NY Jets 2015 Spotlight: Buster Skrine

Last season with the NY Jets, defensive back Buster Skrine was versatile and grew nicely as a player. If 2015 was any indication, Skrine will only get better over time.

Coming from a struggling organization in the Cleveland Browns, Skrine has been able to grow as a player and become a very good outside cornerback that the Jets were fortunate to have last season. With the Jets looking for the help in their defensive secondary last offseason, they went on spending spree by re-signing Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and they added Skrine to help cover speedy inside receivers.

Skrine was a late-round draft pick when the Browns drafted him in 2011 and he has played hard in earning his notability in becoming a reliable player. He played very well this season in breaking up catches and forcing fumbles while making noticeable hits on receivers.

His stats this year in his first season with the Jets was very productive when he had 46 total tackles, 56 combined tackles and one interception. What I noticed was he was never phased in playing in the city that never sleeps when the spotlight is always on you. He took everything that was thrown at him and he ran with it as he grew up as a person and as a player.

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When injuries hit the defensive secondary of the Jets, Skrine stepped up and delivered. He also helped develop the younger players around him in becoming better athletes.

I took notice from when he grew up as a player when the Jets had their late-season winning streak and helped out in making key defensive stops and breaking up passes.

Every time they interviewed him as well you can see how he has changed and was never satisfied. The one area I could see him produce better in come next season is if he is able to play more on the outside to cover the more dominant receivers across the NFL. When they put him on big time receivers, he played really well which allows him to hone his craft.

What is also good about Skrine is his age as he is only 26 years old and still in his prime of his career. He also played through an injury this season which didn’t let him stop his production. The game against the New England Patriots at home, he along with Calvin Pryor became a nightmare for the Patriots to handle.

The Patriots’ offense looked like they were off with how much pressure the secondary was able to put on the their receivers. Skrine was also effective against the Dallas Cowboys when the team needed the defense to step up big that night to leave the game victorious.

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Overall, I think Skrine has a bright future with the Jets for how physical and determined he is to only get better for the Jets. He has stepped up a lot as a leader this season for the team which I think the organization has taken notice to it.

Perhaps over time, he will start to become an elite shut down corner that the Jets could possibly build around in the secondary. If he is able to learn from Revis and Cromartie in how to become more of an overall leader, then I think it will help him grow and develop even further. Hopefully next season the Jets will be able to have the success like they did this year, all due to their top defense keeping opposing teams in check.