New York Jets Problem: Safeties in Coverage

by John B on Oct 4, 2011 2:00 PM EDT

Our next problem the Jets have is the starting safeties in coverage.

The Problem: The starting safeties are not very good in coverage. Eric Smith is strong against the run and a good situational player. He is also too slow to cover athletic tight ends. Jim Leonhard is a very instinctual player with a good nose for the ball. He makes a lot of great plays. His 5'8" 188 pound frame makes him a mismatch against big tight ends. If paired with a good cover guy, either would be fine. Together, they do not make a very good pair.

Who Is to Blame: Rex Ryan has to take most of the heat on this one. Even assuming Kerry Rhodes was too much of a locker room problem, there was no reason to start this pair together other than they are both a coaches' dream with their attitudes, brains, and work ethics. Never mind the Jets were great at the position in coverage at the end of last year with these guys out playing a Brodney Pool-Dwight Lowery duo. For some reason, Pool has ended up on the bench, and Lowery, a converted corner who made big plays against the pass fell completely out of favor and was traded to Jacksonville. It is tough to imagine Mike Tannenbaum making the move if his defensive minded coach did not sign off. The Jets would have had a good mix at the position had they rotated the four. Smith and Leonhard are good against the run. Lowery is good in coverage. Pool is a good all around player.

Viable Options to Fix the Problem: They could start the guy who looked like a complete safety and a great playmaker in Pool near the end of last season. He is better than either current starter.

Prognosis: Smith and Leonhard are coaches' favorites. The staff seems to want to talk itself into this duo because it likes both players. They are both smart guys who have their strong points. You want heady guys as the last line of defense. More important, though, is having guys athletic enough to make plays when needed and match up with athletic gamebreakers. Pool fits this bill better, but he is rotting on the bench despite being the best safety on the team. The staff has not come around yet. I cannot say when or if it will happen. Based on what I have seen, I am not optimistic.

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Comments

Do you every get the feeling these are the same players?

I’m not just talking about small white guys, their games are very similar. It’s basically like we have two small SS, how the coaches find this acceptable, is maddening. I think it’s because no team has dominated us here. Fingers crossed that it isn’t the Pats, especially if Hernandez is healthy.

by Timmaht on Oct 4, 2011 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

I'd say small white guys pretty much sums it up, actually

by J-Nasty on Oct 4, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish I could find my old comment

Saying halfway through Rhodes last season that he would improve to the point where he had trade value again but Rex was done with him as a player and there was nothing he could do to stay on the Jets, and that this was a mistake because it would take years to replace a coverage safety.

I caught so much sh_t for that comment.

Arm chair GM. Mod/contributing writer at SBN Jets blog GGN.
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by Bro Namath on Oct 4, 2011 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

Honestly we should have kept Rhodes

"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."

by Atronic on Oct 4, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I wrote same thing about Rhodes last season and people here threw rotten tomatoes at me.pheeewww!!!

by overloadblitz on Oct 4, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I think by my name, my feelings on Rhodes should be pretty clear..

by RhodesRocks on Oct 4, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Time to go to Pool.

Especially this week with the TEs we have to face.

by Crackback on Oct 4, 2011 3:20 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Leonhard-Pool with Smith used for certain packages.

by Scott Piazza on Oct 4, 2011 3:45 PM EDT reply actions

As crack talked about in a previous post

A 4-2-5 with (Pace, Pouha, Devito, Ellis (if hes ready…also can use Pitoitua as well ) (Bart and Harris) (Cro, Pool, Jimmy, Smith, Revis) . That would maximize everyone’s strengths as well as compensate for the loss of Thomas. I think its a good idea especially against a pass heavy team like the pats.

by GreenFlight on Oct 4, 2011 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

why did you take Wilkerson out of the starting front when he has been playing so great

by 2xtheBully on Oct 4, 2011 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Complaining About the Second Ranked Pass Defense

seems a little ticky-tack to me. I liked D-Lo and I like Pool but so far these guys are doing the job and most likely have some responsibility for the improvement in the back end. We haven’t seen the defense that is going to be installed for NE but I’m sure it’s going to look nothing like anything we have seen this season. I have a feeling Smitty will be playing a lot LB daring the Pats to run the ball.

by Beamen321 on Oct 4, 2011 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

why was Lowery traded even?? who the heck is this Mr T and Rex. one player who could have stepped in to provide coverage was traded for peanuts.

by overloadblitz on Oct 4, 2011 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

Neither Rhodes or Pool Are the Answer

IMO, they both suck and there’s a good reason Pool doesn’t see the field that much.

"Reality is purely the perception of the individual mind. It follows, that since no two minds are alike, no two perceptions of reality are alike. It further follows, that what reality is to one, may seem complete madness to someone else."

– Yefim Novikov

by joeklecko on Oct 5, 2011 12:44 AM EDT reply actions

Wow

Apparently, Leonhard is only 28. I thought he had to be older because of how slow he’s become. He’s no longer a starting safety in the league with his lack of size and speed. He’s a liability in the middle of the field.

by dar9898 on Oct 5, 2011 11:28 AM EDT reply actions