wolfamngstsheep
All-American
Vilma is going to be the real deal. He is just a stud, people talk about how smart he is, he is also very gifted athletically, which makes for a lethal combination. I think he has a shot at being an All Pro for many years.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff
ALBANY, N.Y. -- It was just like old times yesterday for the Jets first-round draft pick, middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, during a joint training camp practice with the Giants at the University at Albany.
He was making plays in the backfield and injecting energy into the defense. He was making calls and checks that defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson didn't even know Vilma was up on.
It's only the second week of training camp, but the Jonathan Vilma era may be upon us sooner rather than later.
"Jonathan Vilma is going to be a real good guy for us," defensive end John Abraham said. "He has so much life in him. He's like a little firecracker and that's what we need right now."
Vilma is expected to start the season behind veteran Sam Cowart, but coach Herman Edwards has stressed that nothing is set in stone regarding starting jobs.
During the morning drills against the Giants' first and second teams, Vilma led a defensive charge that stopped their running game in its tracks. On one play, he dumped running back Tiki Barber for a five-yard loss, nearly getting in the backfield in time to take the handoff. Afterward, he was mobbed by teammates.
On another play, Vilma slammed running back Delvin Joyce for no gain. He was anywhere and everywhere.
In the afternoon, the Giants offense had a little more success against Vilma and the Jets. Vilma, though, continued to show outstanding quickness and a nose for the ball.
In short, Vilma -- who returned to practice on Friday after nursing a strained calf for 2 1/2 days -- made a lasting first impression.
"I was just excited to be out there," Vilma said. "I hadn't practiced in a little bit. I finally got to go full-go against another team, so it was exciting. I felt like I was back at (the University of) Miami.
"As long as I keep studying the playbook and the coaches keep letting us make plays out there, I'll be all right. I'm pretty comfortable with (the defense) right now."
As the middle linebacker, Vilma is responsible for making the defensive call and checking out of it just before the snap if it isn't right for what the opposing offense is showing. Known for his leadership, instincts and intelligence, Vilma jumped right into the fray, barking instructions to teammates and leading by example.
"He showed up a lot in some of the things we did for him," Henderson said. "We moved him around a little bit and he made a couple of big plays. He had a couple of tackles for losses. I was pleased.
"The thing I was really pleased with was he was working some communication checks that we hadn't talked about. That was interesting. He just kicked in there. He's making checks that I hadn't told him about."
That was Vilma's reputation coming out of Miami, where he led a lights-out Hurricane defense. He was a thinking man's middle linebacker who was a step ahead of the offense.
During minicamp in May, he surprised the Jets with how quickly he picked things up. Henderson has an array of different fronts and coverages in his multi-package defense, a defense some veterans say is as complex as they come.
In hiring Henderson, Edwards wanted a defensive coordinator who would bring the action to the offense and shore up the porous run defense, which ranked 28th in the NFL last season.
"Donnie wants us to be aggressive. That's his style," Vilma said. "He wants us to get after it. We're trying to pick it up and it starts up front, especially the front seven. We're getting the attitude right now. We're trying to be physical."
Sunday, August 08, 2004
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff
ALBANY, N.Y. -- It was just like old times yesterday for the Jets first-round draft pick, middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, during a joint training camp practice with the Giants at the University at Albany.
He was making plays in the backfield and injecting energy into the defense. He was making calls and checks that defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson didn't even know Vilma was up on.
It's only the second week of training camp, but the Jonathan Vilma era may be upon us sooner rather than later.
"Jonathan Vilma is going to be a real good guy for us," defensive end John Abraham said. "He has so much life in him. He's like a little firecracker and that's what we need right now."
Vilma is expected to start the season behind veteran Sam Cowart, but coach Herman Edwards has stressed that nothing is set in stone regarding starting jobs.
During the morning drills against the Giants' first and second teams, Vilma led a defensive charge that stopped their running game in its tracks. On one play, he dumped running back Tiki Barber for a five-yard loss, nearly getting in the backfield in time to take the handoff. Afterward, he was mobbed by teammates.
On another play, Vilma slammed running back Delvin Joyce for no gain. He was anywhere and everywhere.
In the afternoon, the Giants offense had a little more success against Vilma and the Jets. Vilma, though, continued to show outstanding quickness and a nose for the ball.
In short, Vilma -- who returned to practice on Friday after nursing a strained calf for 2 1/2 days -- made a lasting first impression.
"I was just excited to be out there," Vilma said. "I hadn't practiced in a little bit. I finally got to go full-go against another team, so it was exciting. I felt like I was back at (the University of) Miami.
"As long as I keep studying the playbook and the coaches keep letting us make plays out there, I'll be all right. I'm pretty comfortable with (the defense) right now."
As the middle linebacker, Vilma is responsible for making the defensive call and checking out of it just before the snap if it isn't right for what the opposing offense is showing. Known for his leadership, instincts and intelligence, Vilma jumped right into the fray, barking instructions to teammates and leading by example.
"He showed up a lot in some of the things we did for him," Henderson said. "We moved him around a little bit and he made a couple of big plays. He had a couple of tackles for losses. I was pleased.
"The thing I was really pleased with was he was working some communication checks that we hadn't talked about. That was interesting. He just kicked in there. He's making checks that I hadn't told him about."
That was Vilma's reputation coming out of Miami, where he led a lights-out Hurricane defense. He was a thinking man's middle linebacker who was a step ahead of the offense.
During minicamp in May, he surprised the Jets with how quickly he picked things up. Henderson has an array of different fronts and coverages in his multi-package defense, a defense some veterans say is as complex as they come.
In hiring Henderson, Edwards wanted a defensive coordinator who would bring the action to the offense and shore up the porous run defense, which ranked 28th in the NFL last season.
"Donnie wants us to be aggressive. That's his style," Vilma said. "He wants us to get after it. We're trying to pick it up and it starts up front, especially the front seven. We're getting the attitude right now. We're trying to be physical."
