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New Jersey – A look at the loss of Josh Cribbs, and a look at the replacement for Bart Scott in this edition of “News to me.” . . .
In the second quarter of the Jets loss to Miami, Dolphins punt returner Marcus Thigpin, had a 25-yard punt return up the middle, and Josh Cribbs came from the left wing to the center of the field and made a diving one-armed tackle.
And the play ended his season.
The force of a returner going full speed, on one-arm, was too much for his shoulder to take, and it was ripped out of place.
The Jets signed journeyman Darius Reynaud to take his place as a returner. He likely won’t have a role on offense like Cribbs, just as a punt and kick returner. He was a wide receiver in college, but was moved to running back in the NFL.
The New Orleans-native, came out as a junior from West Virginia in 2008, and went undrafted. He was on the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings for most of that season, before being elevated to the regular roster late in the season.
He was also with the Vikings in 2009-2010.
He was traded to the Giants in September of 2011, and spent a year there.
In 2012, he was with the Tennessee Titans, and had a 105-yard kickoff return and two punt return touchdowns.
He was released in early October this year by the Titans after muffing a punt.
He’s not a bad player to be able to sign off the street this time of year.
Reynaud is a pretty talented returner, who has special skills in the open field, and impressive lateral quickness. He’s very good at making people miss.
He’s not just a returning, but can play on kick and punt coverage . . .
So much was made by many, on how the transition from Bart Scott to DeMario Davis at the inside linebacker spot next to David Harris, would help the Jets ILB pass coverage.
It really hasn’t.
Davis has been a good player going downhill, in the box as a run stuffer, but in coverage, he’s been pedestrian.
Against Miami, he did a poor job of covering tight end Charles Clay, who finished with seven catches for 80 yards, an 11.4 yard average.
Not all these catches were on Davis, but a lot them where.
Davis is average in coverage because his instincts are middle-of-the-road, and he has stiff hips, so doesn’t change directions smoothly to follow targets around.
Danny Lansanah, a linebacker on the practice squad out of UConn, is a very good ILB in coverage.
They should promote him and give him some reps as a coverage linebacker.
This probably isn’t going to happen, because they aren’t that into competition, but he definitely could help him.
Lansanah was really good in coverage this summer, and had 10 interceptions during his career at UConn, which is pretty darn good for a linebacker.
I’m not saying bench Davis – no way.
But since the Jets are thin at outside linebacker, give Davis more reps there. He actually does play there at times. Since he’s better playing forward, than going backwards, playing some outside linebacker, mainly playing down hill, makes sense . . .
December 3, 2013
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