Roster Rundown: #92 Ricky Sapp
Position: Linebacker
Height / Weight: 6’4″ 252 lbs.
Age: 25 / Experience: 3
College: Clemson
2011 Contract Status: Signed through 2012
2011 Analysis: Sapp was a part of the Jets organization this fall as a practice squadder when he was signed in October to the practice squad. Sapp didn’t play a down, but the Jets have to like something about the 2010 draft pick from the Eagles to have given them a chance to prove himself on their roster. Sapp’s odd past with the Eagles makes for an odd situation. He followed Gaines Adams at Clemson in the “bandit” role, and was considered as maybe one of the biggest steals of the 2010 draft. After a short stay with the Eagles, he basically quit on the Eagles two times in two years … what was it about the organization that made him do that … it’s a risk for the Jets, but a risk that they were willing to try based on his athleticism.
2012 Outlook: Special teams seems the most likely spot in 2012. I’d be guessing to figure out what his role would be with the Jets in 2012, but Maybin’s success provides some clues for his future. Where Maybin excels is when he’s let off his leash to go after the passer. Sapp is in the same mold, the only difference is that Sapp is better capable of dropping into coverage if the scheme requires. See if the Jets don’t try and test him out as a potential pass rusher or maybe even a shallow zone coverage player.
Random Thought: This is about as far-fetched as I get … but could they try and convert him into a player specifically meant to neutralize Tight Ends? His bandit role at Clemson was geared towards being a hybrid player. He has the size, speed and athleticism to drop in coverage. Whoever figures out how to neutralize Gronk will do it in an unconventional way. While it might not have been their intent when they signed him .. could this work?
17 Responses to Roster Rundown: #92 Ricky Sapp
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Bent says: Injuries.
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cb says:
I don’t think there’s much evidence of him ‘giving up’, is there? Seems like just injuries?
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Getting personel in and out of game situations is not exactly one of the Jets strong points……
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bozzie says:
Great suggestion and I only pray that it works! We need someone to cover Gronk as well as the rest of the tight ends, and that athlete was not found on our active roster this year! If Sapp doesn’t work out, draft someone just to cover tight ends please!!!
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Sixfive says:
Bassett, we (and the whole league) are going to do need to do something to neutralize this new crop of tight ends (read Gronk). So I’m all for new ideas and player roles.
Could you elaborate on the what the ‘bandit’ is?
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Loved Sapp out of college but he was never able to get healthy which is why he elected to have surgery as an eagle. A healthy Ricky Sapp could pay dividends for us next year. Collecting LBs who can get to the passer and that can also cover are an absolute must. Maybe he finds himself in a hybrid role from OLB to ILB.
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mataos says: January 18, 2012 at 7:10 pm "I don't buy it" says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo3oCN4W8Wo
checkout the vid and tell me this ain’t the head-banging stalker that’s taking us to the SB? Seriously tho the first 20 seconds feel like “To catch a predator”.
The rest of the vid ain’t bad, couple nice sack/hits. I had the volume off and when I turned it up it sounded like I was watching The Omen. Maybe that’s a sign of some sort? -
clarkgaines1979 says:
i like the thinking outside the box. I’ve been thinking for some time whether maybin is quick enough to learn the safety position or whether McKnight could make the transition…or if it really is too much of a change to think about on this level.
Mcknight has the speed and it seems easier to replace a third down back then find a big fast safety…i know maybin is fast and small for a LB…but could he still be quick enough for safety…bearing in mind that we already have several run stuffing safeties and we need a true coverage free safety….
any thoughts bent or bassett based on film you’ve seen?
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Bent says:
Maybin is actually slower than Eric Smith and presumably a lot less agile in terms of hips etc. As a college DE he has next to no experience in terms of man to man skills. In the NFL the only times he’s dropped into coverage (less than 10 times in three years, I believe) have seen him just drop off the line into an area, not pick someone up.
If there is anyone who can contain the likes of Gronkowski, it’s an elite coverage DB with decent size or a linebacker with elite speed and coverage skills. So basically Ed Reed (as we saw at times on Sunday), Darrelle Revis or Patrick Willis and that’s about it…
I like the outside the box thinking too, but if a DE could be converted to a role where he can shut down a record setting TE, then every team would employ a converted DE in the same way. It’s the sort of thing where it might work in isolated situations when the offense is expecting a pass rush but then the backer drops off, but if you matched him up, they’d exploit it.
The trouble with the Pats is that Gronkowski can be stopped if you put Revis on him or double team him, but then Brady will just his Hernandez or Welker or whoever instead. The best chance you have is to mix up coverages and get pressure on him. Counter their number of weapons by bolstering your defensive personnel.
The Giants get plenty of pressure (albeit nowhere near as much as their line gives up) but their safeties are poor in coverage and they often rely on Chase Blackburn to take on tough coverage assignments. I think they could be exploited in the Superbowl, as long as the Pats don’t drop passes like the Pack did.
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Maybe you just hit on the next role for converted college power forwards who don’t have NBA size that isn’t Tight End. Now THAT’S outside the box.
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thanks bent.
I thought the maybin thing was a longshot…i just didn’t know his 40 time and whether he was a guy who ran 4.5′s or not…i know he appears quick on tv, but it’s a different kind of speed needed then straight forward speed. Like i said, just wondering out loud whether he could seemingly drop to 225 lbs (doesn’t he play at around 235-240?) and be quick enough..the other problem i thought was, if he was so adaptable he would already be more then a 3rd down kind of LB.
Do you think they would ever truly consider cross training mcknight…i know rex has mentioned it. Just seems tough if he hasn’t played defense since H.S. to make up that time now. I played both ways in semi pro ball…but i’m pretty sure i was barely passable at both LOL!
Thanks again for the analysis…i appreciate reading your stuff. Very fact based, and not reactionary ;)
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oh, …and isn’t it amazing how damn good ed reed still is?!?!
shouldn’t he be slowing down a bit!
i wish he had followed rex too ;(
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Ya know, I’m a big fan of reclamation acts, Maybin, Sapp. Love the Special Ops -Gronk Buster idea!!!
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neauone says:
I remember meeting a guy while doing a job interview. He played in the NFL a few years and was out. He was interviewing for security positions. We started talking about the NFL and the team I liked. He said to me, it doesn’t matter how good an offense is, the team that hits the hardest is the team that wins. I think he is correct, want to stop TE’s like Gronk, you have to make sure you ring his bell every time he gets that ball. Just look at what the G men have accomplished with the d they have. Now all back, all healthy. For all the Manning talk, and I believe he is good and perhaps elite. There are games he is just average and I’m not sure he will ever have the years that Brees or Brady or Rodgers had. But the offense can be special or it can be unspectacular. However the defense is always good. Lets start this year to repair the OL so we have a chance to win. Than copy the blueprint which have made past SB winners ours. Build up the defense until it is a monster.
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This is a recent piece on the presently uncoverable tight end model. I like the last line that reads “why don’t you get your tight end to cover their tight end; nobody else is 6-5 and 250 pounds”
How about a long borderline WR like Turner as the TE stopper?
What ever happened to this guy? I remember him being a beast coming out of the draft and then never hearing his name again.