NFL New York Jets

Who Should Stay and Who Should Go For the New York Jets: Safeties

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By @GregSulik

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The New York Jets went through a lot of difficult moments this season, and the safety position endured quite a bit of turmoil. The Jets added first round pick Calvin Pryor to the mix this season, but the back end of the secondary was still a major problem.

We’ll start with Pryor, who was a disappointment after being drafted with the 18th overall pick. Pryor recorded just 60 tackles, two pass deflections and half a sack, and he was benched on multiple occasions throughout the season. It would be unfair to entirely place the blame on Pryor, as the Jets failed to put him in the best position to succeed. Pryor is an excellent in the box, run stopping safety, but the Jets repeatedly played him further away from the line of scrimmage and in deep coverage. Pryor needs to have the opportunity to play in the strong safety role that fits him best next season.

He may get that opportunity as well, because Dawan Landry is set to be a free agent. Landry recorded 106 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season, and he was by far the best member of the Jets’ secondary. However, he is 32 years old and the Jets have other promising young safeties on the roster. The team will badly miss his leadership, but it is time to go in a younger direction and give players like Pryor the chance to get significant playing time and develop.

Of course, the way the Jets misused Pryor is nothing compared to what they did with Antonio Allen. Rex Ryan and Dennis Thurman seemed like they were on a personal mission to destroy the promising third year safety’s career, yanking him back and forth between safety and cornerback throughout the season. As a completely unsurprising result, Allen struggled everywhere and regressed. Allen is not and should not be a cornerback, and the next Jets coach needs to leave him at safety. Allen still has a lot of promise, however, and right now he is the leading candidate to start at free safety next season.

The Jets inexplicably carried four players whose best fit is at strong safety this year, with Jaiquawn Jarrett being the final member of the group. Jarrett is a very good special teamer, and he also got extended opportunities on defense this year because of Pryor and Allen’s struggles. Jarrett had a decent season that included one spectacular performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers (10 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 sack), but he is best suited for a backup role. He is a restricted free agent, but it seems likely the Jets would want to bring him back as Pryor’s backup.

Rontez Miles was called up to the active roster towards the end of the season, but he is going to have to fight for a roster spot in camp again. The Jets like him, but if the team makes a much needed acquisition at free safety this offseason and/or retains Jarrett, the numbers probably won’t work in his favor.

One thing that Ryan didn’t receive nearly enough criticism for this year was his inability to set Pryor and Allen up for success. The pair form a promising safety tandem, and the Jets need to make sure that the next coach works to develop both players. Look for the team to add at least one solid free safety, but what the Jets really need at safety is development from the young players they already have.

Greg Sulik is a New York Jets writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @GregSulik or add him to your network on Google

Previously: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends,Offensive Line, Defensive Line, Linebackers, Cornerbacks

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