Jets' Lorenzo Mauldin: 'I can really capitalize on what I did last year'

[Gas2No99]

Jets' Lorenzo Mauldin: 'I can really capitalize on what I did last year'

By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

 

FLORHAM PARK — The Jets are looking for new starters at both outside linebacker spots, and it seems likely that one will be second-year pro Lorenzo Mauldin. 

Mauldin, a third-round draft pick, showed potential last season as a pass rushing specialist. But can he be a successful every-down outside linebacker? That is one of the key questions for this defense entering 2016. 

"I can really capitalize on what I did last year," Mauldin told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday, after an organized team activities practice. "Now I'm in a bigger role. It's up to me to actually live by that role, and be able to get into being a leader for the defense. I guess the coaches have a lot more trust in me." 

During his exit interview with coach Todd Bowles after last season, Mauldin got an encouraging message. 

"He said he was expecting a lot from me," Mauldin said. "My main thing was to live up to the expectations." 

It reminded Mauldin of postseason conversations he had with coach Charlie Strong during his days at Louisville. In those chats, Mauldin recalled, Strong would tell him that "he wanted to see more."

And in the following season, "that's what I gave him," Mauldin said. 

Mauldin played just one season of outside linebacker at Louisville, and he didn't really drop into coverage much. So as he prepared to be an every-down outside linebacker with the Jets in 2016, he focused this offseason on coverage stuff. 

"I feel like I've got a better grasp of it now," he said at the midpoint of OTAs. "Now that I'm actually getting a lot more reps, it's coming to me naturally. It was foreign [coming out of college], but now I'm starting to understand it.

"My ideal thing over the break was to basically learn more of the position, and being able to go train at the position better, and understand the concepts of it." 

Mauldin returned to Louisville and also trained in Atlanta. He focused his training on dropping into coverage, while also studying his playbook notes from last year. 

Among the coverage-related things Mauldin worked on: "Learning where you need to drop. Learning where your landmarks are and getting there in a certain amount of time. Understand who you're guarding and where your eyes need to be." 

Meanwhile, the outside linebacker, when he drops into coverage, also needs to listen to the linebackers next to him and defensive backs behind him — to understand where they're going to be in the coverage scheme. 

In the end, Mauldin said, he must "be able to apply all of that in one play, within a certain amount of seconds." 

It's not an easy process, but he is beginning to grasp it, which bodes well for the Jets' defense. 

[joewilly12]

Hoping he turns out to be an elite badass NFL LB. 

[Maxman]

Rex would have him playing zone ten yards off the line of scrimmage.

[Shadetree]

I'm psyched about the LB additions.

This defense is close. Real close.

With our schedule, the defense needs to make a statement and win more than their fair share of games on their own.

[j4jets]

15 minutes ago, Maxman said:

Rex would have him playing zone ten yards off the line of scrimmage.

In Madden, right?

[Fibonacci]

21 minutes ago, Shadetree said:

I'm psyched about the LB additions.

This defense is close. Real close.

With our schedule, the defense needs to make a statement and win more than their fair share of games on their own.

Same here.  You know what else is awesome?  I might be wrong but other than Wilkerson no other major defensive players' contract will expire end of this year. This year we will go up against some good teams. I expect a lot of growth from both the players and Bowles. Even if we miss the playoffs, future is looking bright. God only if we could have a servicable QB. 

[BroadwayJets]

19 minutes ago, Shadetree said:

I'm psyched about the LB additions.

This defense is close. Real close.

With our schedule, the defense needs to make a statement and win more than their fair share of games on their own.

Don't forget Bowles knows Carroll, Arians and Fisher (not that he's much of a threat) very well. Could soften arguably the toughest part of our schedule a bit. 

[drdetroit]

Funny how a third round pick like Mauldin had a significantly better rookie year than most of the OLB/DE's guys on this board were drooling over in the '15 draft with the exception of Beasley

[papz187]

I'm psyched about the LB additions.

This defense is close. Real close.

With our schedule, the defense needs to make a statement and win more than their fair share of games on their own.

I'm just as excited as you about this LB corps.

Mauldin showed real pass rushing potential last season as a rookie and came up with some big-time plays last year. One in particular that stands out was during the Giants game. The Giants were in Jets territory, had the lead and another score may have put the game out of reach. Then Mauldin makes a nice move to beat the tackle and rush Eli into throwing a pick IIRC which was a huge game changer and kept us within striking distance, and we all know how that game ended.

Between Mauldin, the two rookies, and Harris leading the group these guys could do a lot of damage, especially playing in front of our DLine. Can't wait to see them in action come week one!

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