~ ~ jets 'D'... # 2 ? ? ?

[kelly]

The Green & White Have a Revamped Secondary & Young, Talented D-Line

 

 

On the surface, the New York Jets have the makings of an elite defense in 2015.Certainly not a bad unit in 2014, the Jets finished sixth in terms of yards per game (327.2 ypg). Continuing to be stout against the run, the Green & White ranked fifth overall (90.7 ypg). And the Jets got contributions across the board rushing the QB as five different players recorded 5.0 sacks or more and the team’s 45 sacks T6 in the NFL.

 

New head coach Todd Bowles and 1^st-year GM Mike Maccagnan targeted the cornerback position this spring, transforming a question mark to an area of strength. Both Darrelle Revis and Buster Skrine became Jets on March 14 and Antonio Cromartie reunited with Revis four days later. The Jets also added safety Marcus Gilchrist and bolstered their depth across the board."It'll be a lot more coverage sacks, I'll put it like that," said DL Sheldon Richardson, a DE who paced New York’s AFC representative with eight sacks in 2014.It was seventh heaven for the Green & White on draft weekend as USC DE Leonard Williams became the seventh consecutive defensive player the Jets have picked in the first round in the last six years.

 

“He’s a disciplined player. Whether he does his technique and he knows where he needs to be, you can tell he’s played a lot of football,” said Bowles of Williams at the team’s rookie minicamp. “He takes on blocks and screens in a certain way. He’s seen quite a few more things than some rookies have seen.”Bowles, who pegged Kacy Rodgers as his defensive coordinator, said the Jets will remain a 3-4 club. He believes you can’t have enough defensive linemen, favors a rotational system and also has more options with the glut of talent up front. After trading back in Round 3, the Jets selected an OLB in Lorenzo Mauldin who racked up 20.5 sacks and 31.5 TFL at Louisville.

 

“I hope he’s overall a solid linebacker and can play the run and the pass, but without being in pads it’s a little early to tell right now,” said Bowles at rookie camp. “Judging off his college tape and why we got him here, we got him here to eventually learn to be a full-time linebacker. Obviously, we’ve got Calvin (Pace), (Quinton) Coples, (Jason) Babin, and (Ikemefuna Enemkpali), and all those guys, and (Trevor) Reilly, so he’s got some guys he has to work to beat out.”This Jets defense should be tough to beat out.  In fact, Bleacher Report’s Alessandro Miglio recently ranked the Jets No. 2 in his power rankings of all 32 NFL defenses.  Below is an excerpt…No team improved a single facet of their game more than the Jets improved their secondary this offseason.

 

New York lured star cornerback Darrelle Revis back to the Big Apple, prying him away from a division rival in the process. The Jets also landed his former wingman, Antonio Cromartie, and a solid nickel option in Buster Skrine.Heck, they even upgraded at free safety by bringing Marcus Gilchrist over from San Diego.As if that wasn't enough, the Jets had the draft's best overall player fall into their collective laps when Leonard Williams inexplicably fell out of the top five. It wasn't a need with stud defensive ends Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson in the fold, but that is now one nasty defensive front.

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-6/Bleacher-Report-Jets-D-No-2/7bcaf088-765e-49f2-99d3-e5e0f018ba76

 

[GREENBEAN]

It has the potential to be really fun this season. Think of Sheldon and the crew getting an extra 2 seconds to chase the passer with the CB's actually covering guys this season.

[papz187]

This defense will be fun to watch at the very least!!!! I feel bad for Josh McCown.....he better be ready for an ass beating come the beginning of September!

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

[kelly]

more re our " D "..

 

 

 -- A lot of people are talking about the New York Jets' defensive line, and with good reason. An already strong unit got stronger with the addition of Leonard Williams, the sixth pick in the draft. Some experts believe it has the potential to be the best in the league."I can't argue with that," nose tackle Damon Harrison said Thursday at teammate David Harris' charity golf outing at the Green Brook Country Club. "But we have to gel together. It's a new group of guys. I definitely think the talent is there to be the best, but the work we put in this of the year is what it's all about."

 

Harrison acknowledged it's "probably the best defensive line we've had, top to bottom" in his three years with the team. He and Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardsoncomprise the starting three, with Williams and new veteran additions such as Kevin Vickerson coming off the bench. Wilkerson and Richardson are former No. 1 picks. So is linebacker Quinton Coples, who figures to play in some defensive-line packages.

 

Harris said he didn't expect the team to draft another defensive lineman."I think that caught a lot of people by surprise, but I love the pick," he said. "[Williams] was one of the best players in college football last year and you can never have enough good players, no matter what position. He adds another piece to that D-line, which is already awesome. He'll be making my job a lot easier."

Harrison echoed Harris' sentiment, saying he welcomes the addition of Williams."They said they were going to take the best player available," he said. "Just from watching TV and seeing the reports, I feel like it was a good pick. It adds more depth to the defensive line. I'm not a guy who shies away from competitions. I'm fine with the pick."

