The New York Jets’ top-ranked pass defense added another Pro Bowl safety to its midst, and they did it at the expense of the Baltimore Ravens.
No, Rex Ryan didn’t swipe Ed Reed from his old team in Baltimore, but Ryan did take Reed’s coach. According to the New York Post, the Jets have added Ravens defensive backs coach Mark Carrier.
Carrier was a three-time All-Pro in his 11 seasons in the NFL and has been coaching Baltimore’s DBs since 2006. In New York, Carrier will be given a different task.
Despite both playing and coaching defensive backs his entire career, Carrier will be entrusted with the Jets defensive line. The 41-year-old is the third coach to fill that position in Ryan’s inaugural year with the club.
Kerry Locklin began the 2009 season as defensive line coach but was replaced by Ryan’s former college roommate, Jeff Weeks, in the middle of the season. A defensive assistant before the midseason switch, Weeks will remain on the staff, the Post says.
With no experience coaching the defensive line, Carrier will have a tough task. As a safety, he surely understands how a good pass rush can help a team’s secondary, but the Jets managed just 32 sacks as a team season, a statistic Carrier’s new crew will try to improve.
