Where Is Aaron Maybin Successful?

by John B on Aug 27, 2011 3:00 PM EDT

Aaron Maybin was a bust for the Bills. That is not debatable. He played a pass rushing position, and the team gave up on him after two years. The Jets are trying to get something out of him. Interestingly, Pro Football Focus notes that he recorded 3 pressures against the Patriots in Week 3 last year. I decided to take a look, try to identify the pressures and figure out whether there were any trends to ditcate his success. These are the three plays I believe resulted in the pressures.

1. 1st and 20; NE 13; 1:14 First Quarter

Maybin lines up at right end in a three point stance on this play and runs wide of Matt Light. Pressure from both ends forces Tom Brady to dump off a throw to a Julian Edelman for a loss of 4.

2. 2nd and 16; NE 20; 10:01 Second Quarter

Maybin is in a three point stance against Light again. This time, he appears to bull rush and then gains leverage on Light, who takes a spill. Maybin has a free path to Tom Brady and charges, forcing an early throw that is broken up by Leodis McKelvin.

3. 1st and 10; BUF 41; 13:54 Third Quarter

Again Maybin is at right end in a subpackage lining up wide. He runs a stunt to the inside and benefits as New England's protection does not shift and Dan Koppen and Dan Connolly remain engaged with interior linemen until it is too late. Brady hits Aaron Hernandez for a 6 yard gain.

What does this tell us?

From watching this game, I view Maybin's ceiling at this point as a pass rushing specialist. He played in about half of Buffalo's defensive downs. When a lineman locked onto him, he had little recourse. He is too small to set the edge in the run game.

Believe it or not, even though his three pressures came at end, I think this kind of game shows he belongs in a standing up role. His pressures were a result of quickness. Even the one where he overpowered Light was because he got quickly on Light and won leverage. Ideally he would get as far to the edge as possible to try and beat a tackle to the corner. The left side of the defense would probably be better since he would be matched up against tackles who tend to be slower and less athletic than on the other side.

With that said, my expectations remain low. This was one of the few games where he showed any signs of life, and even then he made some mistakes like losing contain on an end around. Watching arguably his most productive performance, though, probably shows how he is ideally used.

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He can be used in our defense like a safety-backer

Specifically for the purpose of blitzing. We’ve seen the success such players have had in that role for us the past two years already. I think Maybin has a real shot at big-time success in that role.

by Exystence on Aug 27, 2011 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe he's unlucky

I just know from his rush out of the three point stance I seen a potential pass rushing specialist.

by BIG OH!!!!! on Aug 27, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

That's what everyone saw from him out of college

But for whatever reason it just didn’t work out in Buffalo. Maybe he’s just too damn skinny to play on the d-line, look at his arms in that pic above. That’s why I’m thinking pure off-the-edge 9-tech/3rd-level-blitzing safety-backer more than anything else. Don’t let linemen touch him, get him back there with as little contact as possible. When he comes free like he did in the preseason game he’s on the QB before you even realize it.

by Exystence on Aug 27, 2011 7:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

That’s not a bad idea. Instead of trying to bulk him up, let him stay lean and maintain his quickness which seems to be his primary asset

by nationalist88 on Aug 28, 2011 3:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

His body just isn’t built for the d-line and he appears to lack the functional strength to deal with offensive linemen. Put him in positions to attack where he minimally deals with them and you maximize his usefulness.

by Exystence on Aug 29, 2011 8:45 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Keeping a backup long snapper would be more valuable to this team then Aaron Maybin.

by bobchandler on Aug 27, 2011 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

Who is Danny Woodhead if the Pats don't give him a shot?