 

Shoulder update : Safety Marcus Gilchrist, who signed a four-year, $22 million contract in free agency, has been limited in the offseason due to a shoulder injury. He declined to elaborate, but it sounds as if he underwent arthroscopic surgery after last season with theSan Diego Chargers."It's just something that needed to be fixed," he said.Gilchrist wouldn't say when he expects to be cleared for full participation, adding that it's up to the trainers.

 

>  http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51362/new-york-jets-see-big-time-potential-on-the-defensive-line

[kelly]

saw this..

 

~ ~  Jets linebacker David Harris wasn't expecting Gang Green to use the sixth overall pick in the draft on defensive end Leonard Williams.

 

"I think that caught a lot of people by surprise, but I love the pick," Harris told reporters this week, per NJ.com. "He was one of the best players in college football last year, and you can never have enough good players, no matter what the position. He adds another piece to that D-line, which was already awesome. He'll be making my job a lot easier.Still getting used to life with new coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan, Harris acknowledged "the players have no idea what the coaches and general manager are thinking (during the draft)," adding: "We watch it just like everybody else."

 

Harris might have been caught off guard, but Maccagnan pulled off a coup d'état landing Williams. Nobody expected the big-bodied terror to be on the board when New York hit the clock.While the team already has Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon "Snacks" Harrison along the line, the Jets would have been insane to pass up the best player available. Besides, landing the USC product ensures New York against a potential free-agent departure by Wilkerson next offseason.Bowles has been given everything Rex Ryan wasn't one year ago: Darrelle Revis as the anchor of a nasty secondary and another difference-making war daddy up front. It's one reason we see the Jets as a team ready to make a jump in the win column come September.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000492836/article/harris-leonard-williams-pick-surprised-jets-players

 

 

 

[TuscanyTile2]

The Green & White Have a Revamped Secondary & Young, Talented D-Line

 

 

On the surface, the New York Jets have the makings of an elite defense in 2015.Certainly not a bad unit in 2014, the Jets finished sixth in terms of yards per game (327.2 ypg). Continuing to be stout against the run, the Green & White ranked fifth overall (90.7 ypg). And the Jets got contributions across the board rushing the QB as five different players recorded 5.0 sacks or more and the team’s 45 sacks T6 in the NFL.

 

New head coach Todd Bowles and 1^st-year GM Mike Maccagnan targeted the cornerback position this spring, transforming a question mark to an area of strength. Both Darrelle Revis and Buster Skrine became Jets on March 14 and Antonio Cromartie reunited with Revis four days later. The Jets also added safety Marcus Gilchrist and bolstered their depth across the board."It'll be a lot more coverage sacks, I'll put it like that," said DL Sheldon Richardson, a DE who paced New York’s AFC representative with eight sacks in 2014.It was seventh heaven for the Green & White on draft weekend as USC DE Leonard Williams became the seventh consecutive defensive player the Jets have picked in the first round in the last six years.

 

“He’s a disciplined player. Whether he does his technique and he knows where he needs to be, you can tell he’s played a lot of football,” said Bowles of Williams at the team’s rookie minicamp. “He takes on blocks and screens in a certain way. He’s seen quite a few more things than some rookies have seen.”Bowles, who pegged Kacy Rodgers as his defensive coordinator, said the Jets will remain a 3-4 club. He believes you can’t have enough defensive linemen, favors a rotational system and also has more options with the glut of talent up front. After trading back in Round 3, the Jets selected an OLB in Lorenzo Mauldin who racked up 20.5 sacks and 31.5 TFL at Louisville.

 

“I hope he’s overall a solid linebacker and can play the run and the pass, but without being in pads it’s a little early to tell right now,” said Bowles at rookie camp. “Judging off his college tape and why we got him here, we got him here to eventually learn to be a full-time linebacker. Obviously, we’ve got Calvin (Pace), (Quinton) Coples, (Jason) Babin, and (Ikemefuna Enemkpali), and all those guys, and (Trevor) Reilly, so he’s got some guys he has to work to beat out.”This Jets defense should be tough to beat out.  In fact, Bleacher Report’s Alessandro Miglio recently ranked the Jets No. 2 in his power rankings of all 32 NFL defenses.  Below is an excerpt…No team improved a single facet of their game more than the Jets improved their secondary this offseason.

 

New York lured star cornerback Darrelle Revis back to the Big Apple, prying him away from a division rival in the process. The Jets also landed his former wingman, Antonio Cromartie, and a solid nickel option in Buster Skrine.Heck, they even upgraded at free safety by bringing Marcus Gilchrist over from San Diego.As if that wasn't enough, the Jets had the draft's best overall player fall into their collective laps when Leonard Williams inexplicably fell out of the top five. It wasn't a need with stud defensive ends Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson in the fold, but that is now one nasty defensive front.

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-6/Bleacher-Report-Jets-D-No-2/7bcaf088-765e-49f2-99d3-e5e0f018ba76

 

 

We're number 2!!  We're number 2!!

[TuscanyTile2]

In all seriousness though, their #1 rated D (Seattle) reached the SB 2 years in a row so it's probably understandable they're getting that respect in these rankings.  It all has to be proven on the field though so we'll see what happens.  If Mauldin is the real deal, there's a good chance we're going to end up the #1 D

[JetsFanInDenver]

Its good to have a Top ranked defense. But end of the day that should translate into wins. That's the only stat that matters.

