The Jets pass-rush as of today is far, far better than what we had at anytime during last season. It's refreshing to know that Mangini learned from the errors of last offseason. Coleman-Jenkins-Ellis will be a force up front. Don't sleep on Ellis, he's still a damn good defensive end. However, D-Rob didn't command a double team so the linemen could focus on neutralizing Ellis (and the linebackers for that matter). Jenkins will absolutely command a double team and Ellis and Coleman will occupy blockers. The linebackers will have a field day chasing down the QB. Gholston played both weakside and strongside LB in college. He absolutely has the strength to punish tight ends on the strong side. Not many TE can take him on 1 on 1 so I think he'll be equally effective at either side. However, Thomas is far better at the weak side so I anticipate him being there. I definitely want to see all three of our stud LB on the field as much as possible (Harris, Pace, Gholston) so I hope one of them (probably Pace) will rotate inside with Barton. Pace is a smart guy and could absolutely work in the middle IMHO Secondary looks good- Lowery will, at worst, be a nice nickel DB. I think he'll make an impact at strong safety though. He's got phenomenal hands and will be a playmaker. Revis is very good already. I think Miller will be the starting CB opposite Revis this season. Bottom line, this defense has made HUGE strides.
This is going to be taken as "we have no shot at contending, but we're getting there." This team ain't perfect, but I got to love how guys are switching it up to "zomg this dumbass regime can't get us good starters" to "zomg they got us good starters so wtf is their problem with depth" in a couple months.
These questions about who is going to play where is like an 'embarrassment of riches.' It's very new for the NYJs LBs...!
Quote: "...I think Miller will be the starting CB opposite Revis this season...." If Justin Miller has fully recovered, I believe this is very possible, too.
no, i like this regime so far and i think they make sound decisions for the most part. but if Harris or Barton goes down, who fills in for them? Kassell? Chatham? is Chatham even still on the team? we got the starters at LB, and they look good. but we could have also gotten depth at ILB, which i think, would have been better - meaning more important - than getting Ainge.
We play a hybrid 3-4/4-3 so we can line up several ways: Ellis Jenkins Bowens Gholston Barton Harris Pace Ellis Jenkins Pouha Bowens Gholston Harris Pace Thomas Jenkins Ellis Bowens Gholston Harris Pace Jenkins Pouha Thomas Pace Harris Barton Gholston Seriously, we can completely confuse some teams here and attack in so many ways. Hopefully, we can get 4-5 sacks a game and force some interceptions/fumbles. I want to see an opportunistic defense that just shuts people down. I want to win 13-7 and have 40 minutes time of possession. I want to see the opposition get 60 yards total for the game sometime. Here's to '08.
^No way Bowens starts over Coleman My projected starting lineup: SOLB - Gholston SILB - Pace WILB - Harris WOLB - Thomas Bowens will backup the guys outside, Barton will back up the inside guys.
Plus Bowen = Great depth at OLB. Depth at ILB is somewhere between inadequate and frightening. Is it a practical move to have one of the OLB play inside?
I like this alignment best- Pace is a big dude (270 pounds) and probably the most likely to make a successful transition inside of the three. Thomas seems better suited to running around and chasing the ball-carrier and Gholston is there for his exceptional pass-rushing. Pace is strong enough to fight off blocks and get to the ball-carrier too. He's also very intelligent, another reason why I think he could make the transition. Jenkins is going to command a double team all the time. Coleman and Ellis will have better seasons just by virtue of the attention paid to big ole Kris. More importantly, the linebackers will be able to be all over the frickin field now that the D-line will be able to hold blockers back. Gholston is joining this team at the perfect time. About Bowens, he's good depth and OLB and will have a very important role as a situational pass-rusher. He was very productive last season and I only think he will be better.
That's my preferred alignment as well. I think Thomas is going to be a beast in this defense. He's had flashes. He just needs a good cast around him so that he can concentrate on his job.
i just want to see pace coming from one side and gholston from the other. with jenkins, pouha and harris coming form the middle and those 2 on the end...im liking this defense. i want brady to be ripped in half by the 2 olb's.
Make it two drooling fans. Awesome avatar. If that is his girlfriend or wife he has no business wasting precious time writing on the TGG site.
The particular situation will dictate whose on the field. Sadly, my guess is that Gholston will be used at first as a situational pass rusher, with Pace starting at SOLB and Barton playing SILB. Once Gholston shows that he can play the run, drop into coverage, and rush the passer, he will see more playing time. Given the knocks on him, I think giving him a single role where he can excel will be important to his development. I wish he was as well rounded as C. Long, but it seems that he isn't. As long as he gets after the QB in his rookie year, thats fine by me.
