Hank Poteat?s Signing Brings Some Questions Posted on May 7th, 2008 by Bassett The Jets made a move yesterday to re-sign Corner Hank Poteat, the hold-the-fort veteran who started nine games for the Jets in 2007. Poteat had the first two interceptions of his nine year career in 2007, was a free agent who hadn?t seen a lot of interest from other teams since free agency began. It was rumored that Poteat was told by the Jets that they wanted him to return, but that they needed to find the money to do so, so it would take time. Pushing Dewayne Robertson?s $11.6 million cap figure off the books via trade, the move actually freed $8 million in space for the team. Poteat signed a one year, veteran minimum ($730,000) deal yesterday with a small signing bonus (unknown), so imagine that the deal was around one million in total. Poteat provides the requisite depth that the team needs at corner going into camp, but the signing doesn?t adequately address one of the team?s holes on the roster, a clear cut second corner to play opposite Darrelle Revis for 2008. Of the players on the team, there?s one thing that is clear ? the job is up for grabs. Here?s a list of who might be in the running for the job: David Barrett ? Known here at TJB by many names, ?The RollerCoaster? has seemed to stick the best. Barrett is a widely erratic player, who seems to alternate from master defender to burnt toast in the blink of an eye. Starting Barrett might be a necessary move, but I wouldn?t bet on it. Justin Miller ? Miller has had a rough road with the team, but the player is in his contract year, and it?s time for him to get serious about this game, or get out of the league. A second round draft choice in 2005, Miller made the Pro-Bowl as a Kick Returner in 2006, not as a corner. Miller has played well in the slot, but hasn?t done much to distinguish himself against primary targets. Used as a nickel would be the best option for him until he can prove he?s a better player than that.. Miller has the physical skills, but hasn?t shown the mental toughness fow which Mangini is looking Drew Coleman ? After getting burned badly for a touchdown in the Bears? game in 2006, not much was seen from Coleman in the regular season. It wasn?t until the Miami game that Coleman re-appeared in the public conciousness, when he intercepted a pass and defensed a pass in the same game. Coleman is a project, but at 5-9, 175 lbs, he?s a short project. Coleman might work into the rotation more this season, but he?s not starter material. Andre Woolfork ? Most likely camp fodder, Woolfork could potentially make the roster, but he was cut by the Pats and was out of football for the bullk 2007 season ? could he really be ready to start and/or play corner? Dwight Lowery ? No one can seem to tell me where he lined up at Rookie Camp (Corner or Safety?), but for now let?s assume he?s a corner for sake of argument. Lowery is a guy who struggled in his senior season, but has all the intangibles that Mangini would be looking for ? he?s smart, hard-working and talented. He?s also got a talent that we were looking for ? a 6-0+ corner ? receivers are getting bigger and taller every year. Sliding Lowery into the game to open up against in Miami against Ernest Wilford might not exactly be the right move for him in his rookie year if they feel he?s a legitimiate option for the long-term. The Jets should be somewhat careful to protect him and make sure that he?s good and ready to play before throwing him to the wolves..
I wouldn't say losing your footing on the turf is getting burned badly. He slipped, it happens. But he's been hidden ever since. I'm a fan of Coleman, i hope he can be the #3 guy due to his speed. He seems to have a nose for the ball, and doesn't quit. Our CBs minus Revis are par at best... only a dominant pass rush will make them look good.
If week one was starting today, & with what we have on our team...I have no problem with Poteat starting alongside Revis. Good thing it's not even close to week one
I hope we don't drop Barrett. I realize that he kinda sucks but, whenever he was on the field last year, he was the last line of defense against a big play and always made sure to take the guy down. I realize that running plays and little dink passes shouldn't get to the farthest guy from the line of scrimmage if our D is good but, for that reason alone, I'd like to see Barrett on the team.
That's funny. I was just about to post this...it is starting to drive me crazy...I mean, we have his uncle posting on the site with his name in his user name. And people spelled it wrong is HIS thread! http://www.nfl.com/players/andrewoolfolk/profile?id=WOO721264 He was definitely the second (behind Revis) most physically gifted corner in our stable last year. And he has more mental ability than Miller. I don't like how much he was getting paid, but after this year's salary jumps, it may end up being a bargain. If only we could put Poteat's mind in Miller's body...
