kelly Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Reviewing the 2015 New York Jets season, position by position: Position: Linebacker Overall grade: B- Individual grades: David Harris B+, Lorenzo Mauldin B-, Erin Henderson B-, Demario Davis C+, Calvin Pace C, Trevor Reilly C-, Jamari Lattimore C-, Quinton Coples F. Key number: 610 -- number of receiving yards by opposing running backs. The Jets ranked ninth in the league, probably a lot better than many assumed. Summary: Smart, tough, savvy, strong -- they're all good words to describe this group. Once upon a time, those qualities would've made for one heck of a linebacking corps. Unfortunately for the Jets, the game has changed in recent years. It's a passing league, putting an emphasis on speed, quickness and the ability to make game-changing plays. The Jets fell short in those areas, as their aging linebacker unit produced only 14.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and not a single interception. Not a single interception! They were fantastic against the run (No. 2 in yards allowed), but they were pedestrian outside the box and rushing the passer. Harris (team-high 67 solo tackles) delivered another solid year, playing every down and running the show. He got a few more blitzing opportunities in Todd Bowles' aggressive scheme, but his pass-rushing numbers didn't jump. Davis, who rotated with Henderson over the final six games, made a few glaring mistakes in pass coverage and missed a team-high 16 tackles. It was a disappointing year for Davis, who should've made more big plays with his athleticism. Henderson was better against the run than Davis, but he, too, was vulnerable in coverage. Pace, the graybeard of the group, saw his playing time gradually diminish. He did a competent job of setting the edge from his strong-side position, but his production dropped from the previous year. The coaches didn't think Mauldin, a rookie, was ready to play in the base defense, so they limited him to pass-rushing situations. He managed four sacks in 212 pass rushes, according to Pro Football Focus. He has double-digit sack potential if he can become an every-down player, but he'll have to master the defense to earn that promotion. Coples was a first-round round bust and deservedly was released after 10 games. His lack of focus bothered some teammates. Playing-time percentages (based on 1,056 snaps): Harris 92, Davis 81, Pace 50, Mauldin 24, Henderson 21, Coples 20, Reilly 7, Lattimore 5. PT analysis: Harris dealt with a few bumps and bruises, dipping under 1,000 snaps for the first time since 2011. Davis, once an every-down linebacker, played only 45 snaps over the final two games -- his lowest two-game total since be became a starter in 2013. It certainly didn't help his value with free agency around the corner. The Jets got decent mileage out of Henderson, who played on a one-year contract for the minimum salary. The Jets should've left Coples in London after their Week 4 win. After that game, he almost didn't exist. > http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/58017/jets-need-more-game-changing-plays-out-of-linebacking-corps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Need some speed at LB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Our linebackers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCarl40 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Bringing back Erin Henderson is a key to the off-season. I know that sounds strange, but it's true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 Need some speed at LB. I'm hopin' we can solve this issue in free agency Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Bringing back Erin Henderson is a key to the off-season. I know that sounds strange, but it's true. Id like to see him back for his veteran presence and overall decent play I don't agree that its a key move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lupz27 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 I was watching the Arizona game this past weekend, and they have 210 lb LB, maybe a healthy A Allen who played the hybrid LB S position at SC in college can become one of our 3 starting LB's in what Bowles basically runs as his base D 3-3-5. Just a outside the box thought, Allen was good at covering TE's, and even held Gronk in check 2 years ago, but showed he had trouble with man coverage on the outside, and deep zone coverage at Safety. Maybe a Harris, A Allen, Mauldin LB core at worst, and this would give the Jets flexibility to show 3-3-5, or 3-2-6 moving Allen back as the 3rd Safety in another favorite D scheme of Bowles with 3 Safties on the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesr Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 They were fantastic against the run (No. 2 in yards allowed), but they were pedestrian outside the box and rushing the passer. The Rex Ryan Legacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIJetsFan Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 I was watching the Arizona game this past weekend, and they have 210 lb LB, maybe a healthy A Allen who played the hybrid LB S position at SC in college can become one of our 3 starting LB's in what Bowles basically runs as his base D 3-3-5. Just a outside the box thought, Allen was good at covering TE's, and even held Gronk in check 2 years ago, but showed he had trouble with man coverage on the outside, and deep zone coverage at Safety. Maybe a Harris, A Allen, Mauldin LB core at worst, and this would give the Jets flexibility to show 3-3-5, or 3-2-6 moving Allen back as the 3rd Safety in another favorite D scheme of Bowles with 3 Safties on the field. I forgot all about AA. Interesting idea, him as ILB. Do you know what sorta 40 he runs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCarl40 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 I was watching the Arizona game this past weekend, and they have 210 lb LB, maybe a healthy A Allen who played the hybrid LB S position at SC in college can become one of our 3 starting LB's in what Bowles basically runs as his base D 3-3-5. Just a outside the box thought, Allen was good at covering TE's, and even held Gronk in check 2 years ago, but showed he had trouble with man coverage on the outside, and deep