Is Jets’ Safety Calvin Pryor the Next Troy Polamalu?
Is Calvin Pryor of the New York Jets the best safety in the NFL? It’s close but he ranks right behind Seahawks safety Earl Thomas and Arizona Tyrann Mathieu of the Arizona Cardinals and is on the same level as Minnesota’s Harrison Smith.
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Jets’ Calvin Pryor on his potential: ‘I haven’t even hit the ceiling fan yet’ | NJ.com He hopes great things are ahead for him. |
| Source: www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/05/jets_calvin_pryor_on_his_potential_i_havent_even_h.html | |
Pryor does everything that is asked of him from head coach Todd Bowles. With his quick acceleration , he drops down from his safety spot to blitz the offensive line, blankets receivers with his coverage skills and consistently tackles the running back at or behind the line of scrimmage using his knowledge of film study to read formations presnap. Whether he’s hovering near opposing quarterbacks or backpedaling downfield, Calvin is all over the football field.
Even though he finished with 2 sacks in 2015, his QB hurries caused the passers to throw under duress, which benefitted his teammates like Marcus Williams and Darrelle Revis. The way that this safety is used between the hash marks is reminiscent of Steelers great Troy Polamalu, who also caused offenses misfits the way that he pranced around. Just like that Hall of Famer, Pryor has the football IQ and talent to be a great safety in the NFL (they even have long black hair in common).
The only thing that is left for Calvin Pryor is to keep growing and develop his recognition skills to stop offenses in their tracks. Something intangible that also needs to improve is his leadership of this defense, whether it’s vocal or by show of action. Since line backer David Harris does not communicate much with the other players, Pryor will have to put them in position to make plays, motivate them when morale is down and keep heads cool when situations are out of control. By improving physically, mentally and socially, a great future awaits Gang Green’s safety going into just his third year.
