DEWAYNE' WORLD NOSE TACKLE'S REBIRTH HAS JETS SNIFFING PLAYOFFS By ANDREW MARCHAND December 22, 2006 -- When ESPN's Merril Hoge watches videos from around the league, he focuses on uniform numbers, not names. Early in the season, when Hoge studied the Jets defense, time after time he would see No. 63 double-teamed and blown off the ball. With No. 63 expunged, the Jets run defense had more holes than a spaghetti strainer. Now, though, largely because of No. 63, the Jets are not only in position to defend the run, they are in position to make a run at the playoffs. Watch for him Christmas Night when the Jets take on the Dolphins. Of all the presents the Jets' jolly Santa Claus, Eric Mangini, has put under the tree, the biggest - and perhaps the most important - is imparting the knowledge on No. 63, Dewayne Robertson, to make him an effective nose tackle. The No. 4 pick in the 2003 draft is starting to show on the field what jumped off those old Kentucky tapes. "He has probably made one of the most significant improvements in football," Hoge said. "We probably wouldn't highlight that on SportsCenter, but he is a guy I've watched a lot and he is a guy who has made a huge improvement on defense.'' Hoge looks at the overhead video of each week's game, just as the coaches do. Coming out of Kentucky, Robertson was supposed to be Warren Sapp without the motor mouth. Robertson, at 6-foot-1, 317 pounds, would fit snugly inside Herman Edwards' 4-3 defensive scheme. He would sack the quarterback and play the run. Instead, Robertson never really stood out. He made a play every once in a while, but not enough to be noticed. When Mangini and his 3-4 came in, there was even thought that Robertson wouldn't fit into the Jets' plans. "He was asked to play a position that he has never played before,'' Hoge said. Mangini's 3-4 isn't a classic 3-4 because it often has four down linemen. Either way, so much of the scheme is predicated on what Robertson does. "The job for that guy is to constantly take on double teams and to occupy people,'' Hoge said. "People were running right down their throats at the beginning of the year. They have changed that.'' Monday, Jets at Dolphins 8:30 p.m. ESPN, WWOR-9 http://www.nypost.com/seven/12222006/sports/jets/dewayne_world_jets_andrew_marchand.htm
First it take 5 guys to block him, now he is a media darling. What could be next? Hackettstillsux giving him credit?
He has played very well over the last few weeks for sure. I wouldn't call him a pro-bowler or anything yet, but he is the main reason our D has been a lot better lately.
I think a lot of it has to do with the offseason program being more rigorous. I haven't seen our guys with their hands on their hips after two series like I have in the past. Cardio conditioning for a guy like DRob could go a long way towards making them a more consistent force.
Agreed ETR, camp herm definitely didn't do anythin for his wind...and it seems as he goes, so does the run D, i think once we get pouha back to spell him our run D and pass rush will improve greatly, oh yeah and find a replacement for oldhoffen (that bitch just came here to take our dough and doesnt give a fizuk, honorable mention to ellis who got his dough and still has heart...that pouha combo along with a new DE will also bring JV back to greatness...you watch!
I'm still hesitant to hype him because in years past he has looked absolutely unf'nstopable and then folded later on. Yeah, new position and what not, but not much consistency yet again. I'll wait until next year before I pass judgment.
Okay so what has Pouha done to think he will have ever contribute for this team? I don't think you get why they brought in Kimo. He's not a great player he never was. He was brought here because he understands that position and he is a hard worker and a very good technique player. He's just a bridge until they are able to draft and develop players. But having a guy like Kimo is huge for implementing the 3-4. He's not going to blow up many plays but I can assure you that most LT's hate playing against him. Also in case you've noticed Shaun Ellis is not having a good year. And he got a bonus of over 15 million and how many sacks does he have since then in almost 2 full years? I think less then 10. I'd much rather have a guy like Kimo who isn't making that much but gives 100% on every play and has great technique. Ideally going forward I would like to see Robertson playing RE and bring in some huge fat guy to play nose tackle. Then you would have Robertson, fat guy and Ellis in the base d. On passing downs you could shift Robertson into the middle. But ideally to run a 3-4 you need 5 or 6 solid 290+ d lineman. The Steelers would have resigned Kimo if they didn't have Brett Keisel waiting in the wings.
Didn't D-Rob starting having bad knee problems at the very beginning of last season? .... I just hope those don't crop up again, he's still very young and has a bright future........
If you think Kimo is having a better season then Ellis, you are absolutely crazy. Not only does Ellis come up with timely sacks, he fills the gap excellently. Go back and watch some game film. Kimo cannot fill a hole for shit, regardless of what you may think. Ellis has been our most consistant defensive lineman up until this point and you're crazy if you think otherwise. Last year was a down year, but the guy has five sacks in a 3-4 defense where all he's supposed to do is plug gaps. Performances like Robertson has had recently makes me wonder how different of a player he would've been with a coach like Parcells his first couple years. Not only does Parcells coach nose tackles excellently, but he seems to know how to put players into another gear, which it seems like Mangini has as well.
Thinking the same thing.. Correct me if I'm wrong but, You only use the ' when the persons name ends in and s in place of the normally used 's to describe possesive.. Then again, It's the Media. What the fk do they know?
I didn't say I would rather have Kimo. I said at the current cost per player Kimo is a better player to have. Ellis might be doing a decent job but he's not playing at a high level and it wasn't until Robertson starting playing well that the defense clicked. Ellis is a very talented player who except for brief moments and his contract year has never reached his potential. I'm glad he's playing better but at his cost and the way people talk about him like he's a top level end he didn't do anything last year and this year he hasn't done anything that has me saying wow this is the long term LE in this defense. Thanks for calling me absolutely crazy, much appreciation. 5 sacks for someone getting a bonus of over $15 million is not cutting it. And I'm aware that we do play a 3-4 and how his role changes but they have had plenty of pass rushing situations with 4 lineman and he still only has 5 sacks. If he was so good all year how come no one talks about him for the pro bowl? No one talks about him having a good year on the board, no one in the media talks about him at all. I very rarely see his number around the ball. And don't tell me it's because he plays end in a 3-4. Richard Seymour and Aaron Smith both play the same position and both have made the pro bowl. Smith had 10 sacks one season. The bottom line is that Ellis may be able to fill his gap but once a tackle gets engaged on him he's pretty much useless. And for someone with his contract he should be a much better player.
I think your looking at stats to much there is alot more he is doing that are not showing in the stats, 3-4 is just not a stat friendly scheme for the DL. The d-line just needs to hold the line, and occupy the blockers to let the linebackers do the work.
I would agree with you that stats are not as important with defensive ends in a 3-4 but as I stated earlier the jets in passing situations have usually used 4 down lineman and multiple fronts. The bottom line is that whatever front ellis has been in the last 2 seasons he has not consistently put pressure on the qb in passing situations and thats what he was paid to do. As a 3-4 end he has been solid against the run but like I said until Robertson started causing problems the defense was awful and that clearly falls on the defensive line. And I'll say this about Kimo, while he is not anything more then an average nfl player with great technique he did benefit from having one of the best nose tackles in football Casey Hampton taking up blockers next to him for the last few years in Pittsburgh. When a 3-4 defense does not have a great nose tackle the ends are always going to have a tough time. As I said next year I would like to see Ellis at LE, a big fat NT and Robertson at RE keep kimo for depth since having 5 or 6 down lineman is so important. I am not saying I dislike Shaun Ellis, I am saying that for what he is being paid he is not worth it and that if he continues to not be able to get pressure on a qb that they will have to go in another direction since you can't pay a guy that much money unless he is a differece maker and as of right now he is not a difference maker.
