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LaRon Landry has a lot of talent. When a safety is picked sixth overall in a draft that says a lot – you don’t see safeties picked that high very often.
He is a 6-0, 220-pound safety who, get this, ran a 4.37 forty at the combine.
That is incredible speed for a safety. There isn’t a safety in this draft that comes close to that time.
The Jets signed Landry to a one-year contract for around $4 million, today.
A one-year contract is the way to go with his player. He is coming off a couple of seasons where injuries really took their toll on him.
And it’s doubtful he still runs 4.37, considering the Achilles tendon injury that has been bothering him the last two years.
The Redskins wanted him to have surgery, and he doesn’t want to do it. The rehab coming off Achilles surgery is long and arduous.
The Jets clearly agree with Landry, that he can still play without having the surgery.
Landry is a big-time hitter, and this is probably one of the reasons he’s been so injury prone the last couple of years. He can be his own worse enemy.
Last year alone, he dealt with a hamstring, a groin, the aforementioned Achilles problem, and according to one source close to the Redskins, he had a wrist issue last season as well.
The Jets are gambling, that with their excellent training staff, and state-of-the-art training room (they have every bell and whistle you can imagine to help players stay healthy), they can keep Landry on the field.
And he is only 27, so he’s still at an age where his body can bounce back quickly from ailments.
We know he will help their run defense with his size and tackling ability, but here is the big question – will he help the Jets cover tight ends better?
You talk to people around the Redskins, and they are a little hesitant to say he will. They say he’s best served playing close to the line.
“He’s best as an in the box strong safety,” said the source close to the Redskins. “He’s okay in coverage, but it’s not his strength.”
The Jets clearly disagree. Eric Smith is another safety best served playing in the box, so why would the Jets sign another player with a similar skill set? They need a dynamic coverage safety with great range.
And they think Landry is that guy.
Hey, even if he lost a stop off 4.37, and runs 4.47, he’s still faster than most safeties.
It’s hard to argue with this signing, especially since it’s a one-year contract.
And don’t think for a second the Jets are done safety shopping. Expect another one to be added in the draft.
If Alabama’s Mark Barron is able to run before the draft, and runs well, he certainly will pique the Jets interest at 16.
Because remember, even with Landry and Smith as the starting safeties now, Smith is best served being the third safety and core special teams player.
So if the Jets pick Barron, they could slowly move Smith back into that role.
And can you imagine a Landry-Barron safety combo? That would be as good as it gets in the NFL.
LaRon Landry has a lot of talent. When a safety is picked sixth overall in a draft that says a lot – you don’t see safeties picked that high very often.
He is a 6-0, 220-pound safety who, get this, ran a 4.37 forty at the combine.
That is incredible speed for a safety. There isn’t a safety in this draft that comes close to that time.
The Jets signed Landry to a one-year contract for around $4 million, today.
A one-year contract is the way to go with his player. He is coming off a couple of seasons where injuries really took their toll on him.
And it’s doubtful he still runs 4.37, considering the Achilles tendon injury that has been bothering him the last two years.
The Redskins wanted him to have surgery, and he doesn’t want to do it.
The Jets clearly agree with Landry, that he can still play without having the surgery.
Landry is a big-time hitter, and this is probably one of the reasons he’s been so injury prone the last couple of years.
Last year alone, he dealt with a hamstring, a groin, the aforementioned Achilles problem, and according to one source close to the Redskins, he had a wrist issue last year.
The Jets are gambling, that with their excellent training staff, and state-of-the-art training room (they have every bell and whistle you can imagine to help players stay healthy), they can keep Landry on the field.
And he is only 27, so he’s still at an age where his body can bounce back quickly from ailments.
We know he will help their run defense with his size and tackling ability, but here is the big question – will he help the Jets cover tight ends better.
You talks to people around the Redskins, and they are a little hesitant to say he will. They say he’s best served playing close to the line.
“He’s best as an in the box strong safety,” said the source close to the Redskins. “He’s okay in coverage, but it’s not his strength.”
The Jets clearly disagree. Eric Smith is another safety best served playing in the box, so why would the Jets sign another player with a similar skillset. They need a dynamic coverage safety with great range.
And they think Landry is that guy.
Hey, even if he lost a stop off 4.37, and runs 4.47, he’s still faster than most safeties.
It’s hard argue with this signing, especially since it’s a one-year contract.
And don’t think for a second the Jets are done safety shopping. Expect another one to be added in the draft.
If Mark Barron is able to run before the draft, and runs well, he certainly will pique the Jets interest at 16.
Because remember, even with Landry and Smith as the starting safeties now, Smith is best served being the third safety and core special teams player.
So if the Jets pick Barron, they could slowly move Smith back into that role.
And can you imagine a Landry-Barron safety combo? That would be as good as it gets in the NFL.
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