[kelly]

kind of a nice " problem " to have..

 

~ ~   While training camp is a few months away, the speculation over how the Jets will utilize four very talented defensive linemen in a three-man front won't go away.This is especially true if new general manager Mike Maccagnan ends up getting a deal done with quite possibly the most talented of the group, Muhammad Wilkerson.

 

 

 

On Thursday, the teams defensive coordinator, Kacy Rodgers, was asked that question."It definitely gives us an advantage, from our opponent not necessarily knowing what to prepare for, because we've got a lot of talented guys and we want to get them all on the field," Rodgers told The Star-Ledger. "So that will be our challenge."He added: "We're just going to wait until we get everybody in and kind of see. Coaching gets overrated sometimes. You better have some pretty good players. They [the Jets' front office] has done a really good job of trying to increase our talent on our side of ball, no question."

 

Overloading a strength has worked before in the NFL, especially for teams that are less-than-comfortable at quarterback. For now, the coaching staff seems more than open to the theory that another team can't win if they aren't able to get a pass off.Now, the pressure is on to make it work in practice. While Rodgers is likely being coy here, there's no doubt his office is littered with potential fronts that can employ everyone. Coaching gets overrated sometimes, but it's the one thing Leonard Williams, Sheldon Richardson, Wilkerson and Damon Harrison need to wreak havoc together.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000492877/article/jets-dc-its-a-challenge-utilizing-talented-dline-group?campaign=facebook_atn_writer

[Jet9]

Its good to have a Top ranked defense. But end of the day that should translate into wins. That's the only stat that matters.

Obvious guy is obviously obvious.

[kelly]

Brooks : 'Defense Is Going to Be Lights Out'

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Brooks-Defense-Is-Going-to-Be-Lights-Out/cd3550f4-3249-4739-ad11-b6beb557e277

[Miss Lonelyhearts]

#2 seems generous. With Revis and the line we have as much high-end talent as anybody, but the linebacking corps is pig sh*t and I don't think the back end holds up if the offense can get away with just not throwing at Revis.

[JetsFanInDenver]

Obvious guy is obviously obvious.

 

Didn't you put me on ignore ?

[Jet9]

Didn't you put me on ignore ?

I can't hear you.

[JetsFanInDenver]

I can't hear you.

 

Please put me on ignore OR spare me the STUPID responses. Regards.

[Freemanm]

Doesn't matter how good the Jets' D is this year, if the offense is as anemic this year as it was the past two years, and the defense has to be on the field for 40 minutes per game, any defense will fold eventually.

[ylekram]

#2 seems generous. With Revis and the line we have as much high-end talent as anybody, but the linebacking corps is pig sh*t and I don't think the back end holds up if the offense can get away with just not throwing at Revis.

meh. with an awesome d-line and a really good secondary, the linebackers become an after thought. they cant beat you with a tight end on every single play

[kelly]

Doesn't matter how good the Jets' D is this year, if the offense is as anemic this year as it was the past two years, and the defense has to be on the field for 40 minutes per game, any defense will fold eventually.

 

agreed !.. we need geno to run our " O " dept. & score some points ! !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cheers ~ ~

[Jetsfan80]

#2 seems generous. With Revis and the line we have as much high-end talent as anybody, but the linebacking corps is pig sh*t and I don't think the back end holds up if the offense can get away with just not throwing at Revis.

 

Every D has holes, but we look like we have a lot fewer than most teams, especially in the AFC.  If we can get solid play out of Gilchrist, Pryor and Allen at the safety spots it could mitigate our troubles at LB a bit when it comes to covering TE's and RB's in the passing game.  Several "IF's" but a lot fewer than the large majority of teams out there.  We know the DL will be solid and Revis should be Revis (albeit a slightly older version than before), so that's a great start.

[kelly]

Every D has holes, but we look like we have a lot fewer than most teams, especially in the AFC.  If we can get solid play out of Gilchrist, Pryor and Allen at the safety spots it could mitigate our troubles at LB a bit when it comes to covering TE's and RB's in the passing game.  Several "IF's" but a lot fewer than the large majority of teams out there.  We know the DL will be solid and Revis should be Revis (albeit a slightly older version than before), so that's a great start.

 

agreed !.. our dl & db should be pretty solid. I'm not as sure about our lb dept.

 

 

 

 

cheers ~ ~

[kelly]

more from our " D " dept. -

 

~ ~ -- As expected, Muhammad Wilkerson was a no-show Wednesday for the New York Jets' second practice (the first open to the media). But his fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson also was absent for the second day in a row, raising eyebrows.

 

Organized team activities (OTAs) are voluntary, so players can't get in trouble for skipping. Wilkerson is staying away because he's seeking a new contract; he's in Atlanta, working out with a personal trainer. It's possible Richardson also feels underpaid, coming off two outstanding seasons, but he can't get a new contract until 2016. By rule, a player must play three seasons before he can renegotiate.Jets coach Todd Bowles said he has "no idea" why Sheldon Richardson missed the first two OTAs. 

