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Jets Cornerback Conundrum

Trying to bring together a few items that have been scattered across the site over the last week or so. That being the Jets 2010 cornerback situation. As we have seen with the fanposts on the right, Jets fans seem to unanimous in their support to bring another cornerback to the team.

As the situation stands the Jets have five cornerbacks signed up for 2010, which will become six as soon as Drew Coleman signs his offer sheet. As much as I would love to get a 6th round selection for him, it's just not happening, especially not this year.

Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Dwight Lowery, Marquice Cole and Bo Smith are the guys that are signed and ready to roll, I don't think anyone can honestly say that is enough to beat teams like the Colts.

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Star-divide

The starting cornerbacks are tied down, nobody is displacing Revis or Cromartie, and that's fine with me, that has the potential to be the best starting cornerback combination in the league, so that is sorted, settled, no need to really address it. I have a feeling that both will have a fantastic year.

Then comes the enigma, I can't remember Jets fans disagreeing so much on one player. Depending on who you are talking to, Dwight Lowery is either an up and comer who has bundles of potential, or he is a liability in pass coverage and the less he is asked to do the better for the team.

Marquice Cole has floated around several teams since being undrafted in 2007. The Raiders, Titans and Saints have all passed Cole on, and there is little evidence to suggest that he can contribute positively to the defense in 2010.

Drew Coleman looks to be on his way back *collective moan*. As Dwight Lowery divides people, Coleman unites. Unfortunately for him, Jets fans unite in disdain for his on the field play. Never really seen what the coaching staff sees in Drew, often slow to the ball, hard to pick up who he was supposed to be covering because he is rarely in the vicinity. Put quite bluntly, he isn't the best player that has lined up in the secondary.

Bo Smith is coming from the Canadian league, and I have no idea what to expect from him

Anyone feel confident going up against the Saints or the Colts with that secondary? I know I'm not. I like the starters, and I'm a fan of Dwight Lowery, but that's not enough. Which brings us to a few players that have been mentioned lately.

Tye Hill has been mentioned lately, and a few people seem to be in favour of signing him. I have talked to a few Atlanta fans about him, and the general sentiment is that he is quick and not much else. He ran a 4.34 at the Combine coming out of Clemson. Between 2006 and 2008, he played three years with the St Louis Rams appearing in 28 games, starting 18. Compiling 105 tackles, 13 pass defenses and 4 interceptions. In 2009 he appeared in 8 games for the Falcons, starting 3. With a measly 7 tackles, 1 pass defense and 1 interception.

According to PFF, Hill appeared in just 119 of the Falcons defensive snaps, which is a ridiculously small amount. being targeted on 11 occasions with 10 of them being completed. Giving up 17.3 yards a catch. I know we can say, system, system, system, but those are worrying numbers. One he was not trusted to be on the field more, and two when he was, and when he was targeted, it seems it was an easy completion. 23 targets, 19 receptions in 2008 while playing for St Louis. 24 receptions on 39 targets in 2007, which is adequate.

Should we pursue Hill? bring him in, see what he has and if he is no better than what we have, cut him free?

Nathan Vasher is the next potential player that has recently been released. If you are thinking "I used to hear about this guy all the time, is it the same one", It is. 2005 Pro Bowl selection with an 8 interception season. The 28 year old has taken a nose dive over the past three years, recording just one interception in each of the past three seasons. Starting only 11 games over that time period. Registering just 38 tackles. Like Hill, it seems that few teams had problems completing passes into his coverage. Targeted 14 times for 11 completions, a % of 78.6%, absolutely terrible, but still better than Hill. Like Hill it seems the majority of his time was spent on the sideline, as he appeared in just 165 defensive snaps.

However despite his drop off in interceptions in 2008, he actually had a solid year. Being targeted 61 times, with 32 of those being completed for a respectable if unspectacular completion % of 52.5%, which was good for best on the team with players taking 200+ snaps. Vasher is known for his bruising physical style, he can play up at the line and deliver a hit. 2009 was a down year for him no doubt, but he has performed to a reasonable standard more recently than Hill.

So do we bring Vasher in? kick the wheels, see what he has. I think he could potentially be a solid pick-up in the Nickel/Dime packages, especially if we allow him to rush the passer off the edge in certain situations.

Drafting a Cornerback is still on the agenda, although it now seems to be filled under "any other business", relegated behind Defensive End, Outside Linebacker and Wide Receiver. Could we go here early? potentially, if Kyle Wilson falls to us can we not take him?? how about Perrish Cox in the second round, perhaps Devin McCourty in the first if Odrick/Graham are gone. I wouldn't mind us using a 4th/5th round pick on a corner while bringing someone like Vasher in to work out.

There are several options for this Jets team, but I think we can agree that we need to improve that core of defensive backs heading into the season if we want to improve on our AFC Championship season of 2009.

So what do we do Jets fans?

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Comments

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I think corner is definitely a need, but should be reserved for selections in rounds 4-6. I think the first priority should be improving the pass rush. Even if we don’t take Hughes/Odrick, we should still target an edge rusher with the first pick, IMO. Fact is, it doesn’t matter who is back there in coverage if you give guys like Brees, Manning and Brady time to throw. A good pitch and catch beats good coverage every time.

