Jets Linebacker Looks to Add to His Game

[Jetfan13]

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Aaron Maybin at camp. He had six sacks for the Jets last season after having recorded none in his first two seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

CORTLAND, N.Y. — Aaron Maybin finds inspiration in conventional sources, like his two favorite books, “The Alchemist” and “The Secret,” but also by gazing at the ceiling in his bedroom at his New Jersey apartment.

Above his bed, there is a number. Maybin will not disclose this number, nor will he divulge what it signifies. But judging by his reaction when asked — a smile, a stifled laugh and a coy “maybe” — it probably represents how many sacks he wants to record this season, his second with the Jets.

Maybin put the number where he did so it would be the first thing he saw when he woke up and the last before he went to sleep, a guiding force as he pursues a much loftier goal.

“When you talk about Aaron Maybin, I want you to be talking about one of the most dominant players in the game,” Maybin said, sitting under a tent after a recent practice. “Not just a pass rusher. A dominant all-around player.”

A year ago at this time, Maybin was languishing in the Buffalo Bills’ training camp, having failed to supply the production befitting a linebacker drafted 11th over all: 26 games, one start, no sacks.

But like Santiago, the protagonist in “The Alchemist” who travels to the pyramids in Egypt in search of his destiny, Maybin dreams big. His legs churn as fast as his mouth, as his metabolism, as his ascent from first-round bust to sack artist, one whose desire for an expanded role has been reciprocated by a staff eager to maximize his potential.

“Absolutely,” said Mike Pettine, the Jets’ defensive coordinator. “Rex and I have already talked about it. It’s going to happen.”

It is easy to conceive Maybin’s receiving increased responsibility in passing situations: with the league trending toward a more pass-oriented style, Pettine estimated that the Jets would deploy five defensive backs in 95 percent of their play calls against their A.F.C. East rivals.

A relentless rusher off the edge, Maybin, who last season forced four fumbles and registered six sacks, could line up inside, in the middle or, as he did in Saturday night’s scrimmage, as a down lineman, depending on how Pettine leverages matchups.

But one of the more intriguing subplots of training camp is Maybin’s quest to shed his reputation as one-dimensional (according to ProFootballFocus.com, he rushed the quarterback on 94.9 percent, or 185, of his 195 passing plays last season, the most among regular 3-4 outside linebackers).

The Jets’ coaches, especially Rex Ryan, would never try to discourage him, but there is a natural progression on the journey to dominance, and it starts with viability: can Maybin evolve into a true all-around linebacker — a pass-rushing dynamo, a run-stuffing fiend, an asset in coverage?

In addressing that topic, Maybin compared himself to a power hitter in baseball. The best sluggers, he said, do not hit only fastballs. They hit curveballs and changeups and sliders, too.

“When you’re a one-trick pony, as Aaron was with his speed rush a year ago, teams can eventually scheme around that,” Pettine said.

So in the off-season, Maybin focused on two areas of improvement — self-study and bulking up, and one was more challenging than the other. Onto his iPad he loaded video cut-ups from last season, all of his plays (240 according to ProFootballFocus.com), and categorized them: speed rushes, inside stunts, spins and so on.

He evaluated his strengths and weaknesses and, at the urging of the new defensive line coach, Karl Dunbar, focused on broadening his repertory. Maybin credited Dunbar in particular with tutoring him in the long-arm technique, which is akin to a running back’s straight arm.

The other component involved something he had never been good at: adding weight.

“Look at me,” Maybin said, “I’m veiny. I’ve got 4 percent body fat. I can’t carry 260, 270. That’s not me.”

But he can carry as much as 254 pounds, which he reached in June. Maybin grew stronger without sacrificing speed, ingesting about 5,000 calories daily to fuel his body. He still must eat like a grizzly about to hibernate to maintain his weight, which now is around 245 pounds. At lunch on Friday, Maybin piled onto his tray six chicken breasts, a heaping helping of pasta and some salad.

“I said, ‘Aaron, I’d be 280 pounds if I ate that,’ ” said Mike Smith, the Jets’ outside linebackers coach. “He said, ‘Coach, if I don’t eat this, I’ll be 210.’ ”

However, 210-pound linebackers are not incredibly useful defending the run. Pettine said Maybin, having improved his technique, was no longer as much of a liability as he was when he joined the Jets in Week 4 last year.

“Is he a trained killer against the run right now? No,” Pettine said. “But that’s more physics than anything else, a 240-pound guy up against a 340-pound lineman. There’s no issue with contact courage with Aaron. He’ll stick his face in there against anybody.”

And yap about it to anybody, too. His booming voice — no wonder his teammates call Maybin “Microphone” — tends to echo across the field where he practices his speed rush and his counters, the moves he will use to amass all the sacks he expects to amass. Just how many, that is a secret.

[hoping4ASuperBowl]

Maybin is the one guy I'm most excited about this year. Would love to see him reach double digit sacks.

