Bart Scott Has Faith in the Youngsters

by John B on Aug 9, 2011 9:01 AM EDT

Bart Scott appeared on The Michael Kay Show on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York. He talked about how the team might rely on rookies Muhammad Wilkerson and Kenrick Ellis. Sports Radio Interviews has the transcript.

Let’s talk about Muhammad Wilkerson and Kenrick Ellis. Do you think it will be a problem to rely on the young guys so much?

"I don’t think it is going to be a problem at all. I remember relying on a young kid called Terrell Suggs and a young kid called Haloti Ngata, who came in and things were said about them as well and they turned out to be great players and perennial Pro-Bowlers and maybe two of the top players in this league right now."

I think assuming Wilkerson and Ellis will be as good as those two right off the bat puts expectations too high. If they are, it is great. Playing defensive line is a thing that takes a lot of guys time to learn, though.

I will say this, though. The Jets coaching staff might be the best group of teachers a rookie has to get players up to speed. Scott has also reportedly taken on a leadership role teaching the guys the system, how to prepare off the field, and what they need to do on the field.

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Have to Disagree on One Point:

The coaches are, from my perspective at least, NOT the best at teaching rookies how to get “up to speed.”

by MachlinT on Aug 9, 2011 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

Kyle Wilson says amen to that.

by Timmaht on Aug 9, 2011 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Vernon Gholston would agree but he's too busy napping.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
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by Noble_Lance on Aug 9, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Wilson’s the only rookie defender this team had drafted under Rex before this year. I don’t think one player proves anything. Based on the work this staff has done teaching its players on the whole, I feel very good about giving them a rookie.

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by John B on Aug 9, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

What staff has done a better job the past two years teaching guys how to improve their play on the defensive line? It’s tough to find one.

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by John B on Aug 9, 2011 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Eh ... let's be fair.

Who has marginally improved on the defensive line (or the defensive end, for that matter) over the past three seasons? Devito; slightly. Pouha; maybe. I don’t know that we’ve seen anyone on the line severely overachieve and/or improve marginally.

The same applies to the rest of the defense. Rex obviously has a great scheme, but I don’t have as much faith in the Jets’ ‘teachers.’ It’s not that I don’t trust them, but we haven’t seen the results that would warrant deeming them the best for the job.

If you're interested, you can follow me @TokenNBR.

by Dopeness on Aug 9, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Obviously I was pointing at JB’s post…

Dude, Pouha and Devito were NOTHING before Rex. Drew Coleman was on the verge of getting thrown out of the league and Rex pretty much got him developed to the point of where he now got a fairly decent contract elsewhere. Jim Leonhard and Bart Scott owe their careers to him.

The thing is none of those guys are world-beating talents. However most of those guys wouldn’t even be in the league anymore if not for having developed into highly dependable players in Rex’s scheme. If you’re expecting teaching to make marginal talent into superstars, then your expectations are just not within the realm of reality.

by Exystence on Aug 9, 2011 9:53 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I have to agree. #1 and #3 defenses in consecutive years without a real star in the front seven.

by BIG OH!!!!! on Aug 9, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh, I completely agree.

Production-wise, what Rex has done with this defense is amazing. I’m not sure if the Jets would even fall in the top-half of the league, in terms of talent on the defensive-end. However, I think we can all agree, that’s different from teaching young players how to play their position. The two are not mutually exclusive, but one doesn’t necessarily dictate the other.

Once again, it’s crazy to think about the lack of talent on the Jets’ defense. They only have one top-100 player — maybe two, if you include David Harris, maybe.

If you're interested, you can follow me @TokenNBR.

by Dopeness on Aug 9, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

No, not at all. You can't turn marginal talent into elite production, however...

I think a lot of the results we saw — with Devito and Pouha, specifically — were more of a result of the scheme, rather than teaching from the staff (doesn’t mean that none of it came from the coaches). Obviously, we don’t have a clear-cut answer for what was more a determinant of their performance, but that’s what my observations would lead me to believe.

I’m not asserting that the Jets don’t have a good coaching staff; however, good is different from the best.

A few teams that pop into my head, when I think of developing defensive linemen: Giants, Patriots, Packers and Eagles.

If you're interested, you can follow me @TokenNBR.

by Dopeness on Aug 9, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

You could say that those teams’ linemen are all scheme-dependent as well. You take any linemen from any of those teams and the only ones that do nearly good elsewhere are Justin Tuck, Trent Cole, BJ Raji and Vince Wilfork.

But I do actually think you’re right, those teams ARE great at developing defensive linemen. However, this Jets staff hasn’t really had the opportunity yet to develop guys and a reputation along with them. But you look at what the Ravens did with Rex and Pettine over there and the record is astounding.

by Exystence on Aug 9, 2011 10:25 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

^^^^

Only one I can think of that has done nearly as good is Green Bay’s, but they’ve also got highly drafted players that are supposed to be good. Rex and co have developed a UDFA and a late round pick into top-tier starters. So imagine what he’s gonna do with Wilk and Ellis!

by Exystence on Aug 9, 2011 9:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions