Leonhard: 'Defense Is Good, Not Great'
by David_Wyatt on Dec 22, 2009 1:28 PM EST
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PrintSomething that has been a hot topic around here since we all witnessed another last possession for the opposition result in another loss for this team, a scene that has become all too familiar for most Jets fans this season.
Well Jim Leonhard understands this more that anyone
"The great defenses find a way to win. Whatever the situation is, they find a way to win," said safety Jim Leonhard today, 24 hours after the Jets lost a heartbreaker to the Falcons at the Meadowlands. "It doesn’t have to be pretty, it can be ugly. You might win, 34-31, some week, but you win and that’s what great defenses do.
"That’s why I would say we’re a good defense right now. We might be ranked No. 1 and our rankings might say we’re a great defense, but until we find out how to win games, we won’t be great."
Their is little doubt that this is a very good D, but at the same time Leonhard is right, a great one comes up with stops when they are most needed. Look at some of the greatest units in league history, they all found a way to win, especially down the stretch. The 71 Vikings, the 00 ravens, the 62 Packers, the 69 Chiefs, the Jets have some of the most impressive stats this year, they have allowed the fewest points, the fewest passing yards, and fewest yards overall.
It's hard to win with an offense that turns the ball over as frequently as we do, but at the end of the day, when all is said and done, when we have a lead with less than 2 minutes to go, regardless of what has happened during the course of the game, great D's come up with that stop. Regardless of how tired they are, how long they have been on the field.
This defense can be great, but it's not their yet.
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interesting
I think this team has been surprisingly sober in its self-analysis. Very little BS going on here. I think its a testament to Ryan and who he’s surrounded himself with.
I agree with this, their is a lot of brash talk and self believe, but they are all too aware of what they are doing and what they are not doing, and it’s nice to see that a defense that ranks so highly is not buying into the hype all together, and understanding that they can do more
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
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Does this mean the offense is ‘absolutely horrible,’ not ‘bad?’
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Pass offense yes, rush offense no lol
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
haha yeah, I guess I should’ve clarified in my statement
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Penalties...
I’m afraid this a reflection of the emotional nature of coach. Mangini never showed emotions- not giving his players the “go ahead” to show their emotions (anger) in the course of the game and I don’t think it’s a coincidental the Jets were one the least penalized team. Of course, for better or worse, Ryan wears his emotions on his sleeve and emotions can cloud clear thinking decisions and judgement. I think you can see this in his more bizarre comments when under the gun.
no pass rush
This team is a very good defense because they do not have a or any real pass rushers. If they had pass rushers, this team would be great because a pass rush makes the quaterback rush throws and that leads to more interceptions. P.S. Get rid of Kerry Rodes, He sucks.
If the offense scored some points and didnt spot the other team points (via turnovers and field position)...
our record would be at least 12-4 at season’s end and there would be no doubts about the greatness of this defense.
And since we have the #1 rushing attack (lord knows how with our utter inability to pass), and since we have a solid if not above-average receiving group, you know who we can blame for the D not getting the cred it deserves.
You know its funny, the D holds a good offense to 10 pts, 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
An offense with Matt Ryan, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, and we get on here and nit-pick this play and that play.
The QB coughs up another game with multiple and horrible picks and penalties and a 50% completion and we gloss over it as if its to be expected. When handing out grades, on eposter actually put him in the “good” column. C’mon.
We have the number 1 rushing attack against 8-9 man fronts and our QB finds a way to throw it to the other team almost as much as ours.
Cmon people. He’s played 14 games now. He’s not a rookie any more. Enough of the coddling.
Our QB throws 3 picks and we hold them to 10 pts and people have the nerve to say this isnt a great D??!!!
Name another D that could do that against that caliber of an offense.
You have to talk about the defense
The defense has to be blamed, the offense no matter how poor it is has giving us the lead in four games (really three, I’m just counting Bills game too), and the defense in those games did not protect the lead.
Pettine put it best
DC Pettine:“We want 2 be known as group of closers, not guys that fade at the end of gm. That’s a culture we need 2 change here”
I agree with the people who are saying that holding teams to 10 points should be enough, but we still need to close out these games with a lead in the final 2 minutes.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
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