After injury gave the understudy the chance, Rex Ryan yesterday gave Sione Pouha a captaincy for what he did with that opportunity.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Jets coach included the 32-year-old nose tackle among his five permanent captains for what they hope will be a season to remember. Quarterback Mark Sanchez was a given, as was cornerback Darrelle Revis. Ryan selected safety Eric Smith for the special teams “C,” and also tabbed wide receiver Santonio Holmes, saying he hopes “the last jersey [Holmes] will ever wear will be a New York Jets jersey.”
Pouha took over from All-Pro Kris Jenkins each of the past two seasons after Jenkins suffered major knee injuries. Instead of the defense suffering, Pouha and Mike DeVito helped it shine.
“We had to have those guys step up. You’ve got some big shoes to fill,” Ryan said. “I felt great about Sione and Mike as being the guys.
“They were almost the pupils at one time, and now they’re mentors.”
Ryan said Pouha is putting his personal stamp on the defensive line.
“I see it in him. This is his group,” Ryan said. “Going into the season, maybe that unit might have looked like the weakness of our team, when it’s actually the strength. That’s going to be determined, but I have a feeling that’s what we’re going to see.”
They’ll start seeing it tomorrow, when the Jets open the preseason in Houston.
Pouha said he’s there to be Ryan’s man.
“The best attribute of being a captain is being able to lead the others how to follow the big man, and that’s Rex,” Pouha said. “First and foremost, it’s a position of privilege. It was an honor to know he thinks about you like that, the front office thinks about you like that, the coaches think about you like that.”
The qualities of captains can often be intangible.
“You go about your daily duties and do what you have to do,” Pouha said. “I guess I stuck out somehow. It’s just for you being the person you are, working the way you are, the little subtleties you do. You don’t have to be a vocal person or the spokesman. Actions and words formulate what they look for in a captain.”
The best captain isn’t always the best player. Ryan said his choices were made on criteria other than pure skill.
“I chose these guys based on what I see on the practice field, the game field, the classroom and their leadership, what they mean to their units,” Ryan said. “The pride, that’s what I’m looking for in those individuals.”