New York Jets: Darron Lee Will Be Tested By Giovani Bernard
New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee will be tested right away by the Cincinnati Bengals and their talented running back Giovani Bernard.
The New York Jets have struggled to cover tight ends and running backs in the passing game in recent years. In the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Jets addressed this by drafting linebacker Darron Lee. Some might say that Lee is undersized to play linebacker, but he is going to be excellent in pass coverage.
As the NFL begins to change, Lee might become the new prototype linebacker. Due to changes to the rules, throwing the football has become much more prevalent. Furthermore, defenses will need to adjust to more spread offenses, and that will mean quicker players at the linebacker position.
The Bengals have a nice combination in their backfield with running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. For Lee, he will likely be matching up against Bernard frequently on Sunday.
“He’s a shifty guy, man,” Lee told NJ Advance Media before meetings this week. “They like to use him a lot on screens and things like that. He’s that typical scat-back. With Hill, he’s more power and a direct runner. Bernard is really, really shifty.”
Last season, Bernard totaled 49 receptions and 472 receiving yards. The Bengals are not shy to throw the ball to Bernard out of the backfield, and he has been proven to be an effective weapon.
“If you’re in man on him, you’ve got to try to get hands on him,” Lee said to Connor Hughes. “If not, he’s going to slip by you and get through.
In addition to Bernard, the Bengals have some other talented weapons. Due to the shoulder injury for David Harris, Lee might see more playing time than originally expected.
“They’re a great team. There are challenges all across the board. We’re preparing for it. I think we’ll be ready.”
Finally, Week 1 will be an important game with potential playoff implications for both teams. Lee will surely have some nerves in his NFL debut, but he will have to be prepared to be a factor on defense for the Jets.
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