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Will LaRon Landry missing so much time in the spring hurt his ability to learn the defense?
Rex Ryan was asked this question on Thursday.
“Do I think he’s going to struggle picking up our defense when training camp rolls around if he’s healthy enough to get out there and strong enough to play? No, I don’t,” Ryan said. “But he’s got a playbook and all that kind of stuff. Guys learn differently.”
“Safety LaRon Landry has not shown up for OTAs, but Ryan isn’t worried about him falling behind on the defense,” wrote Bob Glauber in Newsday.
What do you expect Rex to say, “Yes, I’m very worried about Landry picking up the system – he needs to be here?”
It’s preposterous for anybody to think Rex is happy that his potential starting safety isn’t in Florham Park, at OTA’s, learning the system.
Rex’s defense isn’t easy, and Landry has never played in it before.
A new safety in this system needs every rep he can get in the spring, or at the very least, every moment of class room time possible.
“Guys learn differently.” Well, having a guy study on his own in Arizona, and without the assistance of secondary coaches Dennis Thurman and Jim O’Neil, isn’t an ideal learning environment.
So no, this isn’t ideal, but the Jets knew that Landry likes to train in Arizona, when they signed him. He did the same while in Washington.
Also, the condition of Landry’s Achilles is a mystery. So the fact that he’s not learning the system in Florham Park, might be a moot point.
When you hear Mike Tannenbaum speak about Landry, you get the sense even he’s not convinced this is going to work out. They Jets are taking a wait-and-see approach.
They rolled the dice on this one. The Jets have an excellent medical staff headed by Dr. Ken Montgomery. Obviously “Monty,” the other doctors, and trainer John “Unchained” Mellody feel that Landry can get his Achilles right without surgery.
If not, Tannenbaum would not have signed him to a one-year deal for $4 million.
But remember, if he’s not on the roster for opening day, he’s not seeing this money, so it’s not like the Jets flushed dollars down the toilet.
As you know by now, one of the reasons the Washington Redskins didn’t re-sign Landry after last season is that he refuses to go under the knife. They don’t think rehab is the answer for this particular injury.
But with all of this being said, the Jets did a great job of getting Yeremiah Bell to pick them over the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.
What a great insurance policy!
Bell is already making his presence felt on the practice field, as a player and leader. There is no way around it – the guy is a good football player, a pro’s pro.
With Landry’s future up-in-air, Bell is a godsend for the Jets.
And if Landry can’t go in August, don’t be shocked if Rex Ryan favorite Jim Leonhard re-enters the picture.
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