By Tom Rock
I’m holding back and reserving judgment on the 3-4 defense this preseason. True, the fact that Jonathan Vilma has not recorded a tackle in two games is a little scary.
But it occurs to me that, just as the Jets are holding back about 50 percent of their offensive playbook, they might be doing the same with defense. Mangini has had an entire off-season to figure out ways to get Vilma free – and remember, he was pretty active in the first preseason game against the Falcons (when he was credited with one whole tackle). I wouldn’t be surprised to see Vilma have a very big day on Sept. 9 when he’s sprung loose through a series of stunts and gadget coverages. He’s too good of a player to be handcuffed by the system.
That said, if things don’t turn around for Vilma against the Pats, or at least early in the regular season, it may be time to reconsider. And by reconsider I mean figure out if the Jets want to keep Vilma or the 3-4. It’s difficult to find the logic in a system that neutralizes some of the best players on the defense (Vilma, Robertson, Ellis) in order to make Bryan Thomas a playmaker.
Comments (12)
Tom, I couldn't agree more. I was saying this last year when Mangini first talked about instituting the 3-4 - it made no sense when Vilma, Robertson and Ellis don't fit the system. Now a year later people are finally talking about it. Isn't the trademark of a great coach someone who tailors a system to take advantage of his talent, rather than vice-versa?
I fear that Vilma becomes the next James Farrior and Hugh Douglas - lest we forget they were also dumped because they didn't fit the systems at the time. Both went on to play in Super Bowls and Pro Bowls, and the Jets still haven't had a real pass rush since the Sack Exchange roamed the earth.
I agree too, but you've gotta leave Shaun Ellis off the list of guys who are "neutralized" by the 3-4. Ellis was easily the Jets' best defensive lineman last year, combining the best aspects of a 3-4 DE (holding his ground and occupying 2 blockers) and a 4-3 DE (collapsing the pocket and pressuring the QB). Right now, he's the best lineman we have.
Tom, Do you know what other linemen might potentially become available for the guard spot? Like who's on the bubble for other teams... Or, maybe a serviceable guard who's just retired... Hasn't Lomas Brown been around? I know he was a tackle, but maybe he'll play LG for a season???
Lomas Brown? The guy is 44 years old.
How exactly are DeWayne Robertson and Jonathan Vilma "playmakers" ? Robertson has done very little in the league in terms of sacks and TFLs, even when he was next to Jason Ferguson in his dominant 2004 season. Vilma ? What has he done in the NFL except make a bunch of tackles 5+ yards downfield ? According to DVOA, the Jets were worst in the NFL in run defense in 2006 - must be the 3-4 scheme, not playing to the strengths of your best players, right ? Wrong. Because they were also worst in the league in 2005 playing in Donnie Henderson's "aggressive, attacking, multi-front 4-3 scheme". Maybe it's time to start considering the possibility that Jonathan Vilma isn't nearly as good as Jet fans make him out to be. And that, not the scheme, is the primary reason why the Jets cannot stop the run.
It's hard to argue that Vilma isn;t that good when (1) he won DROY in 2004; and (2) led the league in tackles in 2005.
It's easy to argue that Vilma isn't good when (1) the DROY award only implies you're the best defensive rookie (which means the nation's sports writers believe he's better than Dunta Robinson..great) and (2) tackles is one of the most overrated statistics in the NFL. How many of those tackles are 5+ yards downfield ? Most of them. Those are not impact plays. Farrior racked up a bunch of tackles for the Jets in 2001, on yet another horrible run defense.
(1)Being the best defensive rookie, when that group includes over 100 players is prima facie evidence of being ahigh-quality player;
(2)Regarding the tackles, it really doesn't matter whether they were made 5, 15, 30, or 50 yards down the field. Why? Because the fact of the matter is that when a player makes a tackle--ANY tackle--it's b/c the other 10 players on the field weren't able to get there before him.
If a tackle is made 15 yards down the field, should we dismiss the play as unimportant simply because it took place 15 yards down the field? Or should we ask HOW MUCH LONGER the run would have been had it not been for that tackle? If a gifted player turns what would have beem a 50-yard gain into a 15-yard gain, that's a great play.
Accordingly, it's reasonably inferrable that if you're getting to the ball carrier more often than anyone else in the league, you're pretty damn good.
*rw
Re: Farrior
The guy has been considered one of the top 10 linebackers in the league for the last five years.
I don't think that fact that Lomas Brown is that old matters if he would be the best person to play guard that we can get. haha.
1) If you put it that way -better than every other defensive rookie - it sounds impressive. But he was what, the 5th defensive player drafted ? Right smack in the middle of a loaded defense against a cupcake schedule ? He certainly was setup for success. Look at how Sam Cowart performed at the MLB spot the first two games before suffering an injury.
2) I am not "knocking" Vilma for making those tackles 5 and 10+ yards downfield. Of course you want to prevent longer gains. But I am not going to accept those kinds of tackles as evidence that he is a big-time LB. Being the fastest defender on an awful defense does not make you a terrific player.
And in 2005, the Jets faced the most rushing attempts against in the NFL. Thus, Vilma had the most opportunities to make tackles. He was the starting MLB on the team. They were not good against the run, they were worst in the league. So why should I give him credit for that season ? They didn't stop the run as a team and they weren't a good defense. Yet I'm supposed to ignore all that and just fall in line with the rest of the Jets fans thinking "Vilma's a star" because some people voted him to the Pro Bowl after racking up a bunch of tackles ? The Pro Bowl last year had Tony Romo but not Tom Brady - that tells me all I need to know about the Pro Bowl.