So as I sit here elated for the start of the new season several thoughts run through my head; questions of what will be and what will happen if. After last years injury plagued season and a preseason filled with high hopes and championship talk, there are several questions that I need to ask the Jet faithful but one that stands out in my mind. What will we do if our leader get injured, not Penny but Vilma? What has caused me to ask this question is not the past curses of Toon in 91, Vinny in 99, Penny in 2004 and virtually the entire offensive line last year, but the switch to a base 3-4 defense that will most defiantly increase the chances of another STAR being injured? Past history sides with me on this argument as former 4-3 linebackers have switched and been more oft injured as a result. The obvious is Ray Lewis who has not been the same player since Big Tony was in front of him in the 4-3, and has fought a number of injuries, predominantly a shoulder injury. What about Zach Thomas last year, he was gone half way through the season, he is another undersized guy playing in the wrong scheme and the list goes on and on (James Farrior after he left the Jest, Teddy Brushi fights injury every year since the switch) is Vima next? I know that Vilma has the talent and from what I?v read he is doing the right thing by not fully engaging with the Guards and Centers and making sure he knows the scheme. At some time it will catch up with him this year and he will be on his back with a 310lb guard on top of him, I only wish he would have had a big space eater to keep that fat man off of him. He is not suited for a 3-4 MLB, now he would be a great weak side OLB in this scheme but that has not happened yet. I don?t mean to be a downer, I just have not heard this topic discussed in detail that much on the board and was quite surprised. Go Jets and please JV stay healthy!
I know right....but I just think we are plugging a drain with tape; placing him in the middle in this scheme. It will hold for a while but is bound to be replaced or get washed out
I think this is why they drafted Schlegal, although we don't know if it will work out. Eric Barton is a hell of a football player, but he is not cerebral enough to call defenses all the time and his emotions have gotten the better of him in the past. Vilma is a student of the game. Very intelligent and hard to replace. But they do need a backup QB on defense, I agree. I can only hope Schlegal is not an idiot. BTW, to answer your initial point, yes, we're screwed if Vilma goes down this year. But it won't be as heart-rending as 2005.
To be honest, I was thinking today...Schlegal reminds me alot of a young Teddy B. Not the most athletically gifted but strong and gritty
If Vilma gets injured then the Jets will become the only team without a single name player in football.
yeah i dont see the need for it. i feel the 3-4 is forced upon the players and it clashes with their style. i know mangini will continue to get 3-4 players but its just another (imo unnessary) adjustment the players have to go through. if its not broken dont fix it, the jets defense has been solid the past couple years.
using Bruschi and James farrior as reasons why the 3-4 DOESNT work kind of negates our argument. What if Peyton Manning is hurt...what if Tom Brady is hurt......yes if your team leader / star player is out for the season it will hurt the team. Obviously the season needs to start because this thread is RETARTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The 3-4 is a proven winning defense. Will Vilma fit in year 1? no idea, but you make it sound like there had never been a successful LB in the 3-4 when it is quite the opposite. In fact James farrior was a BUST here and went on to star in pittsburgh. To be fair he actually didnt do well in OUR 3-4 and was an excellent 4-3 WLB before we let him go in FA. Just another point to show that you cannot look at individuals on a team, its how you build the TEAM OVERALL. unfortunantly for us in the stands we cannot gauge chemistry in the off season....
There it is right there. People seem to forget how much we Jets fans freaked out when we switched from the 3-4 to the 4-3. In the end, it wound up making our D better. Not that I credit Herm & Co. with much, but I do credit them with implementing a defense that was capable. The success of any system is directly related to its implementation. Sure, some guys are more prepared for one scheme or another, but I highly doubt Mangini, after showing some absolute brilliance so far, is going to put a scheme into play that he doesn't believe we have the talent to use. Vilma will be just fine. He is one of the most intelligent defensive players I have ever watched. His job is to help lead the D, along with Rhodes. Defense is the least of our problems right now.
