The Great Safety Debate
by John B on Nov 30, 2009 9:45 AM EST
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Based on the good games Eric Smith and Kerry Rhodes had yesterday, the question is out there. Who starts at safety against the Bills? There's a case to be made for both.
The Case for Eric Smith
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Smith played a great game as a starter. Rhodes had his finest game of the year appearing in subpackages. It seems like this move was made to improve the defense. It worked out that way.
The Case for Kerry Rhodes
Promoting Smith was never meant to be a permanent move. It was done to light a fire under Rhodes. Mission accomplished. Yes, Smith played well, but Rhodes is a better player. Eric even at his best doesn't have the ability to the playmaker Kerry does. You've made your point. Your message was received. Now go with your best.
I'm inclined to think it's time for Rhodes to return for the starting lineup. I mean there's a reason the Jets signed Jim Leonhard in the offseason. They didn't trust Smith as a starter. There's also a reason Rhodes got his big contract after 2007. He has the tools to be a real game changer when he's motivated. I think the benching got him motivated.
What do you think?
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Good game for both.
Eric Smith gave the body blows and Kerry Rhodes got the knockout punch.
I think it was a good formula that we should try again.
I think David Wyatt said somewhere that Rhodes has underperformed all season, so one game shouldn’t be enough to redeem himself, and I agree.
and the home of the... JETS!!!
Go, Pac, Go!!! Manny Pacquiao!!!
by dvdvil on Nov 30, 2009 10:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I voted Rhodes.
Smith was good too, the secondary in a whole was good, but that looked like the old Rhodes. Its about time the secondary put a game together like that. Lets just hope its not a one off.
Curtis "my favorite" Martin - 1 of the best!
by jcgamble on Nov 30, 2009 10:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Eric Smith without a single doubt
I really think that was one of the best defensive efforts we have seen, and demoting Eric Smith after a game like that would be a body blow and send the wrong message. Like dvdvil said, I’m sticking to my, Rhodes was benched on the back of 10 average to below average games, he shouldn’t just be handed his spot back after one decent one. Especially the way Smith played, give Eric another chance, and keep Kerry in the sub packages, it worked a treat, let’s not mess with that.
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by David_Wyatt on Nov 30, 2009 10:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not decent great game by Rhodes.
I like Smith he’s physical don’t trust his coverage ability. The Panthers won’t expose him but some other team will. I think Rhodes gets the Message. But obviously increase Smiths playing time kid is tough as nails.
by Jerrad p on Nov 30, 2009 10:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How was that a great game?
He made one hit on the QB and had two balls thrown right at him, it would of been harder for him to drop the balls than intercept them. If that is the bench mark for having a great game, they are all over the place.
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by David_Wyatt on Dec 1, 2009 3:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Considering it was against Jake Delhomme...
I say let’s wait until we face a QB who doesn’t do everything he can to create giveaways short of literally handing the ball off to a defender before we even think about changing the secondary. Of course, I don’t mean to diminish the fact that Kerry did a great job, after all the entire secondary did exactly what it was supposed to do against a guy like that…
Plus, Eric Smith played a freaking great game and deserves to continue being the starter anyway.
by Exystence on Nov 30, 2009 10:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Stopping the run.
This was the game plan, and to let Jake make the mistakes.
I can recall seeing Eric Smith tacklling hard a bunch of times.
I didn’t really notice this with Kerry Rhodes, but maybe they just put him in obvious passing situations.
The only hard hit I saw Kerry put up was against the QB.
I think we’ll find out a lot about Rex Ryan on how he handles this safety debate on Thursday.
and the home of the... JETS!!!
Go, Pac, Go!!! Manny Pacquiao!!!
by dvdvil on Nov 30, 2009 10:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely
I just think that this was as much a message to Smith as it was to Rhodes, it was a ’here’s your chance, go and take it’ kind of message to Smith, and leading the team in tackles, including two for a loss is what I consider taking it. I would be very disappointed if Smith was not the starter on Thursday. Kerry said that this was the real Kerry and this is what we will see the rest of the season, well let’s see him follow through on that, we had him cover a lot less ground, and he managed to switch it on the week he was benched, which makes me wonder why he hasn’t been doing this all season. Leave it.
