Business Decision to Switch From Cornerback to Safety Helps Jets http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/sports/football/26jets.html?ref=football By GREG BISHOP Published: September 25, 2008 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. ? Over the course of eight N.F.L. seasons, David Barrett played in 120 games and logged 75 starts, all at cornerback. So when the Jets? coaches approached Barrett before the start of training camp and said they wanted him to play safety, he did not know whether to take them seriously. ?I thought they were kidding around,? he said Thursday. Barrett had never played safety ? not in four distinguished seasons at Arkansas and not with the Cardinals or the Jets, the two N.F.L. teams for which he has played. But this has been a year filled with change for Barrett, who accepted a pay cut and the position switch for the chance to play another season with the Jets. Although cornerbacks regularly become safeties later in their careers, that did not make Barrett?s adjustment any easier. He frequently went to the starting safeties, Eric Smith and Kerry Rhodes, and asked them for advice. He studied his new position. He played there a bit this preseason. ?It felt a little awkward,? Barrett said. ?It felt a little weird. I wasn?t used to doing it. I?m used to being out there, on an island, just me and the wide receiver. I?m used to getting the call from the safety. Now, I?m the person giving it.? That is the biggest difference, making calls instead of receiving them. Safeties are responsible for reading opposing offenses and moving teammates into the positions best suited to defend. Cornerback Darrelle Revis said the players in the Jets secondary routinely learned the other positions. But knowing what a safety does and actually doing it proved to be a challenge for Barrett. ?It?s a totally different world,? Coach Eric Mangini said. ?And this is the most extensive time he?s played at that position. So there are going to be a couple hiccups here and there.? Along with the occasional big play. As Barrett took questions at his locker Thursday, linebacker Bryan Thomas kept interrupting the conversation, using the highest possible voice for a man his size, repeating, ?He got the interception for the touchdown.? And Barrett did exactly that Monday night, stepping in front of a pass from Philip Rivers to tight end Antonio Gates and returning it for a touchdown, leading to a 7-0 Jets lead. It represented Barrett?s biggest impact so far at safety and the first defensive touchdown of his career. He declined to keep the ball, but he promised to keep the next one because ?the second one is always better than the first.? After an off-season in which Barrett wondered if he would stay with the Jets or move to another team, he also figured that knowing how to play safety and cornerback could end up extending his career. EXTRA POINTS Additional help in the secondary arrived Thursday in the form of Hank Poteat, who spent part of 2006 and 2007 with the Jets and recorded his first two career interceptions last year. The Jets waived him after training camp, and Poteat worked out for Denver, St. Louis and Cincinnati before the Jets re-signed him. Poteat has been waived and re-signed frequently during his eight N.F.L. seasons, and he did not play in the 2004 regular season. Asked Thursday how many times he had been waived, Poteat said, ?I know it?s a lot.? ... Quarterback Brett Favre did not appear to be limping as much as earlier in the week during the portion of practice open to the news media. Favre, the team said, ?rolled? his left ankle against the Chargers, but he was expected to play Sunday. ... Eric Mangini said Ben Graham, who was released last week and re-signed after an injury to his replacement, would punt Sunday. Darrelle Revis said the Cardinals? top receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, ranked among the top five in the N.F.L.
It was hysterical when Mike Tirico told us how Barrett looked like a corner on that INT for the TD and then noted he used to be one w/ Arizona:rofl: he was one until about a month or so ago, they really prepare for a broadcast:rofl:
I caught that too!! It was a WTF moment for sure! I have defintely been somewhat impressed with Barrett at Safety. It's still going to take some time, but I think he can do the job very well. Great article abyz..
Just a few of my quotes from the game thread.... On Barrett and after a catch by DKNY.... (That's my sig for him :wink: ) and for the record, I think Barrett has always gotten a bad rap around here but hey, that's the norm. Just add him to the list I guess but IMO, He was always a Solid CB.
The biggest knock on Barrett has been the 10 yard cushions he gives receivers and his high salary. The move to S got rid of both problems. And his PICK6 was a great play last week. I think he's a solid DB at Safety.
Yup, His cushions killed us. Do you guys remember the quick passes they would throw to the WR was that he was covering? It was pretty much and automatic 5 yard gain. Most of us have been wondering how Barrett would do at safety. I think its going to take him some sign to get used to being the QB of defense (Although Doesnt Rhodes call the plays and make adjustments or do both safetys do this?). Once he gets some experience he will do fine. Hes always had a nose for the ball and gets a decent number of Ints each year. They only big thing im worried about him is his tackling. Hes not only going to be on WR's anymore. Hes going to be taking on the RB's alot more now as well as TE's (He should match up well against alot of TE's in the league). Although I do remember him to be pretty solid tackler. What I really like about him is that he took a paycut which means he wants to stay on this team. Hes not starting corner back material but Im hoping that he becomes a starting saftey.
abyzmul has been chanting Barrett for Safety for about 3 years now? Finally he gets it and it seems to be paying him...I sure like him as a tackler, and his speed isn't great, but as a safety that can get masked much better... I like him more than Smith...Now hopefully Rhodes gets that impact play we've been waiting for if Barrett can do his job.