[slats]

“When you talk about Aaron Maybin, I want you to be talking about one of the most dominant players in the game,” Maybin said, sitting under a tent after a recent practice. “Not just a pass rusher. A dominant all-around player.”

Gotta love that desire. You can see it on the field. He wants it. I'm excited to see what he can do, too.

[gangreenman]

Im predicting 8 sacks for Maybin this year. 4 or 5 from Wilkerson, and 3 or 4 from Coples. I would be pretty happy if the three of them could combine for over 1 sack per game... Then the combination of everyone else could give us another 8-10 sacks, we're looking at a much improved pass rush.

[LionelRichie]

Im predicting 8 sacks for Maybin this year. 4 or 5 from Wilkerson, and 3 or 4 from Coples. I would be pretty happy if the three of them could combine for over 1 sack per game... Then the combination of everyone else could give us another 8-10 sacks, we're looking at a much improved pass rush.

That would be a huge disappointment for Wilkerson.

[slats]

Im predicting 8 sacks for Maybin this year. 4 or 5 from Wilkerson, and 3 or 4 from Coples. I would be pretty happy if the three of them could combine for over 1 sack per game... Then the combination of everyone else could give us another 8-10 sacks, we're looking at a much improved pass rush.

The Jets had 35 sacks last year. The best teams in the league had 50. I'd like to see the Jets in the low 40's. I think that's very doable.

[gangreenman]

The Jets had 35 sacks last year. The best teams in the league had 50. I'd like to see the Jets in the low 40's. I think that's very doable.

Ok, so I underestimated everyone else on the roster. By a lot. Maybin lead the team with 6 sacks last year and we still had 35? Wouldn't have expected that.

[Ranick10]

What did Buffalo not do right with this guy? I feel like we turned him into a star overnight.

[hoping4ASuperBowl]

What did Buffalo not do right with this guy? I feel like we turned him into a star overnight.

We didn't try and put a square peg in a round hole.

[TnT]

We didn't try and put a square peg in a round hole.

is Sanchez a square peg, or a round.......nevermind.

[stoicsentry]

That would be a huge disappointment for Wilkerson.

I dunno, he played all 16 games last season and only had 3 sacks. How much do you think he's going to improve? Maybe 6 or 7 sacks?

[Villain The Foe]

Maybin is the one guy I'm most excited about this year. Would love to see him reach double digit sacks.

He'll be top 5 in sacks this year league wide.

[RutgersJetFan]

Maybin was a one trick pony last year and per some of the early reports he's still having trouble getting inside (Shane backed this up too). That said, it's going to take a few weeks to get used to playing in pads, full contact, with the added weight. I wasn't optimistic at all until he posted those pics from the scale earlier in the summer. Repetitiveness is key, really have a feeling that the Maybin we see this Friday is not going to be the Maybin we see from about Week 4 or 5 on. That he's playing for a contract should only enhance the work he's putting in.

[#27TheDominator]

Onto his iPad he loaded video cut-ups from last season, all of his plays (240 according to ProFootballFocus.com), and categorized them: speed rushes, inside stunts, spins and so on.

He evaluated his strengths and weaknesses and, at the urging of the new defensive line coach, Karl Dunbar, focused on broadening his repertory. Maybin credited Dunbar in particular with tutoring him in the long-arm technique, which is akin to a running back’s straight arm.

The other component involved something he had never been good at: adding weight.

“Look at me,” Maybin said, “I’m veiny. I’ve got 4 percent body fat. I can’t carry 260, 270. That’s not me.”

But he can carry as much as 254 pounds, which he reached in June. Maybin grew stronger without sacrificing speed, ingesting about 5,000 calories daily to fuel his body. He still must eat like a grizzly about to hibernate to maintain his weight, which now is around 245 pounds. At lunch on Friday, Maybin piled onto his tray six chicken breasts, a heaping helping of pasta and some salad.

Two things I find of interest.

1. I specifically remember them crediting Smith last year with getting him to reduce the number of moves that he tried and to concentrate on his speed rush. Supposedly simplfying things helped him succeed. Now they want him to do more, which is to be expected, but people shouldn't complain or be surprised that he did what he was told.

2. I'm glad that he added weight, but I am a little concerned that he already dropped 9 lbs since June. That doesn't really bode well for him keeping on the weight. Maybe he needs some more of that McKnight McDonalds diet instead of the chicken breasts.

[Damaged89]

2. I'm glad that he added weight, but I am a little concerned that he already dropped 9 lbs since June. That doesn't really bode well for him keeping on the weight. Maybe he needs some more of that McKnight McDonalds diet instead of the chicken breasts.

This. I think it bears watching to see if he can keep the weight up for the entire season. Give the man some onion rings.

[pointman]

I love Maybin and am really excited too see how awesome he is going to be this season.

[JollyGreenGiant]

Maybin seems to have a good head on his shoulders, he understands his weaknesses and wants to improve on them. This year seems to be very promising not only for him but the defense as a whole.

Alot of his sacks came on pure effort alone, he's got alot to look forward too.