Does the 2010 Jets Defense Have the Potential To Be the Best Ever?

by Ryan Alfieri on Jun 2, 2010 8:00 AM EDT

Bart Scott was asked if the Jets could be the best defense ever next year. You're response, Mr. Scott?

"You try to be the No. 1 defense — ever," he said during OTAs this week. "Why not?"

So, why not see if we can actually pull this off. Read those words above carefully, though: POTENTIAL. I just want to be sure we all understand that this is all taking into account that the typical Jets curse of Namath (or whatever we call it nowadays) is just lurking right around the corner.

Let's compare the Jets to another great defense, the 2000 Ravens. I consider them to be the reigning champs, along with the '85 Bears, Steelers of the 70's and Steelers of 2008.

Defensive Line: Kris Jenkins, when healthy, as about as bad a dude there is a NT. The guys around him; Ellis, Devito, etc., make this line above average, I would say top 5 or 6 in the league, out of 3-4 lines. The 2000 Ravens had a 4-3 scheme, with Siragusa and Sam Adams, along with Adailius Thomas. The front 7 of the Ravens was their true strength, as opposed to the 2010 Jets, with the core of the team resting on the defensive backs.

Advantage: 2000 Ravens

Linebackers: Ray-Ray sort of gives the Ravens the edge here by default, but Peter Boulware, the Raven's all-time sack leader, along with Jamie Sharper, were no slouches. the '10 Jets got a future star in David Harris, and a beast in Bart Scott. Calvin Pace is a border-line pro-bowler, and Jason Taylor could be headed for Canton one day. Since Taylor will be on a rotational basis, and Ray Lewis was THAT good, however, I gotta give the edge to the Ravens.

Advantage: 2000 Ravens

Secondary: Make no mistake about it, the heart and soul of the Jets defense lies in the back end. This is not your traditional defense, where the big men make it all happen with sack artists and gap-blowing freaks of nature, it is about relying of your corners to cover. Revis is pretty much the 2000 Ray Lewis of CB's, if you will. Cromartie would be a number 1 on any other team. Wilson would be a number 1 on most teams. He's a friggin' nickel corner here. All Jim Leonhard does is make plays, and Brodney Pool is a great fit a FS. The Ravens did have Rod Woodson, but nothing there screams greatness.

Advantage: 2010 Jets

Coaching: Now, don't get me wrong, I like Marvin Lewis. It's just, well, he's not Rex. Just look at the consistency of the Ravens under Rex and the Bengals defense under Marv. Rex is just on another level in terms of X's and O's. We all know that energy Rex brings to the team too.

Advantage: 2010 Jets

Now, judging by what we got, and how it fits what the Jets do, I say why not. We have our once-in-a-decade player in Revis. We have our system. We have our leaders. It's just a matter of getting it done.

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Comments

All the pieces are there for the Jets, we’ll just have to see. BTW

the Bengals defense under Marv.

In fairness, no amount of coaching is going to help the Bengals defense. You do have to give him credit for taking an eternally awful team (at least as long as I’ve been watching) and turning them around. For Rex the pieces were there, and the team has at least a decent history.

The Islanders went from Marty McInnis and a 2nd Overall pick to Jesse Joensuu.

by Mark D on Jun 2, 2010 8:23 AM EDT reply actions

I like what Marv has done with the Bengals, its just Rex’s was just so dominant for so long, while Marv’s was mediocre at times.

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by Ryan Alfieri on Jun 2, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Marvin Lewis was not the head coach of the 2000 Ravens; he was the D-coordinator

If you goner compare coaching, it would be fare to compare coaches at the same position. Also, you have to put the 85 Bears on the short list as one of the best defenses ever.

by BIG OH!!!!! on Jun 2, 2010 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

I think that was done because, as it has been pointed out before, Pettine is the coordinator in name only. Rex is calling the shots on D and is understood to be the de facto Coordinator. I think that was why the comparison was made between the two.

by george JETson on Jun 2, 2010 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly. I know Brian Billick was the coach of the 2000 Ravens. But he was a pure offensive guy. He knew next to nothing about defense, just like Rex can’t call an offensive for his life. Marv was in charge of the D, just like Rex is now.

And I did mention the 85 Bears above, along with the Steelers of the 70s and 2008.

Contributing Writer - GangGreenNation.com
Marty Brodeur - Stealing Rangers' lunch money since 1990

by Ryan Alfieri on Jun 2, 2010 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

that was his point...rex's d is better than marv's and we all know rex is truely our hc and dc

by JETSKID123 on Jun 2, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

You also have to take into consideration the eras...

each team was constructed to defend in. Comparing them head to head, their advantage up front might seem to give them the edge overall. But they were assembled to defend a league that had only 3 QBs pass for 4000+ yrds vs 10 in 2009, 7 QBs had a rating over 90 with 2 topping 100 vs 12 above 90 with 5 topping 100 in 09, and only 5 teams passed for 4000 yrds vs 12 that topped 4000 yrds in 09. Of those 5 teams in 2000 that passed for 4000 yrds 3 made the playoffs, all 3, (Rams, Colts and Broncos), lost in the wild card round.
It is clear with our Draft choices what Rex is placing a value on. It is interesting , and I think a testament to his defensive acumen, that he was apart of that Raven team yet chose to alter the focal point of importance with the Jets.

by george JETson on Jun 2, 2010 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

while i agree that rex ryan is a good coach

he has only been able to show his abilities for one year

is this a good thing or a bad thing? i dont know

but i dont think it is right to say that rex ryan is a better defensive coach than marvin lewis…. yet

maybe you will never be able to really justify it, or maybe in a few years, you WILL be able to

my point it, i dont think you guys hav a certain advantage at coaching… yet (he has only been a coach 4 1 year)

WE GOT BRANDON MARSHALL!!!!!
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by finzrule on Jun 2, 2010 9:32 PM EDT reply actions

I see what your saying, but you seem to be dismissing Rex’s track record as a DC in Baltimore, where his defenses were consistently one of the best in the league. Last season, as a rookie HC, with a rookie QB who was an interception machine in the middle of the season, he took his team to the door step of the Superbowl. That was despite the early season losses of two big time contributors (Leon and Jenkins), his best pass rusher being suspended for the first 4 games, his starting corner opposite Revis missing nearly half the season, and sub-par play from his FS for most of the season.

Lewis has had an all pro QB for most of his tenure in Cincy and his defenses have stunk for the most part, up until last season. And Last season’s uptick can be largely attributed to their new DC.

I think its pretty clear that we have a coaching advantage over Cincy. Especially when you include the head-to-head match-up where we spanked them 2 straight games (something you Phins fans love to give so much weight to).

by Crackback on Jun 3, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Best Defense Ever???

Honestly, I don’t know. I believe it goes year to year. Think about it, the Rams(Fearsome Foursome),Miami(No Name},Vikings{Purple People Eaters), Dallas(Doomsday),Steelers(Steel Curtain),Jets(Sack Exchange)to todays Pats,Giants,TB Bucs,Ravens and the Jets.There can never be an ever, just a now. Schemes change, rules change and personnel change. On paper, the Jets have the overall team and coach to achieve a dominant defense in 2010. We’ll see how it translates during the regular season. Good luck.

by cpoled on Jun 3, 2010 11:20 PM EDT reply actions