 

The Jets are six weeks into their offseason program, and Richardson has been "in and out," according to Todd Bowles."He's been here half the time, half the time he wasn't," said Bowles, adding he has "no idea" why Richardson missed the first two OTAs.It's too soon to panic or draw harsh conclusions -- it's only May -- but you'd like to think every player, especially the best ones, would show up to support their new coach. There's a new system to learn and new teammates to meet. That's in an ideal world, but the NFL is seldom ideal."It's voluntary, so there's not much you can do," Bowles said.

 

Wilkerson's absence is contract-related. The Jets have said they'd like to sign him to an extension, but the two sides are talking only "sporadically," owner Woody Johnson told reporters Tuesday at the owners' meetings in San Francisco. Wilkerson is due to make $6.97 million in the final year of his deal. He's expected to skip the remaining OTAs and it wouldn't be a shock if he doesn't show for the mandatory minicamp, which begins June 9. Players can be fined up to $63,000 for blowing off all three days of a mandatory minicamp."He's very vital" to the defense," cornerback Darrelle Revis said of Wilkerson. "He's one of the best defensive linemen in the league. He shows it every time he goes out there and plays. But he has his own situation and management will do what's best for the team."

 

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall also didn't attend Wednesday, but he notified Bowles and is expected to practice Thursday.In injury news, wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (ankle/Achilles') sat out, as did safety Marcus Gilchrist (shoulder). Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (leg), running back Stevan Ridley (knee) and cornerback Dee Milliner (Achilles') were limited, among others.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51424/sheldon-richardson-joins-mo-wilkerson-as-no-shows-at-jets-otas

[kelly]

saw this..

 

The recent emphasis on the quarterback position has led many to believe the presence of a franchise signal-caller is the only thing that matters when it comes to building a championship team in today's game. While it certainly is easier to make a run at the brass ring with one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks on your roster, the overwhelming majority of championship teams feature lineups that are chock-full of blue-chip players who don't play the game's most important position. These rosters typically include eight to 10 blue-chippers (difference-makers/Pro Bowl-caliber talents) at various positions, with most having at least one within every position group.

 

 

During my scouting tenure with the Carolina Panthers from 2003 to '07, we went to Super Bowl XXXVIII and the 2005 NFC Championship Game with an ex-NFL Europe star (Jake Delhomme) spearheading a lineup that featured 10 players considered "blue" prospects: Stephen Davis, Jordan Gross, Kris Jenkins, John Kasay, Mike Minter, Dan Morgan, Muhsin Muhammad (in the Super Bowl run), Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker, Steve Smith. The stellar supporting cast alleviated the burden on Delhomme to carry the team and allowed us to win a number of games with a glorified "game manager" at the helm.Although we didn't win the Super Bowl during that run, the experience shaped my thinking on how a championship-caliber roster should be constructed if a team doesn't have a superstar quarterback in place. Given the paucity of truly elite quarterbacks in today's game, I thought I would take a little time to assess each of the 32 rosters in the NFL and identify the 10 most talented -- excluding the QB position. After careful consideration, here's what I settled on :

 

~ ~   4) New York Jets

Blue chips (6): CB Antonio Cromartie, C Nick Mangold, WR Brandon Marshall, CB Darrelle Revis, DT Sheldon Richardson, DE Muhammad Wilkerson.

On the rise: LB Demario Davis.

 

Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan have engineered quite a roster makeover since taking over the Jets at the beginning of the year. Despite inheriting a star-studded defense, the Jets' brain trust added a pair of shutdown corners in Revis and Cromartie to suffocate opposing passing games. Given the dominant play of Wilkerson and Richardson at the point of attack, Gang Green's defense could single-handedly lead the team into the playoffs. Marshall was acquired in a trade with Chicago, giving the Jets a legitimate WR1 on the perimeter. Eric Decker isn't regarded as a blue-chip player based solely on his talents, but he is capable of playing at an all-star level when flanked by a big-time threat (see: Decker's production in Denver). Mangold's a rock at the pivot, having made six of the last seven Pro Bowls. With a solid supporting cast capable of enhancing the play of the quarterback, the Jets could be a bigger threat to win the AFC East than anyone anticipates at this point.

 

rest of above article :

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000493967/article/seahawks-jets-and-eagles-among-nfls-most-talented-teams

[kelly]

re our " D " dept.  :

 

~ ~   There are plenty of prominent questions the Jets will try to answer during their no-pads, no-contact spring workouts — and when things get cranked up during training camp.The right guard spot is one significant position battle. There also will be jockeying for playing time at running back.A less-prominent, but not unimportant storyline involves outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin, whom the Jets drafted in the third round this year.

 

Will he be a strong-side linebacker or a rush outside linebacker ?

 

That is a question the Jets' coaches are attempting to answer. While the Jets' inside linebacker spots are solidified, with Demario Davis at weak-side linebacker and David Harris at middle linebacker, the outside linebacker positions are shakier.Yes, starters Calvin Pace (strong side) and Quinton Coples (rush) both return, and so does pass rushing specialist Jason Babin, who saw significant action at the rush spot last year.But Babin is 35, and Pace will turn 35 in October. Coples, the Jets' first-round draft pick in 2012, has mostly underwhelmed so far in his career. If he continues to struggle, the Jets can cut him after this season, with no salary cap repercussions.

