he even has “options” considering he’s under contact. Regardless, he will be gone after the season.
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Tom T.- What D-lineman do u see us getting in the first round? I think the team is solid with Devitto- just gave him a new contract, and Douglas will hopefully come back- that side is set. In the middle- Paying Jenkins a bunch of money, hopefully he comesback strong, and Pouha has stepped up pretty well this year. Sean Ellis is the main pass rushing Defensive End in our base 3-4- and the last two years he has done a terrific job. He is the one i would be interested in replacing, just dont know of many guys who can be stout at the run and but pressure on the QB in the draft- guys around 6’5″ and 285lbs. -these guys seem rare! People have been saying we need a OLB like Suggs- but look at Suggs sack #’s over the last few years- not very impressive- Pace’s sack #’s are better the last 2 seasons- just imagine how good Pace and Ellis’s Sack #’s will be with Jenkins. Remember when Pace came back his first game was against Miami and then the next game is when Jenkins got injured.
Bottom line Tom T.- if Rhodes gets traded cause he is not happy here, not worth his contract anymore, not a Rex Ryan type of guy- Safety will be a top priority. -
supermangg says:
Kerry turned it on because he’s looking to get paid by somebody else next year.
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Tos9987 says:
Thye need a DL man cause all the people you mentioned are getting pretty old .
I agree that should be what our 1st round pic should be. imagine this D if we could get to the Qb with only rushing 4 guys instead of 6,7,8 .
That is the biggest problem with the the D now we only get a good rush when we blitz .
Plus we can save some money Elis has a huge contract ,
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Bent says:
DeVito and Pitoitua are young and promising and if they convert Gholston to a DE full time (possible) then that would be three up and coming guys. Pouha is old, but hasn’t played much because he was a late starter, so he should have plenty of tread on the tires. And Ellis, Douglas and Jenkins aren’t finished yet.
There’s no point in saving money if there’s no cap.
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washington heights says:
I would be STUNNED if Gholston were on the roster next year, unless they tear up his contract. He can’t even contribute on special teams. He was just a miss the Jets have to eat.
I do think Tann. will see what he can get for Rhodes and cut bait. Eric Smith has taken, what, 40% of the snaps this year anyway?
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On Ellis’ contract- next year is his last year- only making 3.5mil next year. After next year- dont see many teams throwing big money at a 34 year old DE- so hopefully we will be able to bring him back for a couple more years around the 3mil mark. Tell me what other pass rushing 3-4 DE you would prefer over Ellis? The one that comes to my mind is Richard Seymour, after that I don’t know. Like Bent said- Devitto is really coming into his own and could be starting DE opposite Ellis next year with Douglas backing him up. Pitoitua- he gained like 20 lbs over the past year- now listed at 6’7″ 310lbs- last season listed at 290lbs.- he could be Ellis’s replacement. Pouha has played pretty well this year. I am interested to see what they will do with VG- be interested if they tell him to gain like 10-20lbs.- maybe he will try to replace Ellis? Ellis is the hard person to try to find a replacement for.
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Bent says:
Gholston has actually made special teams tackles in three consecutive games and has done okay in a backup role recently. He’ll never be the player they hoped they were drafting but he isn’t the worst player on the team by any stretch. Financially it makes a lot more sense to keep him, so prepare to be stunned!
They can’t “tear up his contract” and retain him, it’s not possible.
Rhodes was fifth on the team in snaps by some margin and actually played about 90% of the time. Smith played about 35% of the time, usually with Rhodes also in the game. He’s a bigger part of this defense’s success than he gets credit for from some quarters.
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Bent- do u see the Jets keeping Rhodes? Heard him on the radio the other day- he didnt seem like he was going to be back. If he is traded- what do u think we can get for him? I dont think we will get anything better than a 3rd rounder.
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Bent says:
I really hope they do. Losing him creates a bigger hole than many realize.
I understand that he has been saying stuff like “I’m going to explore my options after the end of the year” and if he really is done with the Jets (or they are done with him) then it would be smart to move him. However, the best thing for all parties would just be to iron out their differences and bring him back, because he is very important.
No third rounder is going to be able to replace him (although I think he will fetch more than that, albeit in the shape of a conditional pick), so that will mean that they probably have to use their first rounder and rely on a rookie who might not be a great fit.
I think the Jets should do everything they can to bring back all 22 starters, because there’s no financial reason not to.
“Kerry could always make plays,” cornerback Darrelle Revis(notes) said. “You just have to make sure you’re focusing in on your job and technique. I’m not saying he wasn’t taking things seriously. You just can’t get complacent ever.”
that makes it sounds more on kerry than on Mike P