New York Jets: Secondary Ranked Poorly by Pro Football Focus
By Nick Ziegler
Pro Football Focus recently released their rankings for all of the secondaries in the NFL. Where did the New York Jets rank?
It was a difficult season for the New York Jets. One year after going 10-6, the Jets were unable to ever find their rhythm in 2016. There were plenty of issues on the team, but the secondary was certainly one of the most glaring.
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After struggling down the stretch last season, cornerback Darrelle Revis had a poor season for the Jets in 2016. As the highest paid player on the team, the Jets were relying heavily on him to play well.
At the start of the season, it would have been shocking to predict anyone but Revis as the highest graded player in the secondary. However, the quick decline of Revis resulted in him not be graded well at all.
With the down season for Revis, safety Marcus Gilchrist was the highest graded player in the Jets secondary at 77.1. Gilchrist was also graded as the Jets’ best coverage player in the secondary at 75.5. PFF also counted how the secondary did against the run in their rankings, and Calvin Pryor was the highest ranked player in the secondary against the run at 79.3. Overall, the Jets were ranked 23rd in the NFL, which was up from 31st in Week 7.
Here’s what PFF had to say about the Jets:
"The biggest note here is the absence of Darrelle Revis among the secondary’s top-graded players, as it looks like his decline has officially begun. Prior to 2016, Revis’ career passer rating allowed to opposing quarterbacks was 60.4. This year, opposing quarterbacks had a rating of 104.2 when targeting Revis, and Revis’ five combined interceptions and pass breakups was a career-low (excluding his injury-shortened season). Now, he still earned a near-average coverage grade for the year, but it’s clear he is no longer the elite corner he used to be. At the other corner position, Buster Skrine actually posted similar coverage stats, but five more penalties left him with a lower grade."
This offseason, the Jets will once again be attempting to upgrade their secondary. Figuring out what to do with Revis will be their No.1 priority. Most likely, Revis will be asked to take a pay cut. After the dust settles from that, the Jets will have then make a plan for their secondary.