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Much was made about how the Jets secondary depth was a problem against the New York Giants. Some pointed to the Darrelle Revis holdout. But it’s only fair to point out that they fared very well without him against Carolina.
The secondary played very well.
It probably helped a little that Steve Smith didn’t play and the Panthers don’t even know who their #2 receiver is going to be.
The only shaky plays of note both seemed to involve confusion in the vicinity of Antonio Cromartie.
On the Panthers first series, wide receiver Kenny Moore got behind Cromartie for a 26-yard gain down the right sideline. Cro let him go and looked like he was confused about his assignment. He stayed in the right flat and let Moore run by him. Jim Leonhard came over late to help prevent a much longer gain. If I were to put my money on who was at fault on this play, I’d have to go with Cromartie. Leonhard knows the defense like the back of his hand.
Early in the second quarter, there was coverage confusion on the right side, on a 15-yard reception by wide receiver Brandon LaFell. The pass was completed in Cromartie’s vicinity. Bart Scott came over late to attempt to help out, but the damage was already done. Once again, we are dealing with a player in Scott who has a PHD in this defense, so we would have to learn towards blaiming Cro again.
But this is what the preseason is for, working out to the kinks and learning the systems. Cromartie is still learning the defense.
One impressive aspect of Cromartie’s performance in Charlotte was his tackling. He has been called soft in the past, and he’s clearly trying to display a little more toughness this summer. He had a nice stop on D’Angelo Williams after a short gain in the left flat on the Panthers second possession. He had another nice hit on a second quarter run by Williams around left end for five yards.
Dwight Lowery did some good things. Late in the first quarter, he rocked Kenny Moore on a floated pass by Matt Moore, and jarred the ball loose. He also had a diving PD on a pass to tight end Jeff King over the middle in the third quarter.
The only negative plays for Lowery were on back-to-back snaps. In the middle of the third quarter, he was beat for a gain of eight over the middle by Dwayne Jarrett. Then on the next play he was called for pass interference down the right sideline on a fade route.
On Leonhard’s pick on the Panther’s first series, what helped the safety a great deal was that Kyle Wilson had tremendous coverage on LaFell, and this allowed the safety to just focus on the ball and not the receiver. Wilson didn’t allow LaFell any separation.
James Ihedigbo continues to do some very effective blitzing. A second quarter blitz from the safety led to a screen to Tyrell Sutton going awry.
Another nice outing by Marquice Cole. Late in the second quarter, he covered Moore perfectly down the left seam and knocked the ball away at the last second. Late in the game he had a PD on a quick slant to Moore.
Drew Coleman also played well. On the last play of the first half he had a PD on LaFell, and had a real nice pick on a quick slant to ice the win.
Brian Jackson (pictured) was beat on a quick slant for six yards early in the third by Wallace Wright. Jackson had a nice PD on a quick slant to Moore that ended a late third quarter drive.
Brodney Pool had a couple of nice plays. He dislodged the football from Moore on a crossing route late in the the second quarter, and he had a PD on a hail mary late in the first half.
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