We got him for less than a sack of potatoes, and he already has a sack under his belt. He’s shown enough for us in so little that it definitely warrants giving him more reps. Let’s see what the kid can do for us before we massacre him for what he didn’t do for Buffalo,

by NYJALLFINGDAY on Aug 27, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

That was 3rd stringers and all he did was run around an offensive tackle that will likely never make it in this league. How can we honestly believe one of the worst linebackers on a team with only 1 proven pass rusher on their entire team (Merriman) can be a difference maker on one of the best defenses? He’s undersized and he gets pancaked by running backs on the reg. I remember him making a rap before he got to the NFL about how he was going to be terrorizing NFL quarterbacks. Hopefully he will get plenty of reps with the ones or twos this week so the coaches realize this kid has no game and he doesn’t waste a valuable roster spot.

by bobchandler on Aug 27, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Doesn't matter

He had no knowledge of the system and used his athleticism to his advantage, which nobody saw much of in Buffalo even after 3 years. I know it’s the preseason and such, but seriously, if it doesn’t work out the Jets hardly lose anything for releasing him, and if it does work out, Rex and Tanny are geniuses. Low risk, High reward.

by NYJALLFINGDAY on Aug 27, 2011 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

^ this

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by Judgegavel on Aug 28, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

He's a nice fit here.

His burst off the snap allows him to stretch out OTs and create more space for blitzers (which we love to send). It also allows him to COMMAND a double-team when he catches a match-up against a slow-footed OT.

His stats might never show value. But he will be an impactful player in our system. And we got him for a bag of dirt.

by Crackback on Aug 27, 2011 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

If he ever commands a double team I will sell my house lol

by Jerrad p on Aug 27, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

hahahah Beat me to it.

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Giant LB'z SUCK!!? Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones,Spencer Paysinger...Maybe not..

by Troy O on Aug 27, 2011 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Him command a double-team?

That’s like Kenrick Ellis NOT killing a quarterback by a single sack.

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by Noble_Lance on Aug 27, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Match him up with a slow-footed RT.

And they’ll be forced to keep a RB shaded to that side. Teams used to do that all the time to us with Woody.

So… Say we have a foot-speed advantage with Maybin on a RT, so they have to keep a RB over there for added protection. And say we line up Kenrick next to Maybin, and gobbles up 2 interior OLs. That leaves 2 guys workin one-on-one (assuming we’re in a 4 front) on the backside, plus a free run for a blitzer.

By manipulating the match-up, which Maybin will let is do sometimes, we can dictate the protections and do dirty things.

Rex is enough to handle as it is. Rex is impossible to handle when he can make u block his front a certain way.

by Crackback on Aug 28, 2011 5:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

+1

by ArunK on Aug 28, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm cautiously optimistic

He’s surrounded by a much better defensive unit, better lineman and backers. I think his early preseason promise cements that he is a better fit for the Jets than the Bills.

But I agree, I don’t expect more than situational and ST play from him, but what I have seen does look somewhat promising. I think at the very most we can expect him to be used in the same capacity we used Pryce and JT last year, as utility players and occasional pass rushers.

My expectations will also remain low, but I am cautiously optimistic.

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

by Bro Namath on Aug 27, 2011 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

I can understand the optimism

But he’s had a preseason sack before. I think people are overvaluing him over one impressive play. I don’t think Maybin’s physical skills translate to success in the NFL

by Jerrad p on Aug 27, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Good Work, John B

Thanks for the effort and analysis. I agree.

"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."

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by joeklecko on Aug 27, 2011 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

Slow & steady

10 lbs & a counter move, then this kid will be a problem. For now he’s a situational guy, but I think he sticks around for a while & develops into something more than Buffalo trash.

by The_Jets_Way on Aug 27, 2011 4:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Step by step

First they have to see that potential, and you said it perfectly " 10 Lbs & a Counter Move" the Jet coaches have to have that vision. The next step is finding a role on Westoff’s warriors, Westoff needs to buy in and be able to use Maybin effectively. IMO the Jets can only carry 8 Linebackers
( 10 DB’s , 7 DL) and the guy that gets cut if Maybin stays is ILB Bellore or Satele, which leaves you with only one reserve ILB. Maybin has to be able to give an approximate contribution to special teams of that reserve ILB for Westoff to sign off, and that is the critical second step that buys Maybin time to develop

by JetOrange on Aug 27, 2011 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope not Satele

I like what I saw from him last game, granted it was mostly against the 3’s, but I think he got some 2 time also if I’m not mistaken. He’s come a long way from his pizza shop

by LongIsland Zag on Aug 27, 2011 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope it is Satele...

