flgreen Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Jets LB preview: Solid across the board, but unit needs breakout star Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer Breaking down the New York Jets' roster, unit by unit, in preparation for training camp: Position: Linebacker Jets OLB Quinton Coples posted 6.5 sacks in 2014. Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Projected starters: David Harris (ILB), Demario Davis (ILB), Quinton Coples (OLB), Calvin Pace (OLB). Projected backups: Jason Babin, Lorenzo Mauldin, Jamari Lattimore, Trevor Reilly. Notables on the bubble: Erin Henderson, Joe Mays, IK Enemkpali. Player to watch: Coples finished last season with 3.5 sacks in the final three games, giving him a career-high 6.5 for 2014. Was it a harbinger or just a tease? We'll find out. The former first-round pick is a gifted player, but he usually leaves his coaches wanting more. It's a new coaching staff, so Coples should be motivated to prove he deserves a long-term contract (he's signed through 2016 after the team exercised its fifth-year option). This will be his third season at linebacker, but you will see him a lot in a three-point stance, as usual. There are no more excuses; it's time for Coples to shut up his critics. Top storyline: How long will they stay with the old dudes Pace and Babin? Neither is guaranteed a roster spot. Pace, 34, is coming off a down season in which his sack total (five) dropped by 50 percent from the previous year. His third-down role was reduced, but he still was a solid run defender on first and second down. If he loses that, he'll have little value to the team. For Babin, 35, it's all about getting to the quarterback as a situational pass rusher. The man has 64.5 career sacks, but he managed only two last season in 400-plus defensive snaps. It will be a mild surprise if two guys in their mid-30s make the 53-man roster. Training camp will be a success if ...: One of the young players, perhaps Mauldin, challenges Pace for this starting job. It could be asking a lot because the position isn't easy to learn, which will lead to growing pains, but the tradeoff is having younger, faster legs on the field. Mauldin, a third-round pick, is a high-energy player with size and athleticism. Wild card: Henderson, who signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract, is looking to compete for NFL Comeback Player of the Year. The former Minnesota Vikings starter sat out last season as he battled substance-abuse issues, hoping for another chance. Henderson, 29, was a good player in 2013, before a drinking problem derailed his career. If he can stay sober and regain his old form, the Jets will have an experienced inside linebacker to back up Harris and Davis. By the numbers: Harris and Davis have played a lot of football together. They rank third and sixth in total defensive snaps for inside linebackers over the last two years -- 2,016 and 1,961 snaps, respectively, according to ESPN Stats & Information. They played a lot because former coach Rex Ryan used them on third down. It remains to be seen whether new coach Todd Bowles has a similar philosophy. This is a contract year for Davis, who's ready to have a big year. Harris is back with a new three-year contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Calvin Pace is old and slow and cant cover TEs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadwayJoe12 Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Calvin Pace is old and slow and cant cover TEs. Yea, but so are you and likewise you've struggled with the speedier posters recently. Do you suggest we cut you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIJetsFan Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 I do believe that Pace can still set the edge so someone will have to improve over him to get his spot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted July 26, 2015 Author Share Posted July 26, 2015 I do believe that Pace can still set the edge so someone will have to improve over him to get his spot Agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Solid across the board lolwut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Lonelyhearts Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 lolwut Whatever. On the ten-point scale for offseason word vomit, solid is like a 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurnleyJet Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 I think we have a lot more depth then people perceive at Line Backer. The main question is can the young guys step up at Outside linebacker. We have IK, Trevor Reilly, Lorenzo Mauldin. I'd like to think these guy can displace Babin or Pace by year end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 I think we have a lot more depth then people perceive at Line Backer. The main question is can the young guys step up at Outside linebacker. We have IK, Trevor Reilly, Lorenzo Mauldin. I'd like to think these guy can displace Babin or Pace by year end. Lorenzo Mauldin will way sooner than year end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetdawgg Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Speed at LB would be a difference for the Jets. Time to add that much needed injection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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