Jamal Adams: Most Important Addition; Game Saver

Each Wednesday SB Nation’s team sites are asked a question. This week we were asked to name the best newcomer on the team.

The Jets have a number of additions who have helped the team through the first quarter of the season, but there is no need to overthink this one. When you take a player sixth overall, you are hoping for an immediate impact. That is what the Jets have gotten from Jamal Adams.

Rather than go on about how great Adams is, I wanted to show you a play I noticed when reviewing Sunday’s game. It was something I had missed watching it live.

In all honesty, I thought the game against Jacksonville was Adams’ weakest of the year when I rewatched. There were too many instances where he overran plays.

However, he made a few key plays in pivotal moments. On the play I am about to show you, he actually saved the game for the Jets.

This was the play immediately following the Leonard Fournette go ahead touchdown that was wiped out by a penalty. Chris Ivory got loose down the right sideline. Ivory was heading to the end zone for a game-winning touchdown, but Adams knocked him out of bounds. When Ivory has a head of steam, he isn’t the easiest guy to redirect, but Adams did the job after Kony Ealy, Darron Lee, and Juston Burris got blocked.

This play is a great example as to why Adams isn’t just the best newcomer. He is probably the most important newcomer.

As I watched that play, one thought came into my mind. A year ago, that would have been a touchdown. Calvin Pryor would have taken too sharp of an angle, and Ivory would have scored.

Last year the safeties were causing breakdowns. This year the safeties are preventing catastrophe when the rest of the defense breaks down.