Will Jim Leonhard's Injury Create a Better Rounded Safety Duo?

by John B on Dec 12, 2011 3:50 PM EST

One of the biggest complaints many had about the Jim Leonhard/Eric Smith starting safety combo is how little they complimented each other. They essentially did the same things.

They were reportedly responsible for the team lining up in the right spots and making sure everybody knew what they were supposed to do. They had the option of changing things they did not like. They could both hit hard and were best against the run. Neither was very good in coverage. Smith's lack of athletic ability relative to top tight ends is well documented and has been exposed frequently this year. Leonhard's size and lack of speed made him a human mismatch in coverage against big, fast tight ends despite all of the other things he did well to compensate.

Brodney Pool has once again become a starter. He might make the safety mix more diversified. Many voiced a belief that Pool should have started over Eric Smith.

Pool is probably the best cover safety the Jets have. Leonhard could still play the run, while Pool could carry more of the load in coverage. People wanted Smith to sit because Leonhard is a better player and a bigger playmaker.

Last year it felt like the Jets played their best pass defense after Leonhard left the lineup. They missed Jim in other ways, but they shut down Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the postseason.

The new safety duo might actually compliment each other more than the former one. Pool can take more coverage responsibilitis, while Smith can play the run instead of having two guys who do the same thing well.

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Yeah

but this time around we don’t have Dwight Lowery to compliment Pool/Smith. Lowery playing safety allowed for Smith to be a hybrid linebacker in certain packages. Who’s going to take Lowery spot ?

I’m thinking Donald Strickland or Marquis Cole. Jets already stated they are looking for a safety right now, but he won’t know the system well enough, to be put in the fire. So we’re going have find another lowery among our corners.

King Kong Ain't Got Shit On Me- Denzel Washington
I got the shotgun. You got the briefcase. It's all in the game though, right? - Omar Little

by PuffDaddy18 on Dec 12, 2011 4:00 PM EST reply actions

well no safties

do the same exact thing on the field. jim played more of zone coverage and was used as a ball hawk and also play the slot a little. eric did more man coverage and underneath stuff plus blitzing but now eric can play more zone coverage and while pool can play more man. this tandem of pool and smith is what i really wanted

by Emmanuel Agu on Dec 12, 2011 4:06 PM EST reply actions

I think they changed what Leonhard was doing from last year to this.

Look at his tackling numbers.

Last year he lead the team at 4.7 tackles a game.

This year: Leonhard 2.9 and Smith is the 2nd leading tackler at 4.0

by ________key on Dec 12, 2011 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

Makes sense what your saying.

I think that the only team that we would really need to have our safety’s play lights out is if/when we play NE again. Gronk has to be taken away the team that does that beats the Patriots.

by Vegas Jets Fan on Dec 12, 2011 4:10 PM EST reply actions

Yeah if we take away Gronk the Patriots are as good as done

D.T.O.T.D stands for Don't Trade Our Toney Douglas

by 2xtheBully on Dec 12, 2011 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

Revis on Gronk or Welker

Would probably be the biggest test of the year but should u put Revis on Gronk all game and have Wilson and Cro take the outside? I still am Not afraid of what the Pats bring to the table at WR and if we put Revis on Gronk having Revis play a Woodson esk safty corner i think the Pats O would struggle (relatively)

by GreenFlight on Dec 13, 2011 9:40 AM EST up reply actions

thats true

stop the pats TE’s cause their receivers cant beat our corners

by Emmanuel Agu on Dec 12, 2011 4:13 PM EST reply actions

I like leonhard alot, and he'll be missed. But he's just a replacable piece.

i think brodney will do another great job for us again. If we still had lowery i’d feel alot better. but brodney is bigger, stronger, and faster. Thank God leonhard’s injury didnt occur suddenly like last year. marquice cole is pretty decent if he’s needed.

by jets4life24 on Dec 12, 2011 4:29 PM EST reply actions

I disagree

I’m sure you guys remember When he went out for last year and the D sucked for the next few games. It was like Indy without manning those games. We can’t afford to play like that again.

by Milwaukee Beers on Dec 12, 2011 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah but we had a MNF game and leonhard got hurt on a friday I believe

His loss played a good part in our debacle that night. The team couldn’t prepare enough.

by jets4life24 on Dec 12, 2011 10:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

that's right we lost him then

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Dec 12, 2011 10:54 PM EST up reply actions

I suspect Eric Smith will become the starting SS, and Pool will rotate with Tracy Wilson.

www.GangGreenNation.com

by bobdolethesnapplelady on Dec 12, 2011 4:35 PM EST reply actions

They also had Dwight Lowrey.

