Big-talking DBs set to back it up
The easy part is out of the way. The Jets’ secondary already has a nickname: “New Jack City.” Every member of the unit even has a T-shirt.
Now the highly regarded group needs to prove itself worthy of one. The Seahawks’ secondary, for instance, became known as the “Legion of Boom” because of their elite-level play — not what they wore underneath their uniforms or the catch phrase they used to describe themselves.
“We want people to fear us when we walk out [on the field],” cornerback Morris Claiborne said Tuesday after practice. “We’re going to talk noise. We’re going to play on the edge, but not hurt the team.
“Each and every game we got to go make a statement. Control the airways is the best way I can put it.”
There certainly is a fair amount of hype surrounding this young group, which added elite cover corner Trumaine Johnson in the offseason to an already formidable ensemble. The 28-year-old’s presence will allow Claiborne to cover No. 2 wide receivers and keep veteran Buster Skrine in the slot, his specialty, after being asked to play out wide at times a year ago.
The group also includes second-year safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, the team’s first- and second-round picks a year ago. The big-talking, hard-hitting Adams said in June: “I take us over anybody.” The unit also features promising young players like Doug Middleton, Parry Nickerson and Derrick Jones.
Defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson came up with the nickname, inspired by the 1990’s Wesley Snipes film, last year. The movie is based on two cops going undercover to take down a drug boss in New York City.
“It’s fun. I don’t feel like it’s made it yet, but we’re pounding away at it,” Claiborne said. “For us, right now, [we’re] going to lay it out on the field, put the name out there, and let the people judge if sticks or not.”
Adams made headlines earlier this month for his criticism of last year’s team, telling Bleacher Report he entered into a losing culture where “everybody was used to losing” and “it was like everybody wanted to do the bare minimum.” Adams explained his comments as being unhappy with the 5-11 campaign and wanting more out of teammates. That seems to be the mindset of the brash secondary: They want to be great and understand the only way to get there is by relentlessly working for it.
“You don’t want anybody on your team that’s willing to accept losing or willing to be in second place,” Maye said. “You want winners on your team. … You have a guy like [Adams], you have no choice but to [follow him].” The Jets defense will need the secondary to be stellar if it is going to be an upper-echelon group. While solid up front, they lack standout passrushers. Last year’s leader in sacks, middle linebacker Demario Davis, is gone, and the battle at outside linebacker remains up for grabs. A shutdown back end can alleviate those concerns somewhat, enabling more exotic blitz packages.
And the potential seems to be there. Wilson said in June, based on talent, the Jets secondary stacks up to the best one he has ever coached, with the Rams’ unit that had Johnson, Janoris Jenkins, Rodney McLeod and Lamarcus Joyner.
“This group, with this team, we can go somewhere it hasn’t been in a while. We’re loaded with talent on the back end,” Claiborne said. “We have all the pieces. We just have to find a way to put it together and go get some wins.” The 6-foot-2 Johnson had 14 pass breakups a year ago, along with two interceptions and 65 tackles, and allowed just one touchdown in 932 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Adams and Maye both had strong rookie seasons and appear primed to build off those performances. And Claiborne is coming off a quality season when he was able to stay mostly injury-free, the knock on him with the Cowboys.
“I do know we got two corners who can match up with anybody in the league,” Claiborne said.
At the moment, there are no plans Claiborne knows of to promote the “New Jack City” T-shirts or put them on sale. But that could eventually change — if this unit displays it is deserving of such a marketing plan.
“With anything,” Claiborne said, “you have to go prove it.”