This area should improve in 2016

New Jersey – Todd Bowles made a great point late in the season, and what he was talking about is something to consider entering Year Two of his program . . .

Late in the season, in a production meeting with CBS, Todd Bowles said, “Guys are trusting each other a lot more.”

This is something to needs to be kept in mind.

The Jets were in the first year of a new program – guys were getting used to Todd Bowles and his coaches, their playbook and approach to things.

So in the second year of Bowles program, there should be obvious improvements.

But this is predicated on keeping as many core players as possible – not blowing the thing up, so to speak.

I think one area of the Jets that should take a big step in Year Two of Bowles is the secondary.

There is no way around this – the Jets had too many miscommunications and blown coverages in their secondary last year.

This area of the Jets should take a quantum leap in Bowles’ second season.

While starting cornerback Antonio Cromartie is gone, so many other core secondary players are back – cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Marcus Williams, Buster Skrine, Dexter McDougle and Dee Milliner, along with safeties Calvin Pryor, Marcus Gilchrist, Dion Bailey and Ronald Martin.

All these players were around last season, in different capacities. They will be such much higher on the system learning curve in Year Two.

And Bowles will have a much better feel entering this year for each player’s skill set.

Revis will be used much more efficiently this year. Less island, more mainland. He will be used like a regular corner, given more help when he needs it.

The Jets should be better at the #2 cornerback spot, getting younger and quicker with whoever they pick from the cast of characters listed above.

Calvin Pryor could be poised for a Pro Bowl season. I asked Bowles about Pryor’s maturation in Boca, and he gushed about his improvement as the season went on.

So Pryor should be able to pick up where he left off late last season.

I also expect Pryor to emerge as a leader this year. He’s a natural leader, but we haven’t seen this too much in his first two years. It’s hard to lead when you are still trying to get your own house in order. He had a lot to absorb in his first two years. Not only having to learn the nuances of being an NFL safety, but also having two different playbooks in two different years. Not ideal for a young players.

What also could also help the Jets secondary in Year Two under Bowles is perhaps an improved pass rush.

Getting a dynamic edge rusher, perhaps in the first or second round, should help the cover guys. A great pass rush is a cover guys best friend – obviously they don’t need to cover as long.

But in general, I think the Jets deep patrol should be much improved as far as communication and being on the same page in 2016.

March 30, 2016

Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Thursday.