zone coverage at Safety. Maybe a Harris, A Allen, Mauldin LB core at worst, and this would give the Jets flexibility to show 3-3-5, or 3-2-6 moving Allen back as the 3rd Safety in another favorite D scheme of Bowles with 3 Safties on the field. Antonio Allen is an unrestricted free agent who blew out his Achilles. The Jets have Gilchrist, Pryor, Miles, Martin, and Bailey under contract at safety with limited money for ancillary players. I doubt Allen or Jarrett are brought back. It's possible, but I wouldn't expect much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Zach Brown of the Titans is a versatile, probably cheap ILB candidate I like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted January 20, 2016 Author Share Posted January 20, 2016 Jets LBs Were a Mix of Old and New Harris, Davis & Pace Were Familiar 'Backers While Mauldin Will Lead a Youth Movement into 2016 On the Roster in 2015 Demario Davis, David Harris, Erin Henderson, Taiwan Jones, Jamari Lattimore, Josh Martin, Lorenzo Mauldin,Calvin Pace, Trevor Reilly, Quinton Coples (waived), Deion Barnes (PS), Julian Howsare (PS), Julian Stanford (PS) Potential Free Agents Demario Davis, Erin Henderson, Jamari Lattimore, Calvin Pace Overview MLB David Harris again served as "the glue that keeps everybody together," according to head coach Todd Bowles. Harris and Demario Davis both notched 100-plus tackles together for the third straight season and both were among the D's leaders in tackles at or behind the line for the run defense, whose No. 2 NFL ranking was the best by the Jets since their No. 2 ranking way back in 1970. The LBs contributed 14.5 of the team's 39 sacks. And they were right in the middle of the Jets' No. 4 overall yardage ranking, their best since 2009. Eric Allen @eallenjets Bowles on Harris: David keeps that core intact... Without him, I don't know where we'd be. 1:30 PM - 16 Dec 2015 On the downside was the unit's coverage of RBs in the passing game and the lack of playing time for 2012 first-round pick Quinton Coples, whom the Jets waived Nov. 23. "I think Quinton still has a good future," Bowles said. "It just wasn't playing with us." Looking Back Amid the "everything" that Bowles said Harris does for the Green & White defense, he continued in his "Hitman" role. His 128 tackles by coaches' video breakdown marked the eighth time in his nine seasons that he led the Jets with triple-digit tackles, and with an average season in '16 he will move past Mo Lewis and into second place behind Kyle Clifton on the Jets' all-time tackles list.Davis for the first time in three seasons shared his ILB position with Erin Henderson, who picked up over the final six games where he left off as the Vikings starter through 2013. OLB Calvin Pace said he feels like he can still play a few more seasons. Pace in his 13th pro season and eighth Jets year, may have been off his previous pace but still made plays, such as his 12th Jets strip-sack against the Jaguars, two off John Abraham's franchise mark. Third-round rookie Lorenzo Mauldin showed signs that he can be the edge rusher the Jets have been seeking. He got his first forced fumble in the season opener against Cleveland, he finished with four sacks, including his first two-sack game as a pro vs.Jacksonville,and he applied 19 QB hits,most by a Jets LB and tied for third on the defense.OLB Trevor Reilly didn't see many reps on defense but he stood out and not just because he was the D's bearded presence as Ryan Fitzpatrick was for the offense. Reilly also was first on the Jets on both sides of the ball in special teams plays (300) and tackles (15). Jamari Lattimore was second in ST snaps (278) and contributed 12 tackles in kick coverage. Looking Ahead The Green & White linebackers in '16 figure to keep something classical about themselves while continuing to evolve under GM Mike Maccagnan's hand. Davis and Pace, for instance, are multiyear Jets who both could become unrestricted free agents.But Todd and Mac want to increase speed at all positions, so we can look for Mauldin to attempt to become an every-down 'backer and not just a pass rusher, as well as for some speedy additions through free agency and the draft. And there are a few 'backers that fans didn't see a whole lot of during 2015 who will at least get to push for jobs during the offseason and preseason, among them Josh Martin (signed off the Colts practice squad to the Jets active roster Nov. 24) and Taiwan Jones (signed off the Jets practice squad Dec. 18), neither of whom played a down. Three more practice-squadders should also get some looks from Bowles and DC Kacy Rodgers: Deion Barnes (on the practice squad all season), Julian Howsare (on the P-squad for all but three weeks), and Julian Stanford (added to the practice squad Dec. 1 after seeing action with three NFL teams before the Jets). > http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangefb/Jets-LBs-Were-a-Mix-of-Old-and-New/e2785640-dc49-4ae3-8ea6-a03cf137e622 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 I thought they were using Catapano as a Pass Rush Specialist. Is he considered a DE now? I know he played DE and OLB for the Chiefs. Antonio Allen is an unrestricted free agent who blew out his Achilles. The Jets have Gilchrist, Pryor, Miles, Martin, and Bailey under contract at safety with limited money for ancillary players. I doubt Allen or Jarrett are brought back. It's possible, but I wouldn't expect much. Eh. Allen and Jarrett are going to be dirt cheap and both were obviously liked better than Rontez Miles. If they want them back, they can have them back and money is not going to be an issue. The question is, do they actually like them? Whoever they have at the back of the safety rotation will have to play heavy on the ST units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted January 23, 2016 Author Share Posted January 23, 2016 Positional Review : Harris Remains a Force Jamir Howerton and Eric Allen Address David Harris' Consistency, Mauldin’s Emergence, and the Need For Speed On The Outside video.. > http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Positional-Review-Harris-Remains-a-Force/8c242e1c-e9d5-4332-885d-34116b6dc8ec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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