My head aches...

I read the first sentence and thought "because he can play it."

This D is all about versatility in it's players within the system. Plus, he's actually taken snaps in a ton of roles in the Cardinals system.

I think we'll see him take snaps at DE, ILB, MLB, OLB, and maybe even DT in some packages (Gholston, Pace, Jenkins, Ellis or something).

 

Pace played a little ILB for Arizona last season. If Thomas reverts to 2006 form, and Gholston is the real deal, Pace might work best at ILB for what we need. I don't expect him to play ILB except for in certain packages, primarily pass rushing packages, but he will play some inside.

 

isnt he to big to play ILB

 

He'll play inside to rush the passer. Just give the Offense a few different looks. When Pace, Gholston and BT are all on the field at that same time, you have no idea who is going to go after the QB.

 

I don't think it matters where he plays - he will be asked to do ILB duties and OLB duties, I am sure.

But while we are on the subject, I watched the Cardinals v. Redskins on NFL network and watched Pace exclusively and I liked what i saw. He was aware of the play at all times, he was able to stack and shed linemen, he was able to blow through the FB to get the RB, he hit hard when he got there, showed great athleticism and agility and my favorite: he had contain on one play and the run went through a gap two gaps away, yet he still got off his block, chased the RB down and made a solid - and hard - open field tackle. I was really pleased. They didn't cut him lose and make him a playmaker, but he played really sound, assignment solid football ()as far as I could tell). He did get blown off his feet by a TE on a combo block, but that was the only negative I saw all game and it was really a double team, so maybe it's excusable.

 

The reason you keep seeing people bringing up Pace at ILB is tri-fold ---- 1) because the guy did play the position on various snaps for AZ 2) because of the versatility of the JETS D. and most important -------- 3) because people want to see B. Thomas, C. Pace, D. Harris & V. Gholston playing all together at the same time.
Nobody wants to see B. Thomas sit on the bench in the 2nd year of his extended contract -- nobody wants to see the #6 overall draft sit on the bench ---- & nobody wants to see the JETS bring in a high profile FA w/a lot of guaranteed money to sit on the bench. So we basically have 3 DE/OLBs & only 2 positions to fit them. IMO -- thats why.

 

Get used to the idea -- if you choose to keep track -- that every player will play several positions on the D.

It's the nature of the strategy they will follow.

Misdirection. The offense is being taught to react...and so, lose the initiative.

 

Was that sarcasm?

The player(s) in question will learn 2, maybe 3 positions (ILB,OLB,DE in 4-3 hybrid schemes) but they aren't learning all 7.

 

I don't know how many they will play, NDmick -- but don't be surprised if they confuse the opponent's offense and make them think that Ellis is now a safety, and Rhodes is coming through from the nose position. At the end of the day, the object is that the offense doesn't know what to think, misses most of their blocks, and so gets frustrated and angry.

We aren't counting the beans so much as we are messing up their recognizable patterns, so that some bean gets through no matter what the offense tries.

Sewing the seeds of doubt, confusion, anxiety, and ultimately panic -- this is the point of misdirection defenses, it seems to me.

Offensive lines love order and can't stand chaos. It can be their major strategic weakness.

 

:rofl:

If I see Ellis at safety and Rhodes in Jenkins' spot, I will give you genius status in my signature until they both retire.

 

Now NDmick, I said make the offense think that, not put them there.

When you take a look at that "Mush" line up, can you seriously tell me who the blocking assignments should be?

I have never seen so many offensive linemen shouting and pointing before a play was executed before I saw that "Mush" line up.

 

No I understand you weren't being serious, and I was returning the sarcasm, but hold me to my comment, because if somehow that happens I will keep my word. I Promise

But I agree with the "fun" Mangini and Sutton can have with the personnel. The Jets can easily send stunts that haven't been seen by a Jet team in a long time with the DE/LBs on the roster. In doing so, the DBs will have an easier time doing their job, and a player like Rhodes may finally get the pro bowl nod that he deserves, making him a nationally known threat on our D. Should be good times on D this year.

 

Hey, NDmick! That's what I'm looking forward to also!

Good times on D. In your face for Mr. Brady. On the floor for Beck or Henne! See you next year, Peyton!

 

I have to rely on the coaching staff knowing what they are doing at this point. They certainly did try to radically improve this team in the off-season. One can not fault them for really trying to give it their all.

All, I can say is, it is difficult to please everyone, but lets be happy that our FO aggressively went after improving this club with the combination of multiple signings in FA and the decent draft we had. Look, if we did this year in FA what we did in FA last year, which was nothing, we would all be very worried right now. I think we did have a good draft and I think it serves to augment the talent we acquired during FA.

Anybody who is a fan has to think we are a better team as a result of what has taken place this off-season............I think we are going to have a good year, and if nothing else, we should be a whole lot more competitive than last year. We have a shot at a wildcard - I think that is fair. However, we still have to play good football, and there are no sure things. I think a lot of fans would sign us up fo 7-9 wins and feel pretty confident about it. We see if we can take it to the next level and get into the playoffs.

 

didnt pace play inside in az and have trouble for a year or 2 and then was moved outside last year and had a breakout year? i think i remember hearing that. and in that case it would appear that he is better suited to the outside spot and should play where he is better suited.

then again that doesnt really make a shit worth of difference around here most times.

everyone has a hard on for gholston coming in and playing 80% of the plays and getting 15 sacks this year. i however dont see it happening and see him spelling one of the olbs during games. but hey thats just me what do i know.

i can feel your frustration though, people around here come up with their own ideas and then spread them as the truth and many, like lemmings, follow without question.

and god forbid you do question someone around here you will be lauded and told you are moron, and then the rest of the gang of lemmings will over run you.

 

Alleycat9, I think you were right about Pace with the Cards, but I don't think they really play a defense much like our own which is a 3 - 4 / 4 - 3 hybrid of a defense.

Wherever he plays they (the CS) will try and take advantage of what they see as his strengths.

The fact that he is such a big guy and is fluid as hell (according to the CS) as an athlete will make him versatile in this defense.

I am impressed with his size and with Gholston's size as well as their speed.

It's got to help us. Too often I saw the featherweight Vilma getting blown off by the Big Uglies. We've got to hit back better.

My biggest issue for the defense is stopping the run. That has just killed the NYJs early on in the season (and sometimes later too -- re the Redskins last year).

The key to the LBs I believe is how well Jenkins will be able to dominate the middle of the line of scrimmage.

 

Hmm, I thought this was going to be a hangover thread.

 

Not that i belive that Ellis will play safety, but Adailus Thomas played some Safety in certain Packages for the Ravens.

 

Well couldn't BT play inside as well...he didn't give us much reason to keep him at OLB last season