If we can get a good rusher that can bring pressure consistenly:
1) We won’t have to use as many blitzers to create pressure and could drop more guys back into coverage;
2) And if we can speed up the QBs’ throws consistently, we can dictate the types of passes that are made and the areas thrown to by our pre-snap alignments. We won’t need a great cover guy if we can limit the areas of the field that offenses can target.

Edge rusher first, then corner in the mid-late rounds. In the mean time gather up any vets that we can on the cheap and bring them into camp and see how they do. If they suck, cut them.

by Crackback on Mar 17, 2010 10:33 PM EDT reply actions  

Vasher

I vote we have a look at both, and draft a corner in the 2nd or later, we need a pass rusher/D-Lineman more than anything. I know we need a good nickel if we hope to get past the colts, but taking a corner in the 1st is not worth it for a guy that has a 20% chance of starting. On the other hand if Cro doesn’t work out for us, we’d have a replacement opposite revis. To get to the Vasher option, I think his drop-off had more to do with the rest of the Defense than him, I mean he was in the Tampa 2. Which if you don’t have pressure from the front four, its generally not that hard to complete a pass, from what I’ve seen he is a decent/pretty good press guy. I say bring him in and see what Rex can get out of him, as far as Tye Hill, take him for camp on a cheap deal(pref cheap deal for both) Take a corner in the 2nd or 4th if its strictly to play nickel, I mean either way we need a pass-rusher, and I’m not confident in Pool. If it were me, I’d sign both guys, if they stink, cut them. Draft a pass rusher, and a FS like Rolle, or the guy from LSU. Maybe take Thomas if he falls to us(doubt it) At this point anything is better than Coleman, and the dude from Canada. I kinda like lowery in the nickel, but he was kinda banged up last year. We need depth at CB.

by Revis24 on Mar 17, 2010 10:35 PM EDT reply actions  

Crackback

my other brother from another mother……+2

by Revis24 on Mar 17, 2010 10:36 PM EDT reply actions  

I’d pursue Vasher over hill. I know he didnt succeed in the zone coverage but I think as a nickel he should be solid. If Graham Odrick or even Hughes are off the board, I wouldnt be opposed to a corner. While a need may be a pass rusher, you still should target best available. Cromartie could be a one year thing. He could be a bust.

And to those who think we can pick someone up at the end of the draft, I strongly disagree. There aren’t many who can press and be effective in man coverage, let alone have the hips to make up for no safety support late in the draft. To get to the Super Bowl, we will have to beat the Colts. Dallas Clark will present problems regardless, but I hope somehow we can limit him. Revis on Wayne is solid. Then we have Cromartie probably on Anthony Gonzalez, Lowery on Garcon and for Collie we have no one. I dont like Lowery against any of these matchups, and I doubt a late rounder can do a serviceable job against any of these receivers.

by jets47 on Mar 17, 2010 11:50 PM EDT reply actions  

I really like Kyle Wilson but I think you go Pass rusher and hope to get Mccourtney or Cox in round 2. Hopefully haden slips which could cuz CB’s to collectively slip throughout the top half of the draft

by Markis ThatGuy Jones on Mar 18, 2010 12:28 AM EDT reply actions  

CB

Yes look at Vasher, but we also need to draft a CB. A good pass rusher is most important therefore should be the focus of our 1st round pick (hopefully Jerry Hughes). A good CB should be our second pick because after Revis and Cromartie we are very weak and I am also concerned that Cromartie may only be with the Jets one season. If he plays well he is going to want a Kings ransom for his next contract and the Jets won’t be able to afford him and if he doesn’t play well the Jets won’t want to sign him.

by tomjet on Mar 18, 2010 1:05 AM EDT reply actions  

I don't think Vasher is the type of player

that rebounds with a great defense. I think he’s over the hill in terms of football skill. If you’ve watched his most recent play at all, something was deeply amiss. The guy was blowing coverage and tackles left and right. I’m not sure if he’s an appropriate addition even if he’s cheap.

by Bro Namath on Mar 18, 2010 1:08 AM EDT reply actions  

both

We as Jets fans need to remember that we have 1 of the best DB coaches in the NFL Dennis Thurman my feeling is that he would be able to coach them up back to where they once were, and the Jets signing both would be a very smart football move and be cheap,The Jets would then have a 1,2,2a,2b,3 that is if Thurman can coach them up and I feel he can.

by JETSFAN IN SC on Mar 18, 2010 9:02 AM EDT reply actions  

No more signing free agents

I thought the corners were good last year. The problem was that by the time we got to Indy Shepheard was knicked up, Strickland got hurt in the first half, only Revis was actually healthy. Even Lowery I believe was out for a few plays. Because all the corners got hurt doesn’t mean we have to draft and trade for 10 CB’s. The team was/is good.

I say draft the need position or the best available player. The need is a DE to replace both Ellis or Douglas in the next year or two. First round pick Odrick. He’s a 3-4 beast. If he’s not available, go for next area of need. A safety to replace Kerry Rhodes, and his name is Taylor Mays. If he’s not available, go for 1 of the CB’s in Kyle Wilson or Mcourtey.

One of those guys has to be available at pick 29. But you gotta go DE, S, CB. Rinse and repeat in round 2 picking up a CB or S if possible. Rounds 4,5, 6, 7 need to address adding depth to the offensive line, a speed receiver (maybe a small school burner?), and a pass rusher.

by manuvsteal on Mar 18, 2010 1:51 PM EDT reply actions  

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