Jim Leonhard has been the most exposed Jet so far.

[SenorGato]

True or false?

I know we're winning, but man this guy has been getting his a$$ kicked fairly consistently this year.

Of course, once the D starts rolling he'll make a play or two, but anyone else think this is his last season here as a Jet? He's a guy who has proven he can be a competent starting safety, so I'm not sure he's down to be a backup in the long run.

[Jets Voice of Reason]

It's a position we need upgraded for sure.

[madmikeisback]

The 2 biggest needs on this team is a big time safety and a pass rusher.

[visajets]

Geez know him along with Holmes and Favre are showing their dongs...

[ZachEY]

He was a great addition as a guy who knows the system and could be a 'coach on the field'. Now that the system is in place, it's time to move on.

I don't know that he's gone just yet though, as it's not like there's a replacement for him on the roster. I'd be surprised if we didn't draft a safety in the 1st 3 rounds this year though.

[Jetfan13]

Safety is definitely a weak spot. For as much as everyone hated Kerry Rhodes, r we really any better off without him?

[SenorGato]

Safety is definitely a weak spot. For as much as everyone hated Kerry Rhodes, r we really any better off without him?

On the field? No.

Every other way? Yes.

[ZachEY]

Safety is definitely a weak spot. For as much as everyone hated Kerry Rhodes, r we really any better off without him?

We're not much better without him.

We're not much worse without him.

[Damaged89]

Leonhard would be better off in the Eric Smith role. Special teams and sub packages. He's the best we've got now though so we're stuck with him. I don't think he's awful anyway, just 3 inches too short.

[JetsFan220]

He has been awful this year...maybe last year he looked better playing along side Kerry Rhodes?

[SenorGato]

He has been awful this year...maybe last year he looked better playing along side Kerry Rhodes?

A tall, rangy safety who is a plus in coverage sure would be nice again...Someone more likable and marketable than Rhodes is here of course.

[JetsFan220]

A tall, rangy safety who is a plus in coverage sure would be nice again...Someone more likable and marketable than Rhodes is here of course.

Taylor Mays would have been nice, but cannot kill Tanny for 1 bad draft

[JiF]

Safety and DT in next years draft.

Ahmad Black would be awesome in this defense, I'm just afraid he's a little to small. But that mother is all over the place for the Gators. By far their best defender. He's basically Leonhard size but twice as fast and plays like he's a big safety. Kid can hit. I'd love to have him with matched with a big bruising type.

[THE ILK]

Safety and DT in next years draft.

Ahmad Black would be awesome in this defense, I'm just afraid he's a little to small. But that mother is all over the place for the Gators. By far their best defender. He's basically Leonhard size but twice as fast and plays like he's a big safety. Kid can hit. I'd love to have him with matched with a big bruising type.

Sounds like Pool 2.0

[JiF]

Sounds like Pool 2.0

Pool is 6-2, 215. Black is like 5'10, 190. lol but close.

[dolphann4life]

How has JT done for you guys??? Honest answer?

[Bleedin Green]

True or false?

I know we're winning, but man this guy has been getting his a$$ kicked fairly consistently this year.

Of course, once the D starts rolling he'll make a play or two, but anyone else think this is his last season here as a Jet? He's a guy who has proven he can be a competent starting safety, so I'm not sure he's down to be a backup in the long run.

As a starter, I would absolutely agree. On a "suck per rep" basis, that honor goes to his backup, Eric Smith. The Jets are better off with 10 men on the field than that schmuck. I know the Jets have been infatuated with the idea of the great white safety ever since Edwards couldn't manage to sign his best buddy John Lynch and instead had us draft John McGraw, but come on already. Safety is definitely a position of need for the Jets going forward. I know there's been some hate on Brodney Pool from some, and while he hasn't been great, the guy has been the best safety the Jets have this year. It's unfortunate Rhodes had to turn into such a bitch, because that guy the Jets had his first few years in the league would sure be nice to still have.

[Bleedin Green]

How has JT done for you guys??? Honest answer?

Meh

[jetfan718]

The 2 biggest needs on this team is a big time safety and a pass rusher.

I couldn't agree with you more!!!

[NjJets4027]

Leonhard is great when he has a lil more freedom to blitz. But, when placed man to man it obviously at a disadvantage to him due to size. But Rex loves him cuz he knows when to blitz and how hard to hit.

But i do agree. He has been getting burned a lot! And he is missing tackles cuz he is looking for the big hit.

[stoicsentry]

What is the vendetta against Jim Leonhard. I have already thoroughly DEBUNKED the bogus hate on Jimmy for punt returning. Fact: He is #8 in the league.

Now it's that he's a bad safety, which is also not true.

He has these qualities:

1. Leader

2. Hard worker

3. Not a distraction

4. Sure tackler (Saved Kyle Wilson's a$$ like 5 times vs. Baltimore)

5. Hard hitter for his size

Weaknesses:

1. Size

2. Man coverage (which incidentally is the reason he's not a corner... der-der!)

[HessStation]

What I really want to know is WHY does he return punts? It's a complete waste of a punt return imo. And I couldn't care less the stats on this, if he has a good avg, god bless Westoff for putting the plan in place, but get the slow, white dude out of there.