Bellore has a much higher ceiling. Satele looked awful in camp last year, and will be fine for the practice squad.

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by Judgegavel on Aug 28, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Not so sure of that, those numbers are not written in stone...

can definitely see us taking only 9 DB’s, or even 6 DLs (yes very small chance in that).

Last 2/3 spots will come down to McIntyre, Maybin, Bellore, Satale, and/or an extra DB (most likely a 5th S).

I also would not be surprised if we take less players on offense this year, with possibly only 4 WR or even a chance they don’t take Powell and go with 4 RBs.

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by Judgegavel on Aug 28, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybin's spot probably isn't coming from dropping someone on offense.

Can’t see Jets cutting Powell (though I still wonder if the draft pick spent on him was worth it considering depth at RB, perhaps no confidence in McKnight back then), and there are a couple of very good ST guys, one of which is likely taken as the 5th wide.

If they take Kroul, he could be the 7th DL and the 8th OL though, which would save a spot. Also, if Maybin can serve on special teams, while also being effective as a sort of pseudo blitzing DB the Jets may not need a 5th safety. Though I expect they will take Cook.

If Rex needs to find a roster spot for him I think he can. Though if its through dropping the 4th inside backer, the collective Jets fanbase will hold it’s breath every single time Harris, Scott or Mauga stubs a toe. Not that it won’t anyway………….

Comes down to the game against the Giants first and you’d think Maybin will have to prove his pass rushing ability beyond just running around a 3rd string tackle. I hope he gets chances though, who knows, he could be something.

by ArunK on Aug 28, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea Powell is a long shot to get cut...

but not out of the question. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if overall they take 24 on offense and 26 on D. I don’t think Kroul makes it though unless its because he’s made enough progress on the OL, the only reason we take 7 DL is because of the talent, not the need. It’s going to be tough to cut MTV, considering how good he’s looked, but we really don’t need him.

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by Judgegavel on Aug 28, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

They could do 24 on offense, looks like they might go with 3 TE this year

Off the top of my head I have 21 that are probably in. That’s with 4 wides and 6 lineman assuming they keep Powell. If my math/memory serves, 1 spot for a WR and 2 for OL depth. Probably have to IR Turner, not sure how long they can wait for him carrying 7 lineman.

Maybe we don’t need 3 nose tackles but I would still hate to see MTV go somewhere. Would not be remotely surprised if he becomes the defensive version of Woodhead. I’d be rooting for them to keep him even if they go with 6 DL.

by ArunK on Aug 28, 2011 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree, IR Turner. Or cut him. We need the roster spot.

Hes just not that valuablé. Keep the extrà DLs and maybe try to strike a trade for a legit OL. Pouha and Devito have serious value. Maybe grab a legit RT and groom Vlad to play guard, being the utility guy in the meantime.

Worst comes to worst, we grab Turner’s equivalent off the scrap heap in the next couple weeks as teams start to shape up their rosters.

Heck, I wouldn’t mind coaxing Big Woody out of retirement and let him rehab slowly back. He’s played both OG and OT at a high level in his career. He can prob be ready by mid-Sept.

Turner isn’t a starter. He’s not projected to be a starter in the future. What are we waiting for here?

by Crackback on Aug 28, 2011 7:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Word is they are keeping Turner on the roster at this point.

things of course change once other get released.

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by Judgegavel on Aug 28, 2011 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions

That sucks.

Makes no sense. Can’t tell me they can’t find a back up out there somewhere. I understand IR’ing a starter, but a back-up? I don’t get it.

by Crackback on Aug 28, 2011 8:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Where Is Aaron Maybin Successful?

in collage.

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Giant LB'z SUCK!!? Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones,Spencer Paysinger...Maybe not..

by Troy O on Aug 27, 2011 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

getting money for doing nothing?

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 Aug 27, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I kind of see him taking on the Ihedigbo role, despite the positional difference. With our blitzing style and his speed, he should get a number of clean looks at the qb over the year. I would not be shocked if he put together a nice 5-8 sack year in a limited role.

by SioneBAAOOOHA on Aug 27, 2011 8:05 PM EDT reply actions