James Ihedigbo: The Hidden Option?

by John B on Mar 7, 2010 1:57 PM EST Comment 8 comments

One guy nobody is talking about as a potential replacement for Kerry Rhodes is James Ihedigbo. James has mostly been a special teamer during his time with the Jets. He's probably best known for two critical penalties on kickoff returns. One came in 2008 against the 49ers that negated a Leon Washington touchdown and caused Mike Westhoff to give the officals an tongue lashing. The second was a critical personal foul on the overtime kickoff against the Bills in 2009, which proved costly as the Jets botched a long field goal attempt on that drive in a bitter loss.

James is a guy who stuck out to me a lot at the end of the season. On third downs he had a lot of success as a blitzer. He's looked pretty quick and athletic. Does he have the strength to play the run on the cover skills to be successful against the pass? I don't think anybody except those in practice could say. Rex has done a great job turning no names into quality players, though.

He may be nothing more than a substitute, but maybe the coaching staff sees enough in him to give him a shot at the job. I couldn't say one way or the other, but just tuck his name in the back of your mind if the team doesn't make a bold move to address the position.

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Good Point

This dude can play the position… at a high level? Not entirely sure… but I wouldn’t count him out at all.

by King A! on Mar 7, 2010 2:04 PM EST reply actions

I doubt he is starting material

but in some ways he is better than Smith, and strikes me as more atheletic. He did play more and more down the stretch and in the playoffs. Had a very strong game in SD (athough most of his good play was as usual on special teams). Probably not the best option but interesting.

by Buzzy on Mar 7, 2010 2:08 PM EST reply actions

Now that i have digested thses trades

We are pretty much exactly where we started the offseason with, in need of a Dback and pass rusher. Onlt difference is we have a better corner and weaker saftey, and an extra pick this year. I feel CB is harder to find then safeys are so honestly i think we are better off now. That pick next year isn’t that big of a deal because of the quality of people that will be avaliable.

by skullhead2k1@aol.com on Mar 7, 2010 3:12 PM EST reply actions

pretty much

but were definitely weaker at kicker now lol

by Ryan Alfieri on Mar 7, 2010 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

he is more of a strong safety than free safety. he doesnt have the range of rhodes and is better at playing the run than the pass.

by servantofchrist on Mar 7, 2010 3:25 PM EST reply actions

Nah

I think he is a good backup blitzer.

Now did you find out if we can pay sharper what ever we want

JETS

by michael28102 on Mar 7, 2010 3:27 PM EST reply actions

Its a stretch

hes proven he can be a blitzer, which, in all honestly, isnt a rare skill.

But his name is awesome. Easily the coolest name to announce making a sack, exept for maybe demarcus ware. multi-syllable names make for good sack-names.

by Ryan Alfieri on Mar 7, 2010 10:25 PM EST reply actions

He's good in the role Rex and Pettine give him

Ihedigbo is a situational player, which is the way Ryan likes to use his personnel. He does a good job blitzing and in run support, but is more of a ball hawk, or you could say a tackle hawk, than a coverage back. I would hesitate to expand his role too abruptly, you would end up with something like Drew Coleman in the Colts game, somebody having to deal all of a sudden with responsibilities that go far beyond what his job was until then.
Having played some amateur sports, I have a lot of appreciation for the work of coaches, and recognize that evaluating players in practice and determining the best way to use each one and combine them, or at least, put together the best possible combination of bodies and skills, might be the most difficult part of it. I trust Ryan and Pettine to sort this out.

by Rabbit T on Mar 8, 2010 10:46 AM EST reply actions