Good players in bad positions
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- November
- 29
I want to address a point that a couple of commenters touched on after Debbie’s post. That is, defensive players who’s production is dampened by the position they play. The Jets have a few guys who aren’t being maximized because they’re in schemes not meant for them.
Vilma is the most glaring example. We know he has a ton of ability. He was probably their best defender as a rookie when he won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Jets were going to build around him, both as a defense and a marketing tool. When he took a step back under Mangini we figured he was just adjusting to the 3-4 defense. But he never seemed to adjust as the year went on, and hadn’t made any strides during the handful of games he played this year before a mystery knee ended his season. Maybe he’d have fit in given more time. More likely, we are never going to see the old Vilma as long as Mangini uses a 3-4.
Then there’s DeWayne Robertson playing an undersized defensive tackle. He’s one of a couple of undersized guys on that front line. The Jets need more meat up there. I’m tired of seeing people open up holes on the front three when all over the league there are big immovable monsters playing nose tackle. Robertson, and Shaun Ellis too, would benefit from a different system where they aren’t asked to do so much grunt work against big O-lineman.
So what should the Jets do? Is it a coach’s responsibility to adapt his system for the talent? Or does the plan supercede the individuals because they come and go? If so, what do you do about guys like Vilma wasting their talent on a position they don’t play especially well? Trade them? Keep them and accept the lowered production?
This entry was posted
on Thursday, November 29th, 2007 at 5:34 am by Jake Thomases.
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Jane McManus 
Doesnt matter with Vilma, he is done, at least as a Jet.
Vilma was too small coming out of college, according to most scouts, to play middle LB in the NFL regardless of system. Never a big hitter, his strenght was running down ball carryers in open space.
He showed promise making a ton of tackles in year one with Abraham on fire and Ferguson in the middle and the NY press made him into a superstar. If he played in TN no one would have noticed.
In year 2, the Jets were last in the league in every defensive category while playing a 4-3. He failed to impact.
A great player in the wrong system will still make plays, just not as many as he may make in the correct system. Vilma has not made an impact play since his rookie season, for whatever reason.
He is overrated, and wrong for this system in any case. A good front office would have recognized this and proactively traded him when he had value. Instead they waited too long and will get little or nothing for him.
DRob is a completely different case. He makes plays. Has been doing so in the 3-4, just inconsistantly. He has been defensive player of the week a few times. He might be pro bowl worthy in a 4-3.
Some claim because he is small and can not handle the full time load in this system. The last few weeks he has played much better when being spelled by Mosely and/or Pouha so there may be hope for him with this team. There had better be because he is not movable with his contract.
To answer the question, if the allegedly great defensive tackle is available with their high pick, they should seriously consider taking him and changing to a 4-3.
With DRob, Ellis, Coleman and Mosely rotating they would be very tough. Harris would play the middle, with Barton reverting to his true position outside and someone new that can rush the passer at the other LB position.
Vilma has seen his last play in green and white, regardless, so he does not enter the discussion.
I think the answer with Vilma should have been pretty easy (though, like Wayne, I think he is done). The Jets linebacking corp could have been awesome with Harris in the middle and Vilma on the outside, where he could have actually utilized his best assets to maximum advantage.
I’ve noticed that the jets freqently have 4 down lineman. I’d like to see it charted how often they have 3, vs 4 down lineman in a typical game, considering all the talk about how the jet players don’t fit the 3-4.
Basically, I think its mostly hype. Players have to make plays regardless of the specific call, or overall defensive scheme. At the beginning of the year Chris Russo (WFAN) said something I thought was bs..and that was that the Jets just don’t have enough playmakers, but it turns out he was right on the money. Kerry Rhodes hasn’t had nearly the impact he had last year in the very same defense.
Jets need to be aggressive and overpay in free agency and get big time talent!
Wayne
O disagree. You say most scouts felt he was too small. yet virtualy everyone had him going in the top of round 1. He was the Rookie Defensiuve MVP and made the Pro Bowl the next year.He led the entire NFL in tackles When the Ravens didnt have beef up front Ray Leiws suffered big big time. Vilma will follow the long standing JEt tradition of going to another team andand becoming a reg at the Pro Bowl
At any given time a coaching staff needs to be able to put the players on their team in the best possible position to succeed. Its one thing to build a team to your specifications, but until you get there you need to do the best you can with the players you have. It doesn’t seem to me that this coaching staff has been doing that. For the time being, I’m willing to give them a free pass since they are rebuilding from scratch. Herm didn’t leave much! Trading Vilma and Chad, both of whom I really like, for players/draft picks might be helpful to get the team where they are trying to get. A rebuilding program should last 3-4 years, and we’re already done with year 2.
Greg, it’s kind of chicken and egg, so while i agree it is up to the coaches to put the players where they can succeed, it is the responsibility of the front office to get players that fit the system.
Mangini was brought in specifically to run the Patriot 3-4 and the front office has failed to get him 3-4 players. They made some moves yes, but have been way too slow to clean out the 4-3 players.