Rhodes Hasn't Won Back Starting Job

by John B on Dec 8, 2009 1:28 PM EST Comment 19 comments

Rex Ryan still isn't ready to anoint Kerry Rhodes his starter at safety.

Rhodes thought he was about to regain his safety position in the Jets' base 3-4 scheme after meeting with defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman a week ago. Rhodes said he thought that was the "one thing" he needed to do before Rex Ryan inserted him in his old spot.

But Ryan, who replaced Rhodes with Eric Smith two days after the Nov. 22 loss to the Patriots, still won't commit to giving back Rhodes his starting role. Rhodes was mostly in on nickel and dime situations the last two games, though he played much more in Thursday's win over the Bills.

"I want this thing to play out," Ryan said Monday. "I want to see how the week goes, see the preparation and game plan before we name a starter in the base group. One way or another, both of those guys are going to play a bunch, Kerry and Eric.''

I take this to mean Rex is really still unhappy with Kerry because there's no doubt which of the two is more talented. We all know Kerry thinks a lot of his own ability. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Rhodes may end up punching his ticket out of town if he doesn't take it well.

Do you think this is the right move?

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he had a good game on thursday but still looked “tentative” in run support.He phad enough plays to be effective so I believe he can earn the job with another strong showing in coverage but needs to stick his nose in there and wrap that sucka up!

by dreaux on Dec 8, 2009 2:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i hope this doesnt mean our 1st round pick is going 2 be a safety. we have other needs like defensive line and maybe corner or receiver depending on what happens with lito and braylon. in this deep of a defensive tackle class i think we should select a nose tackle like mount cody or a 3-4 end like Ndamukong Suh depending on if theyre available. we shouldnt be in a rush to replace rhodes if we need to build elsewhere.

by joey d on Dec 8, 2009 2:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

100% the right move, Rhodes has done nothing to get that spot back, I didn’t think much of him on Thursday against the Bills and it just reaffirmed the idea that he is one of if not the softest safety in the game. I dread anyone coming near him with the ball because there is as big a chance of them running over him as there is him tackling them.

Suh is a top 5 pick and possible the number one overall depending on who gets it. not really sure where Mount is going, but if a good safety falls to us then I want to see us take him. The more this goes on the more I’m starting to listen to that former scout of the Ravens who said that Rhodes is the kind of guy that would really frustrate Rex and that he expects him to be out of here next season.

So trying to get his spot back he studies 3rd down tape (per Eric Smith) and now he meets with the defensive backs coach. Is it just me or is this just getting worse and worse for Rhodes, he should be doing all these things anyway and on a consistent basis.

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 8, 2009 3:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm. His run support is still weak.

However, He has played very well in coverage the last two weeks so props to him for that. Smith still needs to work on his coverage ability. These guys are like opposites really they kinda compliment each other. I really don’t want to get a safety in the first round. Suh, I saw that championship game, I heard how good he was, but honestly this might be the best defensive player out in the last 5 years. He might make more of an impact then Big Jenks if we had him. Which we won’t but you get the picture haha.

by Jerrad p on Dec 8, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thing is run support is not that hard, it’’s much easier to learn run support than it is to get better as a coverage corner. There really is no excuse for not tackling on such a consistent basis, he really isn’t putting his body on the line for the team, and while Eric does need to get better in coverage (he has shown improvement this season), he most certainly leaves it all out on the field on a Sunday.

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 9, 2009 5:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dump him...

Why are we auditioning a former starter in week 13? Jay Feely is more aggressive than Rhodes. And thats just sad.

by Crackback on Dec 8, 2009 3:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Why are we even entertaining the idea of switching things up, now I’m not for a minute saying that the only reason we won or lost was Rhodes, but since he has been the nickel and dime guy and Smith the starter, we are 2-0. Why would we mess with that right now, things stay as is for me.

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 8, 2009 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jay Feely is more aggressive than Rhodes.

Wow. Good point. It is very sad, and it is very true.

and the home of the... JETS!!!

by dvdvil on Dec 8, 2009 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is

I’ve seen Feely make some tackles that HollyWood would not even dare to try to make.

DO WHAT JOSE REYES DO!!!

by Jadden Hopkins on Dec 8, 2009 8:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i like him

he’s fan friendly etc. but he has not earned back that spot. smith has played well and rhodes just hasn’t. what does it say to the team if you demote the hard working, hard playing guy for the bigger name who isn’t performing?

i hope he’ll win the spot back, but no gimmes here.

by JetsFan1991 on Dec 8, 2009 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rhodes used to be one of my favourite players, but this season has really seen him plummet for me, it just doesn’t seem like he does a lot, thinks more of himself than the team, and it was all the he looks focused now talk after the Carolina game, and I’m just thinking that for what he is paid he should already be doing all this stuff. Difference between him and Revis is that Rhodes just relies on his athletic ability, where as Revis has the athletic ability and some put still realises he has to do a ton of work.

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 8, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs