The professional game moves by quickly for rookies. It's only those rare, special youngsters who can adapt to the extremely different speeds of the NFL and the Division I collegiate game.
For New York Jets inside linebacker Darron Lee, his rookie season did move pretty quickly. Now that he's entering his third, his employer believes everything's slowing down, via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
“He can be as good as he wants to be,” Jets linebackers coach Mike Caldwell said on Monday. “He has all the tools. He’s getting better by being able to see things faster. His eyes are better. He’s just learning the game. Coming from college, it took him a while to understand the professional game. He’s done a good job of finding his niche.”
Lee, 23, is the 20th overall selection for the Jets during the 2016 NFL Draft. Out of Ohio State, his two-year experience in the pros has netted mixed results.
Article Continues BelowThough extremely fast, the undersized inside linebacker has endured many difficulties against both the run and pass. This is especially the case when run support is discussed. His smaller frame oftentimes gets the better of him. An overall awareness and nose for the ball, as well, has also been a question mark.
What's important to note was his confidence and overall aggressiveness in 2017 as compared to his rookie season felt night and day. He improved greatly last season and the organization feels as though it'll continue. Lee does as well.
“I’m a lot more comfortable,” Lee said this spring. “I know the insides and outs of this playbook … That stepping stone of learning and knowing what you got to do is pretty much over with. I’m comfortable.”
Darron Lee and the New York Jets possess an extremely talented defense sans any semblance of edge pass rushing.