“He Became A Top Flight Corner” | Baldy’s Breakdown: D.J. Reed | The New York Jets | NFL

Appreciate that from a Seahawks fan

Your a stand a guy for that comment

@Jonathan Sanchez dude are you really still talking about Hamilton at this point?? Come on bruh…

@THE BOSS — YES!… Now we’re cooking with gas! That tandem opposite each other, would unlock the Jets defense… And allow whatever pass-rush the Jets are able to muster through their other picks, or free agency, to flourish.

@blacksnakemagic Neither guy is Revis or even Cromartie. The league doesn’t allow defenders much room for contact without calling penalties. Even the best defenders in coverage eventually get beat when multiple receivers are running 4.3 speed. As league offenses evolved, so did defenses. The response has been the Cover 3 defense to prevent deep threats and force the QBs into as difficult of options as possible. To run this D successfully, only 4 guys on the DLine pressure the QB and contain the OLine run blocks. That allows the D to have +1 in the box (one extra guy) and as many defenders in the secondary as possible in disguised zones. Check how many drafted and UDFAs the Jets acquired the last two seasons who have high percentiles in the 40 or verticals. Intelligent, high end athletes who are truly committed to ball can be coached into great players.

The other advantages this D offers Saleh and Douglas is that the roster can focus most assets (draft capital and cap space) on the D line. The LBs and Secondary become interchangeable and thus more affordable. Instead of investing more assets in these positions, quantity is favored over quality. The difference between an elite CB and Safety is typically dependent on reps. There are “unicorns” as Saleh said (Aaron Donald) but most cases it’s guys coached up making plays.

Unfortunately players get injured. Say a team invests a lot banking on a CB then gets injured. That D is at a major loss! If the team instead focuses on investing in fewer position groups; DLine, and rotates those players in every game, they prevent injury risks when players are fatigued, increase the ability of success for their less talented defensive player going at full strength against a tired opponent (DLine attacking in Waves!), and allow depth players to step up as quickly and seamlessly as possible if an injury occurs.

Saleh came in last year with as perfected a strategy for success in this league as possible. Forget the 1st draft with Douglas, Joe D gets blame but he drafted in partnership with Gase. Saleh and his coaches advised the scouts to find “their guys” (awesome article by Connor Hughes in The Athletic discusses this). Invest most assets on the Lines, QB, and WRs. The Ravens have done this, SF, and Eagles have done this and are all successful. Maccagnan had valued all positions as basically equal and drafted Jamal, who is a good player but not worth that pick. He’s not one of the best Safeties since he was traded, and that position didn’t save the Jets money while he was on the roster. Teams maximize value by drafting QBs, WRs, OT, DE in the 1st to have for 5 years at reasonable cost before they reach big money in FA.

This could absolutely fail as anything has some risk but I believe in what Joe D and Saleh have stated and then acted on to follow it up! I guess if they should draft out of their norm; CB and Safety, the dudes must be almost guaranteed “unicorns” of say Ed Reed and Revis. If not, look at the Ds in Seattle and SF where later round D players in the secondary excelled playing in this Cover 3 system. IMO, Jermaine Johnson at 4 and Jameson Williams seem most likely to be selected if available because of their skill, higher upside, and scheme fit for the Jets. That’s even if guys like Kayvon or Walker are available. WR seems like Jameson was the Top WR until the injury but will be fine to contribute early on. Wilson and London could be options but I think Williams elite deep threat (like Tyreek Hill) sets him apart.

My apologies for this rant. I’ve consumed most of the content out there relating to the Jets to distract me from Covid and world events the last couple of years. Thank G-d my NY Rangers are successful to also distract me! I’ve fully adopted the All Gas, No Break mantra! Good things are coming for the Jets and this fanbase!