 

So the Jets are looking for some answers at the outside linebacker spots. And though they don't need Mauldin to blossom into a starter in Year 1, he could carve out a role for himself at a position that might soon be overhauled. The Jets needed to address the outside linebacker position in the draft, and they did, by drafting Mauldin.It's hard to get a feel for where Mauldin best fits — strong-side linebacker or rush linebacker — during no-pads, no-contact practices. But there are some particular things that Jets coach Todd Bowles is looking for out of Mauldin, to determine his role. Once the pads go on during training camp, Bowles will be keeping a close eye on these areas.

 

"First, we have to see how he handles the point of attack," Bowles said. "If they run the ball at him, how strong he is at the point, with the bigger tight ends in the league, as opposed to college; how he plays in space when the tight end is not on him; how he reacts to certain things. You kind of get a feel that way, to see what his strengths and his weaknesses are."Bowles actually has all of his outside linebackers working on both sides right now, as he tries to determine who fits where. It's still early in the process for Mauldin, but the things the coaches notice out of him now will give them a baseline for how to slot him going forward.

 

Other than Coples and Babin, second-year pro IK Enemkpali is in the mix at rush outside linebacker, just as second-year pro Trevor Reilly is a reserve player at strong-side linebacker.

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/05/which_linebacker_spot_is_the_best_fit_for_jets_dra.html

[kelly]

-- Veteran guard Willie Colon, who always has a finger on the pulse of the New York Jets' locker room, said Wednesday he can feel a greater sense of urgency under new coach Todd Bowles as compared to Rex Ryan.Under Ryan last season,there wasn't much of a pulse at all, Colon said."Last year, getting by and being mediocre was kind of OK at times," Colon told ESPN.com. "This year, we feel the competition level is high. You look around and you see legitimate ballplayers, working. It raises the competition level. You kind of feel like if you don't fit the mold of what Bowles wants, it'll be hard for you to survive."

 

This sort of thing happens when teams change coaches. The Jets enjoyed early success under Ryan, who led them to the AFC Championship Game in 2009 and 2010, but things became stale last season and everything fell apart. Player tardiness was an issue, and it became an offseason headline when, in an April radio interview, tight end Jace Amaro said "we had an issue with that last year. Guys just weren't accountable last year as much as they could be."Ryan took umbrage, firing back at Amaro in a couple of interviews. Colon backed Amaro then, and he did it again Wednesday when speaking to a group of reporters.

 

Colon started off by saying he has "the utmost respect for Rex," but he added: "We had our issues last year. If you're asking us to be accountable, part of being accountable is being truthful -- and that was one of our issues."He didn't name names, but there were well-documented instances of lateness and missed meetings (see: Calvin Pryor and Geno Smith). Those players are back, but some high-profile, set-in-their-ways veterans are gone -- namely Michael Vick, Chris Johnson and Percy Harvin. Those players had carte blanche under Ryan.

 

Colon said the overall attitude bothered him at times."When you go 4-12 and you fight your tail off and you know you're doing your best and it comes off as guys that maybe don't seem as passionate as you do about the game ... sometimes it does bother you," he said. "But Coach Bowles is the new sheriff in town. I believe in him and I believe in the direction he's going. I feel like we won't have those issues."

 

Colon said developing chemistry will be vital to the success of the team. "Chemistry" happens to be one of Bowles' buzzwords."Ultimately, we're here to win," Colon said. "It's not a day care. Everyone shouldn't be sent to the principal's office. You're paid to go to work and be the best you can be -- and be the best you can be off the field, too. That's what Coach Bowles wants from us and that's what we should want from each other."

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51528/willie-colon-says-new-york-jets-accepted-mediocrity-last-year-but-not-anymore

 

[kelly]

more re our " D " dept.  -

 

~ ~   It would be premature to draw any definitive conclusions on Leonard Williams' NFL future based on one rookie camp and two weeks of organized team activities. As New York Jets coach Todd Bowles likes to say, they're only playing "two-hand touch" in these noncontact workouts. And it's tough to grade a defensive lineman unless it's tackle football.

 

That said, the eyes tell us certain things that can't be ignored. We see a big man (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) who moves exceptionally well. We see a rookie who can penetrate a gap with a quick first step. We're not privy to what happens behind closed doors, but Bowles sees an unusually grounded young man.Todd Bowles isn't in the habit of gushing about rookies, but the head coach had plenty of praise for Leonard Williams. 

 

"He’s more mature than the average rookie," Bowles said.

 

How so ?

 

"Just the way he carries himself," the coach said. "He doesn’t carry himself like a young 20-year-old. He’s got years beyond his age. The way he comes in and walks into it -- treating it professionally. Sometimes you’ll get rookies that just run around and don’t know where to go. This guy is always where he needs to be; he’s always on time. He’s always in his playbook. He’s asking more questions than the normal rookies usually ask at this point in time."That's high praise coming from Bowles, who isn't in the habit of gushing about rookies. How it translates to what happens on the field in 2015 remains to be seen.

