Calvin Pace: New York Jets defense best in the NFL
By Cory Buck
We should probably just hand the Super Bowl to the New York Jets. At least that’s what each player seems to be hinting at during this training camp. It’s as if each player and coach is taking their respective turn in boasting to the media about another great aspect of the team. The latest boast? Linebacker Calvin Pace discussing in no uncertain terms why the Jets have the best defense in the league.
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Credit Pace for at least getting this one pretty close. After Dee Milliner of all people proclaimed himself to be the league’s best cornerback and after Geno Smith tabbed himself a Top-5 QB in the making, Pace could have pretty much said anything and it would have been reasonable by comparison. Instead, Pace touted his defense as the league’s best per the New York Daily News. While the numbers don’t bear that argument, they at least keep it closer than the previous two.
“(Compared to) the rest of the defenses in the NFL? S—, man, we’re the best,” Pace said to reporters at training camp. Never mind Seattle or San Francisco, Pace feels Gang Green is where it’s at. In some ways, he might be right.
The Jets sported the third-best running defense in the league, but it was the secondary that proved to be a weakness. As a member of the front seven, it’s hard to blame Pace for those shortcomings. That said, there’s still work to be done if the Jets really want to have the best defense in the league. The sooner this team can get on the field, the sooner everyone can start putting their money where their mouths are. Surely that has to be better than bragging all day, right?