New York Jets rookie cornerback Bless Austin put together a tremendous rookie season for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
A Gregg Williams defense is tough in many regards. Not only does the man expect the most out of his players, but those very same individuals feeling the pressure need to understand the ins and outs of the scheme.
A year ago, the Buffalo Bills made it abundantly clear the New York Jets defense could not hang in man coverage for the most part. Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts turned into toast and a heavy zone scheme took hold.
Rookie Bless Austin fit right into the scheme.
Austin, 23, played a tough-nosed brand of cornerback as a rookie. From curl-to-flat responsibility to deep-third in a Cover 3 or Tampa 2, Austin did his part to show what he can do for the organization in 2020 and beyond.
Returning after injury, he broke up four passes, forced a fumble and collected 25 tackles in six games started (seven total games). A benching against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16 hurt his end of the season, but for the most part, it was a successful freshman campaign.
The Rutgers product enters 2020 at a position with plenty of youth and inexperience. He joins veteran Pierre Desir and a host of youngsters (Arthur Maulet, Bryce Hall) at a post that needs to improve.
Recently, Nania’s All-22 put together a highlight package that showcases what Bless Austin did as a rookie for the New York Jets in 2019. Not only is he a good zone corner, but he’s also not afraid to get a little dirty.
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