[JetsFan220]

What I really want to know is WHY does he return punts? It's a complete waste of a punt return imo. And I couldn't care less the stats on this, if he has a good avg, god bless Westoff for putting the plan in place, but get the slow, white dude out of there.

I think its because he is sure handed and Rex trusts him back there

[Bleedin Green]

What is the vendetta against Jim Leonhard. I have already thoroughly DEBUNKED the bogus hate on Jimmy for punt returning. Fact: He is #8 in the league.

Now it's that he's a bad safety, which is also not true.

He has these qualities:

1. Leader

2. Hard worker

3. Not a distraction

4. Sure tackler (Saved Kyle Wilson's a$$ like 5 times vs. Baltimore)

5. Hard hitter for his size

Weaknesses:

1. Size

2. Man coverage (which incidentally is the reason he's not a corner... der-der!)

Not untrue, but the problem is with the amount of blitzing done in Rex Ryan's defense, the safeties are put into man coverage quite a bit, certainly far more often than your average defense. Fair or not, that's what Leonhard's been asked to do on a number of occasions, and it hasn't gone well for the most part.

[Aten]

I think it'd be more accurate to say that Leonhard has been the most conspicuously exposed, which probably has something to do with the fact that it happens when he gets beat trying to cover a tight end who's much bigger than he is. So yeah, he does end up looking like a goon, but we're still doing quite well against tight ends despite not really having anybody else who can cover them when Thomas comes off the field on passing downs, so I think it's tough to say that he's been as bad as Sanchez, Revis, etc.

[THE ILK]

What I really want to know is WHY does he return punts? It's a complete waste of a punt return imo. And I couldn't care less the stats on this, if he has a good avg, god bless Westoff for putting the plan in place, but get the slow, white dude out of there.

I'm sure it has something to do with the coaches seeing him as a better option then the rest.

[visajets]

The 2 biggest needs on this team is a big time safety and a pass rusher.

Agreed.

[Darrellegivesmeaboner#24]

Without question Safety is a position that we can upgrade...However, it is also important for some of you guys to realize that there are very very few safeties that can actually cover as well as some of you guys here expect...Honestly speaking, what teams have safeties that you can consistently ask to cover players 1v1 and not be exposed over the course of the game? Perhaps the problem doesn't lie with Leonhard, but with the scheme that asks him to do too much...

[DireJet38]

He looks slower this year.

[AFJF]

I like Leonhard. I really do. However, I'm tired of watching him blitz and consistently get out run by the QB. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say Leonhard has blitzed the QB over 80 times since last season. The Jets blitzed more than any team in the NFL last year and Leonhard was called on to do so on almost every 3rd and long. How many sacks has that produced? I'm not saying the guy should be getting 15 sacks a season, but for god sakes...maybe five or six? He's slow. Slow defensive backs aren't a good thing. Maybe in the red zone where they can rely a bit more on quickness and not get torched on a deep route.

Robers Sands, S, W Virginia 6' 5'' 220 is in an interseting prospect IMO.

[HessStation]

I'm sure it has something to do with the coaches seeing him as a better option then the rest.

Bah! What do they know!

[Damaged89]

What I really want to know is WHY does he return punts? It's a complete waste of a punt return imo. And I couldn't care less the stats on this, if he has a good avg, god bless Westoff for putting the plan in place, but get the slow, white dude out of there.

This confuses me. Are you saying "I don't care that statistically he's quite good at his job, he's white and therefore unacceptable"? I can understand the desire for a more explosive returner, but who would you want to do it? I doubt anyone trusts Wilson even though he's considerably faster. McKnight? Revis?

Bottom line is Leonhard never muffs it, he's pretty shifty, and if we had someone who was just as reliable AND more of a homerun threat they would be returning punts instead of him.

[Larz]

I agree with this, but at the end of the day the QB is going to go somewhere witht he ball, and coleman and jimmy are both "it" until we get a real pass rush

[#27TheDominator]

What I really want to know is WHY does he return punts? It's a complete waste of a punt return imo. And I couldn't care less the stats on this, if he has a good avg, god bless Westoff for putting the plan in place, but get the slow, white dude out of there.

Yep. It's all Westhoff. Never mind that Leonhard had a full yard more per return in Baltimore than Santonio Holmes did in his best year. What a crock. You think the guy can't run? Wrong. He's not Devin Hester. Might as well cut him. Once your replacement muffs the first punt you guys will be screaming for heads on sticks.

Safety is a spot to upgrade on the team. Trouble is Leonhard is our best S. I'd prefer he wasn't manning up on TEs because he's too damn small, but he's better than the others. Put a monster next to him and he'd look a lot better.

[bitonti]

its not leonard that's the problem... it's pool/smith in coverage. Leonard shouldn't be asked to cover deep middle... he should be lurking and blitzing.