NO WAY on your comments on Andre Woolfolk, he is not camp fodder. He never played for the Pats, he played for the Titans and was released due to injury (Injury Settlement), because he could not compete for the corner job which was wide open. His injury would have left him on the shelf until week 3 of the regular season. At that time the Titans had 11 notable corners on the roster. He will be the surprise of Jets camp with this fresh start. A lot of words in your post but if there are inaccuracies, a lack of knowledge in those areas is indicated. No, I am not referring to your overall knowledge of what you're saying, I am referring to the shortness of true info involving Andre Woolfolk. Please don't depend on the word of people (reporters, bloggers, fans, even me) just spatting off their opinions... Take it from the horses mouth.... Later I will post a quote from Jeff Fisher, regarding Andre's injury and release last camp... BTW, it happened 4 days into camp and the team did not release Andre until after the last pre-season game of course it was apparent he wasn't going to heal quickly enough... WU
didnt particularly care for the info on each player. david barrett is anything but toast, the writer is just putting it there cause its a cool thing to say about a bad cb, toast is someone who gets beat deep continuously, david barrett never gets beat deep because he gives a 15 yard cushion and immediately goes into a back pedal. he is more under toast than toast. i dont see miller being in a contract year being any kind of a difference maker, i think he would have played well last year if not for injury which the writer failed to mention. and i guess lowery struggled because he didnt have as many interceptions as he did as a senior, well someone please remind me that being a great corner doesnt have all that much to do with interceptions. deion sanders didnt have tons of interceptions every year. because people wouldnt throw to his side, he locked down an entire side of the field that is really what a great corner is all about.
I got kick out of that part 2... it was conveniently left out that he missed 5 games with a broken jaw, for the sake of his argument or coarse.
When was "toast" inrtoduced in official Football dictionary? And Miller is not only in his contract year, he also is heading into his make-or-break year. If he doesn?t get it together this year, he never will. The best scenario would be a Cromatie like year, both are simular player. Odds are he will never become more than a KR and Nickel. But even on Kickreturn, he?s valueable, because he allows to give Leon the ball more on O. I think his role on O was to a certain degree limited, becaus his value on KR, and we didn?t have anyone else to field kicks. However, right now i think Poteat will be our #2, Miller the Nickel and Barrett a Backup, with Lowery fighting for the #2 Safety spot with Elam.
You've gotta believe it's gunna be Poteat or possibly Barrett starting. However I think that in the early going of the season Lowery will be starting.
I have high hopes Miller can pull it together and build on what was a good camp last year. I don't want to see Lowery in there only because he is not Darrelle Revis coming out of this draft and more than likely will get eaten alive if forced to start against many very good #2s and even #1s.
Too be honest....I'm getting a strong feeling that Lowery is another Derrick Strait. All the potential in the world & didn't do Jack!!
Why does Poteet have to start as the RCB? There is a crying need for as many deft CBs as possible on every NFL team. There are plenty of defensive sets that require more than less DBs. Poteet is a great role player who understands the whole defensive picture. This is what Mangini craves -- big picture focus, absolute versatility, the flexibility to change positions or emphasis on a dime. The smarter a DB is in Mangini's system, the more likely he gets playing time. All this focus on who's the starter is perhaps less important than how many competent DBs stick to the roster come September.
It wasn't Otis Smith that started it in New York, it was a NYG CB who got the nickname before Otis showed up. Wiki says, "Elvis Vernell "Toast" Patterson (born October 21, 1960 in Bryan, Texas) was an American football defensive back who played ten seasons in the NFL, mainly for the New York Giants. He played in Super Bowl XXI for the Giants, but he was waived the following season after being burned by the Chicago Bears in the opening week (Hence his nickname "Toast")...."
from my understanding the term toast was for elvis patterson of the giants back in the 80s, and yes he was toast due to getting beat deep too damn much. toast is in my book nothing to do with letting receptions happen, hell the cover 2 allows that to happen by design. toast is about getting beaten deep. toast = burnt not equal to giving up a 12 yard out.
guess i shoulda looked up on that one , and i was sitting here trying to remember if it was elvis or elvin. i coulda saved myself a minute by looking up, or going to wiki
I will say one thing about CBs on the NYJs -- we really have a lot of guys who have a helluva lot to prove fighting for a spot on the roster in this position. There may not be a more motivated position from so many different rivals' points of view on the team. Drew Coleman has to climb back out of the Coach's doghouse fully. Andre Woolfolk has to prove to the world he can still play football, let alone win a roster spot as a CB on the NYJ. Nobody believes it except his uncle, for crying out loud. Justin Miller is a silly kid with a bad knee until proven otherwise in a lot of people's minds. Lowery is a 4th round mystery who may be too slow to cut the mustard, no matter how much he studies, in the eyes of a lot of TGG posters. David Barrett is an ole pro who is over the hill and is best remember running along pointing at Randy Moss's latest touchdown pass at the Head of a trio of beaten NYJ DBs, trailing along behind Randy. Poteet has been signed as an afterthought who appears to hang on by his fingernails because he is such a study nut about the defense, if you listen to his detractors. And there's even some no-name undrafted free agents sniffing around as if they had something. It's going to be real interesting to see who comes out on top of all these 'true believers' in themselves.