 

Williams, drafted sixth overall out of USC, probably won't start. With Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson expected to start at end in the Jets' 3-4 base defense, it means Williams probably will be a rotational player. He also could win a spot in their nickel and dime packages. The Jets have a surplus of defensive linemen, so it'll be interesting to see whether Bowles tweaks his scheme to accommodate four linemen on first and second down. It should be noted that Bowles, as the Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator, used a 4-3 front only 52 times last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

 

It behooves him to increase that number if Williams proves to be the real deal. So far, he's getting some work with the first team, but the first team hasn't been at full strength. Wilkerson is staying away from the voluntary workouts because of a contract dispute, and Richardson is skipping some because he feels like it. In other words, it's hard to get an early sense of Williams' role.

Just know he won't be riding the bench.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51551/new-york-jets-rookie-leonard-williams-what-weve-learned-so-far

[kelly]

Why is Revis' Presence So Significant  ?

NFL Media Analyst Bucky Brooks Says AFC East Might Be the NFL's 'Most Competitive Division'

 

video..

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Why-is-Revis-Presence-So-Significant/4a67a55a-d80b-494c-9b55-af9d21b122f9

[kelly]

re our " D " dept.  -

 

~ ~   A day after New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie took a swipe at Richard Sherman, teammate Darrelle Revis took a pass.Darrelle Revis isn't saying much when it comes to comparisons between him and Richard Sherman. 

 

Cromartie said the Seattle Seahawks' Sherman doesn't deserve to be mentioned with the top corners in the NFL, like Revis. But Revis remained above the fray when asked what he thought of those comments following the Jets' organized team activities on Wednesday.

 

"Nothing," Revis said. "That's Cro's opinion."

 

Does Revis agree with Cromartie ? "That's Cro's opinion," Revis said.

 

Does Revis think he's better than Sherman ? "That's Cro's opinion," Revis said.

 

Will the war of words stop here ? Who knows ? The ball's in Sherman's court, now.The Jets and Seahawks will not play each other season -- unless, of course, they meet in Super Bowl 50.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51657/darrelle-revis-wont-compare-himself-to-richard-sherman

[kelly]

New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson might skip next week's mandatory minicamp. Or he might not."We have yet to decide whether to attend or not," Wilkerson's agent, Chad Wiestling, said Thursday in an email to ESPN.com.

 

The New York Post reported that Wilkerson, unhappy with his contract situation and skipping voluntary workouts, is planning to attend the three-day minicamp. He's subject to a steep fine if he decides to stay away. A player can be docked up to $60,000 for missing all three days, according to the collective bargaining agreement. It would be a breach of his player contract.

 

The Jets, trying to keep it amicable, haven't resorted to any tough talk. On Wednesday, first-year coach Todd Bowles said he's "hopeful" that Wilkerson will attend, but that he couldn't say for sure. It's not his style to skip a mandatory team event. In the past, Wilkerson has talked about how he'd never stage a contract holdout.

 

But business is business, and we know Wilkerson isn't thrilled about his situation. Other defensive linemen in his draft class have received new deals, most recently Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints, but talks with the Jets are moving at a glacial pace.Wilkerson is entering the final year of his contract, due to make $6.97 million.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51703/agent-jets-de-mo-wilkerson-undecided-on-whether-to-attend-minicamp

[kelly]

Muhammad Wilkerson's Versatility

 

When we talk about Muhammad Wilkerson's value to the Jets as he seeks a new contract, some of the discussion turns to his position. One of the things that makes Wilkerson a real asset to his team is his ability to line up almost anywhere across the line and have success.

 

Below are shots of where he lined up on a few plays over the last two years that resulted in a sack. He lines up over the ball, at defensive end on a three man line, at defensive end on both the strong and weak sides on a four man line, and at tackle on a four man line. Wilkerson's versatility gives the Jets great flexibility when they scheme for an opponent. They can find the weak point of the offense and stick Wilkerson there. Wilkerson's ability to line up and succeed in multiple spots also gives the coaches more of an ability to alter presnap looks.

Below is but a brief look at this, but it is worth noting that Wilkerson is not just a 3-4 defensive end as he might be listed in the program. He can have success almost everywhere.

       

> http://www.ganggreennation.com/2015/6/7/8741041/muhammad-wilkersons-versatility

[bealeb319]

I think we will be one of the top 10 defenses at the very least, I saw a few people concerned about LB but to me the position (on defense) that worries me the most is Safety. Pryor I do have faith will be a decent SS but he is also unproven right now and Gilchrist who we expect to be our starting FS also has a lot to prove, hopefully he lives up to our expectations of him but I think realistically we could have trouble with slot receivers and big tight ends this season.

[#27TheDominator]

I think we will be one of the top 10 defenses at the very least, I saw a few people concerned about LB but to me the position (on defense) that worries me the most is Safety. Pryor I do have faith will be a decent SS but he is also unproven right now and Gilchrist who we expect to be our starting FS also has a lot to prove, hopefully he lives up to our expectations of him but I think realistically we could have trouble with slot receivers and big tight ends this season.