Contributing Writer - Bleacher Report
Senior AFC Analyst - TheHometowFan.com

by Ryan Alfieri on Dec 12, 2011 4:40 PM EST reply actions

Eric Smith needs to learn how to wrap up when he tackles

I saw Smith whiff on at least 4 tackles yesterday because he was going for a KO instead of making sure he got the tackle….the way the league is now if he connects it’s likely going to be a 15 yard flag anyway.

by GangGreen73 on Dec 12, 2011 5:03 PM EST reply actions

My biggest problem with Smith is how hard he bites on the play action

Teams like the Pats just bait him for this with repeated runs. He is so ready to support the run he creates a void where he should be supporting the corner.

And I would count his “cover the tight end” Tebow game, dive to the middle as exactly this propensity. He may be a bright guy book-wise, but he frankly is dumb as a football player, lacking the instincts to know and follow all of his responsibilities. I think the league has figured out his major weakness. Diving in support of the run is just as bad as always going for the INT.

Add to this he just can’t cover, and isn’t always a sure tackler in space, and we got problems.

by ________key on Dec 12, 2011 5:49 PM EST reply actions

So true. Great observation.

Hopefully they scheme around this propensity and keep him out of those situations as much as possible. And also make it clear as much as possible when he doesn’t have run support responsibility.

by Crackback on Dec 12, 2011 6:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

That’s what I’m hoping for Crackback. Maybe we get very creative and just turn him into a torpedo, blitzing machine more?

I’m also hoping that the Jets have been saving some of the best and most aggressive defense schemes for the playoffs, hiding them behind all this zone we’ve been playing.

by ________key on Dec 12, 2011 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

The NE play action to Welker, in the 2nd game that resulted in a 60+ yard gain, sums it up perfectly

by RevisChrist on Dec 12, 2011 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

Yep, I remember that play like it was yesterday.

The media and analysts blamed Revis for that TD, but Revis was playing zone and ran Welker off to Smith. Smith took one step forward and Welker went right by him. If not for Revis’ closing speed and Welker’s short legs, it would’ve been a TD.

by DesertJetFan on Dec 12, 2011 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

both revis and smith were playing zone and they both bit on the play action fake

by Emmanuel Agu on Dec 12, 2011 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

Watch the play once welker leaves Revis's zone, he passed him off to smith, and since there were no other recievers in hia zone he had no reason not to look to help support the run..

This is not the same as biting on the play action fake..

by RhodesRocks on Dec 13, 2011 9:25 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Jet Propaganda was that E, Cook was cut because they needed a player at Safety

Tracey Wilson is that player, undrafted in the supplemental draft,signed by the Jets, on the Practice Squad for 10 weeks, on the 53 for three weeks, has barely seen the field, maybe this guy can step up as the third Safety.

by JetOrange on Dec 12, 2011 6:47 PM EST reply actions

The DB's better be on point vs. the Eagles and all their downfield weapons.

by DesertJetFan on Dec 12, 2011 7:50 PM EST reply actions

The run D better be on point keeping Vick contained..

We have a lot of big guys to crush in run D, unfortunately these big guys are slow and a quick QB who gets the outside edge is in for big gains if we fail the initial containment..

by RhodesRocks on Dec 13, 2011 9:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Remember

Tebow on the last series against the Jets. He ran and it made the difference. Vick is quicker and has much more talent than Tebow. If Vick does not turn the ball over, he could be the deciding factor in the final score. This will be a big test for the Jets D to contain a good running QB.

by PVS53 on Dec 13, 2011 6:23 PM EST up reply actions

The run D better be on point keeping Vick contained..

We have a lot of big guys to crush in run D, unfortunately these big guys are slow and a quick QB who gets the outside edge is in for big gains if we fail the initial containment..

by RhodesRocks on Dec 13, 2011 9:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

What I expect to see is Pouha pushing up the gut, with Maybin used to flush him to one side or the other. The two of them alone can keep him contained to wherever we want, which can just be flooded with other defenders.

www.GangGreenNation.com

by bobdolethesnapplelady on Dec 13, 2011 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

We have options not great but options none the less

Don’t touch the three corners we have right now they are playing great. Start Smith & Pool rotate T. Wilson, M.cole and Strickland based upon the scheme the opponents are running and the success they are having. We have another safety on the practice squad Sendejo but I know nothing about him so we have to work with the pieces we have.

by NYCKID on Dec 13, 2011 1:52 PM EST reply actions