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When you look at what he said, there is a double-meaning to his statements if you evaluate the situation closely.
The Jets’ new outside linebacker coach Kevin Greene, during his press briefing at the Jets’ recent veteran minicamp, made some statements about he expects from the players at his position.
“Everybody at this level has skill, correct?” Greene said. “They’re all athletic, and agility and dexterity and all that stuff. Well, what separates people initially is their physical level of play. That’s always our first step, is we have to play more physical than whoever is in front of us, because we’re all athletic.
“[Mauldin] understands that. Zo and all my kids, they’re going to be more physical players than they have been in the past. I think the sky is limit the for all my kids. I’m teaching my kids technique and fundamentals not based on athletic ability and skill. It’s based on physicality. It’s based on drive and desire.”
No question, they need to be more physical. So it’s smart for Greene to push his guys to be more physical. But there is another reason he needs to play the “physical” card.
Because the Jets don’t have a Von Miller or Justin Houston-type pass rusher who is consistently going to take the edge with great quickness and speed. They just don’t. So they have get pressure and sacks with physicality.
Guys like Mauldin and Jordan Jenkins are 4.8-4.9 forty guys who don’t have dynamic first step quickness. They both have good motors, but they just don’t scare many offensive tackles.
Jets fifth round pick Dylan Donahue has short arms and small hands.
Hey, it’s hard to find dynamic edge-rushers who consistently beat one-on-one blocks. So many high draft picks, expected to be those kind of guys, flame out.
So to me, Green is just dealing with the hand he was dealt.
Hey, pushing your players to be more physical is always a good thing in football. And Greene should be able to get this done because he’s a great motivator and has so much credibility with his players, considering he made the Hall-of-Fame at their position.
But he also needs to push the angle because of the group he currently has.
They need to win being physical because none of them are freakish edge rushers.
And with all the talent the Jets have inside with Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams, if these guys play very, very physical and with their hair on fire, sacks will come to them, due to all the attention the guys on the interior demand
I definitely expect more from the Jets’ outside linebacker group this year, than last year.
I think Greene will get a little more out of them than the team’s former outside linebacker coach, Mark Collins.
Collin is a solid coach, and was hired by Jacksonville after the Jets didn’t renew his contract, but he really didn’t have a lot of experience coaching 3-4 outside linebackers. He’s more of a 4-3 linebacker coach, the position he now holds in Jacksonville.
Greene knows more about coaching 3-4 outside linebackers (the position he played and then coached in Green Bay).
June 27, 2017
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