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by David_Wyatt on Nov 30, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Also let’s not sugar coat these picks, I’m delighted that he got these interceptions and it’s a fantastic base to build from, but both picks were practically gift wrapped and delivered to his door, from his starting base position, he hardly had to move, especially on the second one, these were as much awful throws as they were good picks. He didn’t have to compete for either, he didn’t have to make athletic plays, they were thrown right into his bread basket. If Rhodes had started this game and Smith been in the sub packages, I’m pretty confident that Eric Smith would of had two interceptions as well. So while I’m glad he got the picks, and he still has to make the plays, these were about as gift wrapped as you could hope for, Revis’s first pick, the reaction from the foot flip was probably harder than either Rhodes pick. Not hating on the guy, and I think the NFL analyst was going to say the same when he said he can’t comment on the pick because he didn’t want to sound like he was hating on Rhodes, but to get a starting spot back, you need to show a lot more than picking off two terrible uncontested throws than high school kids could of done.
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by David_Wyatt on Nov 30, 2009 11:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. Rhodes essentially had two punt returns...
Eric Smith — 8 tackles (2 for a loss)
Kerri Rhodes — 0 tackles (2 punt returns)
Smith earned another start. Kerri didnt do enough to take his job back. 0 tackles against a “run on 3rd down team”???? Cmon.
by Crackback on Nov 30, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Message Recieved
C’mon. Kerry is the better option. This was all about Ryan sending a message. The defense’s ceiling is much higher with Kerry in the fold. I think he comes out the rest of the season more hungry now and I think he helps lead us to the playoffs. Also, I think we see less social media stuff from Kerry the rest of the way, which is a shame because I enjoy his stuff on lockerblogger and twitter. I’m rooting for him because players deserve to have a life outside of football.
by NewYorkDT on Nov 30, 2009 11:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Did Smith really play that well?
I remember him missing some tackles and especially getting carried by D’Angelo Williams on that first drive where they converted those 3rd and longs. On the other hand, all Rhodes did was catch a couple of ducks that anyone could really catch. It comes down to tackling and hitting. Rhodes is better at that when he wants to be.
by Mackey Sasser on Nov 30, 2009 12:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
But when does he wanna be?
How long are we supposed to sit around and wait for him to “decide” to play?
Kerri had 0 tackles (thats right, ZERO) against a team that gladly runs the ball on 3rd and long. And what was so great about those picks? Any schmoe could’ve intercepted those passes. He took 2 steps back and waited for the ball to drop into his chest. He didn’t read Jakes eyes and make a break on a route.
Smith had 8 tackles (which led the team), 2 of which was behind the line of scrimmage.
Kerri did nothing but field arm punts from Delhomme. Not impressed at all.
by Crackback on Nov 30, 2009 6:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I have been thinking about his comments after the game about now we will see the Kerry Rhodes, would of been nice if he was doing his job all season and we saw the real Kerry Rhodes from week one. Eric Smith said it this week about him coming in and watching tape of the Panthers 3rd down situations, shouldn’t he be doing that every week, he gets paid enough.
I’m not nearly as impressed as some, and would be pretty pissed if he was given his starting spot back after IMO the person who replaced him out-performed him.
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by David_Wyatt on Dec 1, 2009 3:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
From Rex's Press Conference
On if Eric Smith will still start…
I’m going to say this, Kerry’s going to start in more packages. You might not notice how much. He’s going to play a ton. I probably will start Eric in, like you call it, the base package. We feel good about our safety situation. I thought James Ihedigbo, with the short time he was in there, certainly made an impact.
On if Rhodes was mostly in dime packages this week…
Right.
On if Rhodes will be in on some nickel packages…
Yeah. He’ll definitely be in some nickel packages. I think he’ll be in other packages as well.
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by David_Wyatt on Dec 1, 2009 4:35 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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