Will Brodney Pool See More Action This Week?

by John B on Oct 8, 2011 11:30 AM EDT

Brodney Pool is only averaging 23 snaps per game this year with Eric Smith in the starting lineup. This is a subject of great debate among Jets fans. This seems like the kind of week where he should definitely be more involved. The Patriots have excellent receiving tight ends, although Aaron Hernandez is questionable. The Jets have matchup problems against athletic tight ends with a Smith/Jim Leonhard duo. Pool's superior coverage skills will be in demand.

This does not necessarily mean Pool should take snaps away from Smith depending on the package, particularly if New England spreads the field. The Pats have run the ball successfully, but the key to beating New England's offense is slowing down Tom Brady. You play the pass and adjust to the run. I think Smith will get snaps, but they should be closer to the line. Smith was very good in the postseason last year playing a hybrid safety/linebacker position. Taking the underneath part of bracket coverage while displaying his run support skills, he can be an asset against this dynamic offense. He is better against the pass than the average linebacker and better against the run than the average safety.

What I worry about is the Pats potentially using a lot of big packages with multiple tight ends so the Jets cannot use subpackages with a lot of defensive backs. The Jets will need to make a decision. New England will hope for them to keep Smith on the field over Pool and exploit the tight ends against the safeties.

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I agree, whole-heartedly.

I’d like to see us go with a 4-3-type look, with Smitty playing the weakside backer spot. That way we can use him to fill holes in the run game, contain RBs on the edge and in the flats, and we can float him back into passing lanes.

D-line has to step up and play big this week, which is why I’m suprised Kenrick isn’t a lock to play. I want to see these guys fresh all game.

I also really like Pool on Gronk. Do like we did last game and sit on the outside routes and force everything back to the middle and drop the backers into the passing lanes. Pool ha the size and athleticism to control Gronk. The guy will have some catches, let’s face it he’s good and his QB is the best ever, but Pool should snuff any big plays.

by Crackback on Oct 8, 2011 12:31 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Personally i think pool should be our starting safety. He is more talented in areas that we are weak than smith. Our defense has been playing poorly so why not go back to something that was working last year. The coaches seem enamored with smith because of his heart and story but he lacks the athletic talent to be a number 1 guy.

by Nick Terp on Oct 8, 2011 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

This post is an excellent citation of why our safeties should be completely rotational

Arm chair GM. Mod/contributing writer at SBN Jets blog GGN.
Archduke of PACOS.
GangGreenNation.com

by Bro Namath on Oct 8, 2011 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Why do you give Leonhard a pass?

He’s a smaller, less athletic Smith. Pool should be replacing him at FS.

Regardless, starting two slow safeties is going to bite the Jets every time they do it against teams with athletic TE’s

by dar9898 on Oct 8, 2011 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

I think Leonhard's strengths are mainly in his awareness and tackling

Smith I place little value in over hard hitter. Although Smith is way more athletic, I’ll give you that.

Arm chair GM. Mod/contributing writer at SBN Jets blog GGN.
Archduke of PACOS.
GangGreenNation.com

by Bro Namath on Oct 8, 2011 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Leonhard is short, slow and plays deeper than anyone else as slow as he

He’s good at holding on when he gets run over, not much else

by dar9898 on Oct 8, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

ie

having him in is like playing a constant prevent at free safety

by dar9898 on Oct 8, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Leonard (and i’m not his biggest fan by any stretch) has at least made some plays on the ball so far this year. Seems like Smitty is getting targeted and abused in coverage week in and week out.

by Crackback on Oct 8, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

That's because Eric Smith has been playing up near the line

while Leonard plays 15-20 yards deep and almost never covering a player in man coverage. Playing a strong safety that deep is ultra conservative. If Pool were in for Leonard, he’d probably get to plays faster

by dar9898 on Oct 8, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Leonard also directs the defense you saw how we feel apart last year when we lost him

by Nick Terp on Oct 8, 2011 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions

You mean that deep playoff run to the AFCC?

by Crackback on Oct 8, 2011 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

and if you read some of the new this week it was actually leonhard who had a big part in game planing the strategy that beat the Pats originally. anyways how many times do you hear and leonhard made the tackle or was in on the tackle the guy just knows where to be

by Nick Terp on Oct 9, 2011 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions