I've secretly thought this for a long time now but I have refrained from explicitly writing it in one of my posts (although I have indirectly implied it many times on this board) because I have been afraid of having to deal with a wave of angry posters questioning my intelligence and/or Jet fan credentials. Here Goes: I think Kerry Rhodes is a bit overrated. I'm not saying he isn't a good player with a lot of talent. I'm saying I don't think he has been a pro-bowl caliber player since 06 when he really caught all of us by surprise. He is great at preventing the deep ball, and in general, has very good ball skills for a free safety. He is also a very solid tackler. However, there are many times when he is caught totally out of position on the field. Contrary to popular belief, he isn't particulary good at timing his blitzes and he has blown several coverages on tight ends over the middle of the field. He generally has deep responsibility, and when he does, he is lights out. But when the Jets try and get creative with him and include him in blitz packages or single him up with an elusive tight end, he becomes much less of an impact player. Don't get me wrong, he's a very good (way above average) free safety. But he's not a pro-bowler. Not yet. By the way, I am not posting this because of anything that I saw yesterday. This is just something that I have been thinking for well over a year now and I have finally decided to create a thread on it. Thoughts?
you are somewhat correct, IMO, but it may be a function of the overall defense. imagine if we had a CONSISTENT pass rush. there are D coordinators that would kill for rhodes, revis, and even lowery. jil
This is my thought: I'm not saying it isn't a decent argument, but you could have posted this in the other thread you started. You could have integrated it into the other thread somehow. By starting mulitple threads you knock other decent threads off the front page. Also, the calm down thread could have been integrated with Tony's thread. I'm telling you this because you are a person of reason. I wouldn't even bother telling it to a lot of guys.
I don't know if it is a case of him being overrated or that he isn't being utilized properly or maybe it is a little of both. I tend to think he isn't being utilized properly. I have never seen a safety come off the edge in a blitz like Rhodes is capable of yet we never see him called on to do that anymore.
You're right. After I posted it, I kind of realized that I could have just said it in the "calm down" thread. You are also right that the "Calm down" thread was similar in nature to a few others already going. It was really my fault for not taking a look at all the threads before creating any of my own. I do this a bit too much.
First I think Kerry is a great player and real stand up guy. My son and I met him in passing once at a mall in North Jersey and he couldnt have been nicer. Waited while my son ran and bought something to write with and signed some stuff. Second I dont think the Jets are "allowing" him to be great. They dont have an aggresive D and when the do try to get him involved it seems like he over thinks it or tries to hard and screws the pooch. A Pro Bowler...not quite there. I think if he was part of an agressive D like in Philly, Balt or Pitt he would be a house hold name.
See, I used to feel this way myself (Very early last season). However, the more I watch him, the more I see him take himself out of plays. Remember, when the coaches call a safety blitz, it is his responsibility to be able to time it with the snap count and still disguise the blitz. Coaches can only do so much to help him with this. Also, the much bigger thing for me is that I think his coverage skills are a bit overrated on this board. He has great ball skills, and thus, plays the deep ball very well. But when he is matched up one-on-one with a TE, and he really has to assert himself as a physical, skilled cover guy, he seems to struggle quite a bit.
I really don't know, he has as much natural ability as any safety in the league but it isn't translating into big plays for whatever reason, probably a variety of reasons. One thing for sure is he is not a pro bowl player right now.
I definately agree. His natural ability is scary. Hopefully he will still develop into the impact player we all think he can be.
we have chosed to rush 3 this affect everyone, Rhodes included, very few teams can rush 3 and create pressure if not known. Rhodes is a very good player and perhaps miscast at the moment. People like Bellichek etc... still sing his praises to say he is best in the league- I dont agree but I think that must put him in the top 5. I hope that we change our defensive mentality a bit and get after the QB a bit more- I agree- revis, lowery, law and rhodes- would be welcome on plenty of teams. these are not the players getting beat in the spread- its that we are going 5-6 deep at corner and taking our best player (jenkins) out to do this and also taking our ball hawks- Rhodes and depositing him 30 yds down field. Overall attitude of aggression would help this defensive at the moment and the ability to play from in front.
I can’t agree more with you. I can’t remember the last time that I saw him put his helmet down & tackle thru someone. IMO he doesn’t scare anyone back their. Either generate picks by athleticism or scare people to come across the middle. With Revises development his decline of play is even more unsettling.
In point of fact, we blitzed a lot yesterday. Our blitzes were picked up. Rhodes was sent several times at Cutler. I'm tired of hearing about the three-man rush, underneath man, 2-deep coverage that we soemtimes run as being the only reason for all of our failures in pass defense. It simply isn't true.
nobody is killing for lowery, trust me.. and rhodes plays 40 yards deep because mangini plays scared on defense...