 

Why do you think we will have trouble in the slot?  They paid Skrine a bunch of cash.  Do you not like him?  I'm more concerned with Cro.  He gives up too many long TDs.  I think Skrine will be fine in the slot, but he and McDougle are kind of short, so we probably will be susceptible to Big TEs.  I think everybody is. 

[bealeb319]

Why do you think we will have trouble in the slot?  They paid Skrine a bunch of cash.  Do you not like him?  I'm more concerned with Cro.  He gives up too many long TDs.  I think Skrine will be fine in the slot, but he and McDougle are kind of short, so we probably will be susceptible to Big TEs.  I think everybody is. 

 

Nah Skrine will have to prove himself to me, he was decent with the Browns but he wasn't a shut down corner and I don't think he will be one here either. I just imagine we are going to have more problems with short throws down the middle than anything else this season. Running on us should be a nightmare as it was last season and possibly even worse. As far as Cro goes I think he will be alright, we are going to have insane amounts of pressure from our defensive line this season and QBs playing against us will likely either make mistakes trying to force a throw or look for the quick pass down the middle. The one thing we do have in our favor as far as opposing slot receivers go is that they might be scared to catch the ball with DD and Pryor waiting to deliver big hits to them.

 

I actually think McDougle is either going to end up being our slot guy or converted into a hybrid safety type in Bowles' scheme, I think he has all the right skill sets to play those positions.

[kelly]

According to Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson, the NFL's best player last season was Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson.Asked why Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson felt that way, Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson said simply, "I'm him."

 

Which,inthe mind of Jets defensiveend Sheldon Richardson,prettymuch settles thematter.Richardson crowned himself during a segment that aired last week on the NFL Network. The segment, incidentally, was to announce that Richardson's peers had voted him No. 55 in the network's Top 100, which is being rolled out in a weekly format that ought to wrap up sometime around the 2016 U.S. presidential election. (Muhammad Wilkerson previously came in at No. 74, and Jets receiver Brandon Marshall is No. 57, though that was based on his play last season with the Bears.)

 

Richardson is the best quote on the Jets, and he's rarely one to bite his tongue. He's also no stranger to public expressions of self-confidence :

 

1. Though taken No. 13 overall in the 2013 draft, Richardson told reporters by December of that year that he would have been the top pick in a re-draft of that class. He later won the league's defensive rookie of the year award.

 

2. Just after the '13 season, Richardson responded to a question about whether he was the league's top defensive rookie by saying, "I am that."

 

3. In an interview with ESPN.com late last season, a sad-sack 4-12 campaign for the Jets, Richardson compared himself to Texans all-everything defensive end J.J. Watt by saying he creates "the same type of disruption." Richardson did go to the Pro Bowl in 2014, albeit after he was passed-over at first in favor of Rams rookie Aaron Donald, which produced a memorable reaction from then-Jets head coach Rex Ryan, who was about to get fired anyway.

 

4. Back in April, Richardson left little room for ambiguity when he told the team website: "We strongly feel like we're going to be the top defense in the league—and top team in the league, not just defense."

 

Conversations about Who's The Best are fill-in fodder for sports-talk radio and shameless websites (thanks for reading!) that go fishing for internet traffic during whatever's left of the NFL's ever-shrinking offseason. And while plenty of people will scoff at Richardson's suggestion, Pro Football Focus did grade him as 2014's second-best defensive end (behind Watt), and 15th-best player overall. He's unquestionably one of the league's best players.Also—and this bears repeating every time a Jets player says something like this (such as when Dee Milliner last summer said he was the league's best corner)—but what elite pro athlete doesn't believe he's the best? And shouldn't fans want players on their favorite teams to feel as Richardson does ?

 

Richardson was in and out during the voluntary portion of the Jets' offseason program; he hasn't been around when there's been media availability, and he declined to talk to reporters Friday night at Wilkerson's charity bowing event in Linden. But the Jets' three-day minicamp runs from Tuesday through Thursday of this week, and it's mandatory. I'm pretty sure I speak for every other reporter who covers the Jets by saying I can't wait to welcome Richardson back.

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/06/jets_sheldon_richardson_says_he_was_best_player_in.html

[kelly]

-- Finally, the Greatest Secondary Money Could Buy was on the same field as the Best Defensive Line Anyone Could Draft.

 

Pardon the hyperbole, but you get the idea. After three months of adding high-profile pieces to an already solid unit, the New York Jets fielded their 2015 defense for the first time Tuesday at minicamp. Muhammad Wilkerson, absent throughout the offseason because of a contract dispute, showed up to complete the puzzle.With Darrelle Revis, left, and Antonio Cromartie, the Jets will likely improve on the six interceptions they nabbed in 2014. 

 

The projected starting unit includes seven former first-round draft picks, including Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Darrelle Revis, their prized free-agent addition. Coming off the bench is Leonard Williams, the No. 6 overall pick in the most recent draft.Antonio Cromartie took a moment on the field to recognize the collection of talent."Me and Marcus Gilchrist, we were talking during the walk-through," Cromartie said. "We stood back and looked at the defense like, 'This defense is crazy, all the talent that's out here, all the first-round picks on the front line. We have guys that can really play this game. And the way Todd [bowles] calls this defense, it's going to be fun."

