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New York Jets: 3 Key questions entering 2018 training camp

By Stephen Smith

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Sam Darnold of USC gestures after being picked #3 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Sam Darnold of USC gestures after being picked #3 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

1. How good can this secondary be?

Back during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, the Jets had Darrelle Revis playing cornerback at an elite level. Because he could blanket the opposition’s top receiver, it allowed Rex Ryan to deploy more blitz packages to pressure the quarterback. It worked beautifully. Gang Green advanced to two straight AFC Championship Games during those years.

Head coach Todd Bowles is hoping to use the same philosophy this coming season with the addition of cornerback Trumaine Johnson. The six-year NFL veteran was the prize free agent corner on the market this Spring and General Manager Mike Maccagnan inked him to a five-year, $72.5 million pact. There will be tremendous pressure on him. Although he is not as good as Revis was in his prime, Johnson is expected to neutralize elite receivers and take away a large portion of the field. That will allow Bowles to really get after the quarterback with an array of blitz packages.

Although the University of Montana product has yet to make the Pro Bowl, he is regarded as a premier cornerback. In six season with the Rams, Johnson recorded 18 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns). He’ll team with veteran Morris Claiborne to provide New York with one of the better cornerback tandems in the AFC. Buster Skrine will handle slot coverage.

Safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye had their ups and downs in their rookie campaigns in 2017. All rookies do. However, they were pretty impressive overall and their future looks very bright. Both are solid in run support. Both players need to improve their pass coverage skills but they possess the football IQ and athleticism to do it. Expect Adams and Maye to be perennial Pro Bowl performers sooner rather than later.

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The key to success for the Jets defensively this coming season will be their secondary. They have to be stout and elite in pass coverage for New York to vie for a playoff berth. The Jets have issues getting to the quarterback. They always do. They need to blitz and blitz often. If they can stay healthy, I believe this will be one of the best defensive backfields in the entire NFL, let alone the AFC. This group needs to come through in a big way. I believe they will.

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