"“No matter what occupation you’re in, you want to be allowed to have the freedom to be yourself and not be a robot,” Scott said. “Nobody wants to be a robot. If that’s the case, we can go play Madden.”" Scott is the inspirational leader that Favre was supposed to be but never was.
I don't mind the freedom of speech and individual identity but don't let it distract the philosophy of "team first". A defense in the NFL needs all components thinking the same way with a common goal. It's looking like the goal is to be the best defense in the league. If Rex can keep the defense focused on being the best in the league while the players have their fun and freedoms, he will sure garner my respect and admiration.
I just hope that Rex isn't such a player's coach that he forgets to instill discipline. It's great that they are having fun and all, but they better be working hard. I'm a Jets fan, it's my nature to expect the worst.
One of the knocks on Ryan from the Raven days was that he encouraged an "Us vs Them" atmosphere between the defensive unit and the offense in Baltimore. Supposedly when Harbaugh came in last year that was the main thing he told Ryan to change.
I'm just really excited to see what this defense will look like when we get on the field. Having a top defense is something we've always wanted here but never seem to be able to obtain.
Lot's of defensive minded coaches do this. If you want to have a "nasty" defense, they need to be nasty ALL the time, and that includes practice. I've coached with a couple of people that believed in this theory. Creates a ton of fights in practice, I can attest to that! I think it's 50/50 on whether it works or not. It does help to carry that aggression into games though.
I think the last time we had a top Defense was in 2004. I think we were ranked somewhere in the Top 10 under Donnie Henderson. I remember that season and we were pretty nasty.
We were pretty nasty that year. Its interesting to note that we used a very similar style that year to what we are going to use this year. ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!! (Henderson also worked for Rex Ryan before coming here)
Jets excited about new attacking 'D' Thursday, June 4, 2009 http://www.northjersey.com/sports/jets/46872152.html BY J.P. PELZMAN NorthJersey.com STAFF WRITER FLORHAM PARK — Ravens North has become a catchphrase since coach Rex Ryan arrived here in January, followed by several of his former defensive players from Baltimore. But one of those players doesn’t believe that label will stick. "I think this defense is looking to set up its own identity," linebacker Bart Scott said Wednesday after the 10th of the Jets’ 11 organized team activity practices. "In a little while we’ll stop even mentioning the Baltimore word. It will be the New York Jets’ swagger [and] style. [Baltimore] was just a reference point because that’s where we started at." The defense Ryan brought from Baltimore, where he was coordinator for the past four seasons, is much more of an attacking one than the read-and-react one favored by former coach Eric Mangini. It often has caused havoc for the offense during the spring. "No matter what occupation you’re in, you want to be allowed to have the freedom to be yourself and not be a robot," Scott said. "Nobody wants to be a robot. If that’s the case, we can go play Madden." Nose tackle Kris Jenkins, who thrived in last season’s scheme until injuries hampered him down the stretch, said Wednesday that he didn’t think Mangini should’ve been fired, but made it clear he’s on board with his successor. "I think that everybody from [owner] Woody Johnson to [general manager] Mike Tannenbaum and everybody that was involved made probably one of the best decisions currently that they could’ve made for the Jets as far as moving forward," he said. "I really think that them selecting [Ryan] was better than getting this facility built. "It’s not a situation where I’m going to slight my old coach or put him down," Jenkins added. "At the same time, I’m going to give credit where credit’s due. Rex is a heck of a football coach. ... He doesn’t make football hell. Some coaches believe football’s hell, some coaches don’t. He’s one of those coaches that don’t. We love those type of coaches." Safety Kerry Rhodes wasn’t in the locker room Wednesday, but he put on his Twitter account this week this boast — "We will be the best defense in the league this year!!!" "I’m excited about that comment," said Ryan, who appreciated the fact that Rhodes wasn’t touting himself, but the defense as a whole. Scott said, "I think we’re going to be a force." BRIEFS: Running back Leon Washington was excused from practice. His fianc?e, Charity Young gave birth Wednesday morning to the couple’s first child, a son, Noel. ... Running back Thomas Jones practiced, but again wasn’t available during the time media members were allowed in the locker room. ... Linebacker David Harris will be sidelined for the rest of the spring after suffering a cut lip and having some teeth loosened during a collision last week. E-mail: pelzman@northjersey.com