 

The secondary is dramatically improved, there's no question about it. The Jets doled out $59 million in guarantees to sign Revis, Cromartie and nickelback Buster Skrine, who will be a virtual starter because of the growth of nickel packages. The Jets set a franchise record for futility last season, making only six interceptions. In a pass-happy league, that's hard to do.

 

And now ?

 

Cromartie said the three corners are so confident they wonder amongst themselves, "Which one of us will lead the league in picks ? " Up front, the Jets have Wilkerson, Richardson and run-stuffer Damon Harrison, with Quinton Coples -- another former No. 1 -- rushing from his linebacker spot. On paper, the Jets have scary potential, but "potential" is another way of saying they haven't done it yet.On Tuesday, they handed it to the Jets' offense, intercepting five passes in team drills. It was another difficult day for Geno Smith, who had three interceptions."It’s kind of tough,” Richardson said, smiling. “This defense has been on him a little bit.”

 

The silver lining is the Jets' offense is practicing against one of the top defenses. Bowles conducts daily competitions -- offense versus defense in various situations -- and the loser is required to run wind sprints at the end of practice. It looks like the offense will be in great shape by the start of the season."We feel like we're the top defense in the league," Richardson said. "When [the offense] plays in games, it should feel like an off day for them."This is one confident defense. You could chalk it up to June optimism, but you get the feeling this will be a year-round thing.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51792/cb-antonio-cromartie-says-new-york-jets-defense-has-crazy-potential

[kelly]

Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers has been coaching in the NFL 13 years and the topic of takeaways comes up every spring.“Every year in the offseason, you sit in the meeting room. How can we create more turnovers? What do we have to do because turnovers lead to victories? Creating turnovers leads to victory in this league, but as you look at it – I’ve been on teams that did strip drills, turnover circuits every day and didn’t get them,” Rodgers told me this spring. “I’ve been on teams that didn’t really stress them and got a lot of them.”

 

For the past couple of seasons, the Green & White have encountered major difficulties in terms of turning teams over. A year after totaling 15 takeaways in 2013, the Green & White registered a league-low 13 in 2014.Rodgers, who was the Dolphins defensive line coach the past seven seasons, helped mentor a group that most recently collected 25 takeaways.“There really is not an exact science. But our perspective and the way we’re going to approach it is we’re going to work at stripping the ball, we’re going to work at intercepting the ball because we know if we create turnovers it will help us win games,” Rodgers said.

 

Dramatic takeaway turnarounds have occurred the past couple of decades – look no further than the 2014 Houston Texans. The Texans became the third team in the last 20 years to lead the NFL in takeaways after finishing last the year before, making the jump from 11 to 34. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan, who served as the Texans director of college scouting last year, has put his new team in position to take a leap forward defensively. Corners Darrelle Revis (23 career INTs), Antonio Cromartie (31 career INTs) & Buster Skrine(4 INTs, 2014) have joined the secondary as well as S Marcus Gilchrist(5 career INTs). Head coach Todd Bowles said both Marcus Williamsand Darrin Walls impressed this spring with their consistency and instincts while Dexter McDougleis hoping to make an impact and Dee Milliner is on the mend.

 

The Green & White T6 in sacks last season (45) and they added arguably the top defensive player in the draft in DL Leonard Williams. All five players who recorded at least five sacks – Sheldon Richardson (8.0), Quinton Coples(6.5), Muhammad Wilkerson (6.0), David Harris(5.5) and Calvin Pace (5.0) – are back. Lorenzo Mauldin, a third-rounder out of Louisville, displayed a good motor this spring and might be able to contribute immediately in sub packages.Jets head coach Todd Bowles, who was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers Association for his work as Arizona’s defensive coordinator in 2014, led a unit that had 25 takeaways. The Cardinals finished with a plus-eight turnover-margin, the fifth best mark in the NFL.

 

Bowles doesn’t get caught up with the outside hype attached to his new defense.“Name wise and paper wise, we have a lot of players that can play, but they still have to learn to play together,” Bowles said this spring.Bowles, renowned for his aggressive play-calling in the desert, and Rodgers have options with these Jets. They have the personnel to bring the heat or drop in coverage. There should be more opportunities to make plays on the ball and the Green & White have ballhawks in the back end.  A defense that is prolific in takeaways makes for a more effective offense. Again Maccagnan just left a Texans team that led the NFL with a franchise-record 123 points off of turnovers.  

 

Two years ago, the Kansas City Chiefs increased their takeaway total year-over-year by 23 with a jump of 13 to 36. It is no coincidence that the Texans and Chiefs improved their win totals by seven games and nine games respectively after the takeaway bonanzas. The takeaway stat will be one of the most significant numbers for the Jets in 2015.

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-6/Takeaways-Can-Jets-Defense-Find-the-Formula/5315e090-92c6-44f4-825e-80ba4b67c7fe