Vilma Clears Up Some Injury Issues

WhiteShoeWillis · Oct 31, 2007

10/30 ? Jonathan Vilma got a lot accomplished on a late-morning conference call with Jets reporters today.

The Jets inside linebacker and defensive captain confirmed he was injured in the Cincinnati game two weeks ago, said he is debating whether or not to have surgery on his knee, stated that being placed on injured reserve was "the best decision," and, when asked if he'd seek a trade from the Jets in the off-season, questioned back: "Why would I do that?"

That's a lot to sink one's teeth into. Here's a breakdown of the call's hot-button issues.

Vilma had been requested by reporters because his only public comments since the Bengals game came on his weekly segment on WFAN Radio two days after the game when he said he wasn't injured, one day after head coach Eric Mangini said Vilma "was dealing with some injury issues."

"When I was on the radio," Vilma said today, "I hadn't even received my MRI results yet. It was something I thought I could play with. I thought I would be all right. Just like any other injury when I go to John [Mellody, senior director, athletic training], he takes X-rays or MRIs, and I feel I can play. Of course, I feel like I can play. I'm not going to tell anybody I can't play. I've never missed a game in my career."

But Vilma did say that he suffered an injury sometime early in the game at Cincinnati.

"I honestly don't know how I got hurt," he said. "I just kept playing, trying to fight through it. It's one of those freak accidents. You step funny, step the wrong way. I can't even explain it."

He said during the game, "it was aggravating me, but it wasn't anything where I felt I couldn't play any more. It felt like any other nick or bruise. You might have to come out, sit out for a play or two, get yourself right, then go back in."

That day and into the early part of the new week, the Jets' training and medical staffs determined something was wrong with the knee. The coach declined to say what exactly was wrong or even which knee Vilma injured, and the linebacker followed that same route on his conference call.

But the injury was severe enough for the Jets to place one of their defensive stalwarts on injured reserve last Wednesday. And Vilma, countering reports that suggested he wasn't happy with having his season ended, fully supported the move today.

"Being put on IR is the best decision for myself and the best decision for the team," he said. "It's the best decision not only for this season but long-term."

Vilma indicated surgery is being considered but no surgery may also be an option. He spoke of the complications that can occur with surgery, but also characterized the non-surgical approach as a solution for "the short term."

"We're not even that far yet on what the pros and cons are," he said. "Fortunately, since I'm on IR, I have more time than I would if I tried to play out the rest of the season. There's no real time frame [but] I'm not going to be deciding at the end of the year, when January comes around."

That brought the questions around to Vilma's effectiveness and happiness in Coach Mangini's 3-4 defense compared to his first two seasons in the 4-3, when he won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2004 and followed it with his only Pro Bowl berth the next season.

But again Vilma shot down reports that said he was unhappy enough in the scheme to request a trade in the off-season heading into the last year of his original contract.

"Why would I do that?" he said.

When it was suggested he might do that so he could go to a team whose system better suited his skill set, he replied, "I don't even know why I would do that.

"I think what you're seeing from the first two years to this past year and a half are the styles of defenses," he said. "You have one style where the defense calls for me to run around and make tackles. In the 3-4 you're obviously asking for a different style. I'm not running around as much sideline to sideline. Instead I'm taking on linemen, guards more.

"You're seeing the same player, just in a different defense. It's hard to relay that to the fans. The 187 NFL-leading tackles [that he had in 2005], that's not going to happen in a 3-4, no matter how well you play. But at the same time, you may see the team defense getting better and the player getting better within that defense."

So are you happy playing the 3-4? he was asked.

"I'm happy playing whatever," he replied. "I'd get out there and play a 5-2 if I could right now."

Needless to say, Vilma won't be playing anything except maybe tunes on his I-pod while he rehabs in Mellody's trainer's room for several months. Then presumably No. 51 will take the field for the Jets again sometime in the off-season.

He said that before the injury, "I thought I was playing pretty well, playing better than last year." If he can pick up where he left off and truly feels a growing comfort level within the defense, there should be room for his physical skills and his never-come-off-the-field mentality in green and white in 2008.
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http://www.newyorkjets.com/blog/posts/271-vilma-clears-up-some-injury-issues

Miamipuck · Oct 31, 2007

WhiteShoeWillie said: ↑

If he can pick up where he left off and truly feels a growing comfort level within the defense, there should be room for his physical skills and his never-come-off-the-field mentality in green and white in 2008.
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LOL that last paragraph sounds like the kiss of death to me.

Tight · Oct 31, 2007

if mangini gets fired him him go to a 4-3 keep harris at mlb and move vilma to rolb.. he can play outside lineback in a 4-3.. move barton back to outside linebacker also, and bam.. run defense is superb

Jake · Oct 31, 2007

In the end it will be a damn shame what could have been with this guy. He was well on his way to an outstanding career, I don't see him being anything more than average in the 3-4. Harris on the other hand could be the next big thing.

Glad Vilma wants to stay with us though.

In Mangini We Trust · Oct 31, 2007

im sorry, but i want vilma off the team during the offseason...i love his heart for the game and i think he is a solid player, but he is worthless in the 3-4...trade him in the offseason for a late first, early 2nd round pick and move on from there

Wolfe Tone · Oct 31, 2007

^&%* the 3-4, it is hard to get talent for it and we have some great 4-3 players, WOW we can build the D around Bryan Thomas for the 3-4 or keep Vilma and go 4-3, seriously

Br4d · Oct 31, 2007

Tight said: ↑

if mangini gets fired him him go to a 4-3 keep harris at mlb and move vilma to rolb.. he can play outside lineback in a 4-3.. move barton back to outside linebacker also, and bam.. run defense is superb
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You're still short a defensive tackle and defensive end, since Kenyon Coleman is not well suited to play either. The other tackle,D-Rob, hasn't been good against the run since he had a very good nose tackle playing next to him in a contract year in 2004.

The Jet's 4-3 would be a mediocre to poor run D at this point given the talent on the roster. For it to become a good run D you need to probably replace D-Rob and Coleman with good players and find that 4-3 nose tackle.

The linebackers would be better, but not a lot better at this point given Barton's ago and likely declining productivty, Hobson's general uselessness and questions about both of the young and talented linebackers wanting to play the same position and probably miscast in the other one.

ouchy · Oct 31, 2007

Vilma had one good year in the 4-3. And that required our best defensive line in recent history.

Vilma is not a top MLB in this league. Let it go.

themasochist · Oct 31, 2007

If we werent so goddamn stubborn we could get some big dudes on the line, switch back to a 4-3 and have a pretty kickass defense. Seems investing in the 3-4 isn't worth it with our current personell.

jaybo1015 · Oct 31, 2007

yeah i dont really like the 3-4

vilma is the shi t and we need to keep him.

Jetcane · Oct 31, 2007

Br4dw4y5ux said: ↑

You're still short a defensive tackle and defensive end, since Kenyon Coleman is not well suited to play either. The other tackle,D-Rob, hasn't been good against the run since he had a very good nose tackle playing next to him in a contract year in 2004.

The Jet's 4-3 would be a mediocre to poor run D at this point given the talent on the roster. For it to become a good run D you need to probably replace D-Rob and Coleman with good players and find that 4-3 nose tackle.

The linebackers would be better, but not a lot better at this point given Barton's ago and likely declining productivty, Hobson's general uselessness and questions about both of the young and talented linebackers wanting to play the same position and probably miscast in the other one.
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The Jets never replaced Jason Ferguson with a productive DT. Still havent.

Vilma Clears Up Some Injury Issues

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