Jets finally willing to bend on self-imposed limitations for defensive star

When you watch a professional sporting match, you want to see best versus best. Top player versus top player. Champion against number one contender.

The Jets are finally willing to give you that matchup on a more regular basis when it comes to their star cornerback, Sauce Gardner.

During OTAs this week, Robert Saleh indicated that he would be a little more flexible on where his star cornerbacks line up this season, notably letting Sauce Gardner travel with the opposing team’s number one receiver. At least, a little more than he did before.

“He did [travel] last year, and we’ll be judicious like we normally are,” Saleh said. “He’s a weapon we can use from the defensive standpoint, but to say it’ll be exclusive, I’m not going to say that, but he did last year, to say he might do a little bit more, that’s a possibility, but I think it’s going to be more game-to-game.”

Sauce was marooned to one side of the defense for the most part and D.J. Reed was on the other side. One of the main reasons the Jets were so good is because going from Sauce to Reed is not that much of a downgrade.

This tandem reminds me of when the Jets had Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. They each had a skill set that worked and would matchup accordingly. Rex Ryan figured out after one loss to the New England Patriots that it was better to put Cromartie on Randy Moss than Revis. It wasn’t because Cromartie was better. It was because he matched up better than Revis did with Moss. Cromartie was taller, and faster in a straight line which would negate Moss’ straight go routes. Revis on the other hand would read and react on the shiftier and more physical receivers.

That should be the goal of the Jets defensive alignment. Don’t put Sauce on a team’s number one receiver because that is what he is listed as on the depth chart and don’t put him on one side of the field because that’s where you listed him. Match up your very talented corners with the receivers that better match their skill set.

“I’m always looking forward to the challenge,” Gardner said. “I would like to call myself one of the best in the game, if not the best. I’m always open to competing. I want to challenge myself, challenge other people, but ultimately, I just want to do whatever it takes for the team to win. That’s what it’s all about, winning games.”

Sauce has graduated from highly touted prospect to impressive rookie, to true shut down corner, and now it seems he has become a team leader. “We grown up,” Gardner said. “I’m going on Year 3. It just feels kind of different, everybody just looking at me, and I’m helping everybody else out. It feels like yesterday I was the one asking D.J., asking everybody for advice.”