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East Rutherford – The issues with the Jets’ run defense are pretty easy to figure out. Let’s put it under the microscope. Here goes.
First off all, I’m telling you, Sione Pouha’s back is still a mess.
He’s a shell of himself right now.
He’s a warrior so he’s giving it his best shot, but had a bulging disc all summer, so do you really think it is honky dory right now. No way.
Pouha is an outstanding run defender, but today he was a sieve.
After the game, according to a league source, he was getting extensive treatment in the training room at the stadium on his back.
And when he left the locker room, it looked like he had a heating pad, or some kind of device, under his shirt and on his back.
Let’s be honest, 33-year -old nose tackles, with bad backs, are not going to do you much good in a 3-4 defense.
I feel bad for him. He’s a heck of a guy, but he’s in bad shape right now.
Here are some other issues with the run defense.
Quinton Coples is a liability against the run, so when we saw him today on the goal line defense, that was astonishing. He should be nowhere near the field right now on the goal line – that is where you use the big, stout fellas. The 280-pound Coples, who needs to get bigger and stronger, isn’t particularly stout right now.
On a Frank Gore TD run, Coples was pushed back on skates by RT Anthony Davis.
Another problem is Kenrick Ellis. He gives you great effort – his motor is outstanding, but he has lead feet. Watching the Dolphins run defense last week, you saw a bunch of athletic big guys like Jared Odrick, Paul Soliai, Randy Starks – guys with great size, quick feet who are mobile.
Ellis lumbers. He does not have dancing bear feet.
So when you combine Pouha’s back, and Ellis’s limited mobility, the Jets have major issues at nose tackle right now. And when you have major issues at nose tackle in the 3-4 defense, it’s going to greatly impair you ability to stop the run.
As for linebacker, David Harris and Bart Scott are tough guys, but they are not great in space, and this does not just manifest itself in coverage. When they face a quick running back who gets to the edge, they often have issues with cut backs. You saw that a lot today. Harris, in particular, missed a lot of tackles.
The Jets should bring back Jay Richardson, an athletic 3-4 end, but I just don’t think they will spend the money on a fourth-year minimum saolar. You just get the sense they are pulling in the purse strings.
Why is Revis not on IR yet? Honestly, he’s not coming back in January. Why risk his bright future rushing him back from an ACL injury? One writer speculated today that the Jets are going to wait a few weeks here, so they don’t have to play another salary on top of Revis’. Remember, Revis gets paid his $7.5 million whether he’s on IR or the roster. So as long as you are paying him, and you keep him on the roster, you don’t have to pay another guy to take up the 53rd spot.
One other thing on the run defense. It’s time to give Damon Harrison a shot – he’s an athletic 330-pound nose tackle who plays hard. Sione and Kenrick need some help.
September 30, 2012
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