Who should be the starting safety tandem for the Jets this year?

Rex will manage to get everyone a ton of playing time. There isn’t a safety on the roster who didn’t see significant snaps last year. My preference is Lowery at FS and Pool at SS, but really you’re gonna see every combination of safeties on the field possible is Rex’s defense.

Both are versatile and fit the scheme perfectly, and both will only improve upon their performance in the playoffs with more snaps.

Lowery is a rangey, ball hawking FS with corner cover skills. So he can play single high or drop down and cover the slot.

Pool is a rangey, aggressive, playmaking SS that can make a tackle behind scrimmage or blanket a TE. He also has the ability to drop back and play as a single high FS.

I also like Smith as a specialist to come in as a SS or a safety-backer.

I think we should cut Leonard. Now that the defense is fully installed, he’s a liability and serves no purpose. He’s grossly overpaid and we owe him nothing. We already saw that he was big fat target last season, it will only get worse with more time. Use the money saved to help resign Pool and Smith.

Pool was much better when he moved over to SS after Leonhard went down and Lowery makes a good FS. Regardless the Safety Committee approach seems to be working just fine so Leonhard and whoever else well also get lots of playing time. I think we should def keep Pool over Smith though.

but honestly whoever is playing/practicing best should and will be out there. I know Rex loves Leonhard and he was the qb of the defense, but if guys are outplaying him then I think Rex will put the best player out there.

And I wouldnt call Lowery a “ball-hawking” Safety just yet…give him some more time at FS before we make a call like that. there were times he got burned pretty bad last year

leonard and smith are both 1 dimentional – good against the run and a liability in pass coverage while pool and lowry can move around more and make more plays….i would like to keep smith as a safety backer though for some formations and i think we need to dump leonard and his contracct and make room to risign plays like harris and braylon

I know its too early to switch him and he still may develop into a high level CB. But like Lowery i think he plays better with the ball in front of him and his ability to find the football and make plays. He is also more the physical enough to help in run support as well.
What do you think?

Agreed, like i said too soon, but i think one would have to admit he has an very appealing skill set for becoming a play making safety. If you look down the road with this team, what do you think would be more valuable, a good number 2 corner (or number 3 if we sign Cro long term) or possibly the dynamic game changing safety this team has been missing? I know this all hinges on his ability to learn (and master) his third position as a pro but outside the box speculation is an inevitable consequence of this bull S#!t lockout!