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Florham Park – Safety Calvin Pryor is a pick that makes an awful lot of sense. Let’s drill down and take a closer look . . .
As Dennis Thurman said a few years ago, ““You want to win football games, you need some gangstas.”
On the football field, this guy is a gangsta (on the field, not off of it).
He’s the biggest hitting defensive back in the draft – safety or corner.
This guy hits like Troy Polamalu.
Rex feels that big hit can change the tone of a game.
He’s a “trained killer,” as they say in the scouting world. And I mean that in a football sense.
As a tackler, you are supposed to lower your center of gravity and tackle on the rise. This guy does that.
The Jets like to say in defensive meetings, “we built this room to defend New England.”
This guy will help them against New England.
Because not only is he intimidating to receivers going over the middle, but he’s underrated as a cover guy.
He’s got very good instincts in cover. He’s not just a hammer in the box.
And he’s going to have some great tutors on the coaching staff.
Jets secondary coach Tim McDonald was an excellent safety in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. He’s going to be terrific for the kid.
And quietly this off-season the Jets added Eric Smith to their coaching staff. He might not have been the most physically-gifted player, but man, was he a smart player during his time with the Jets. He is going to really help Pryor as well.
Look at what great safety play did for Seattle last season. Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas were a big factor in the Seahawks going all the way.
Pryor should start immediately, and help the Jets from the get-go.
There is one concern you would have to have about this pick.
He is 5-11, 207 pounds, and throws his body around like a much bigger player.
That isn’t necessarily a good recipe for long-term durability.
Look at all the durability issues that Bob Saunders had during his career. Saunders was an undersized safety for the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers, who was a big-time hitter, but lacked the requisite size for his body to withstand the punishment. He was constantly out with injuries.
John Idzik feels the way that Pryor is built, he can withstand the punishment – especially with his thickly-built lower body.
I know a lot of Jets fans wanted the team to pick a receiver at 18, but that wasn’t were the value was on their board.
Brandin Cooks is a terrific player, but he’s best used as a slot receiver, and not only do the Jets have a pretty good one in Jeremy Kerley, but you generally don’t pick slot guys with the 18th pick of the first round.
Marqise Lee’s 40 time hurt him. He’s a heck of player, but ran 4.53 at the combine, which is pedestrian speed, especially for an average-sized receiver. That time is good for 6-5, 230 pound wide receiver like Mike Evans, but not a 5-11, 195-pounder like Lee.
So the Jets deserve credit for sticking to their value board, and not reaching for need.
And the second round is loaded with terrific receiver talent – it’s one of the best second rounds for receivers in a while.
May 8, 2014
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