NFL

Jets LB Davis has Scott’s big shoes to fill

DeMario Davis is not Bart Scott. The Jets’ new starting inside linebacker has very little in common with their old starting inside linebacker other than playing the same position.

Scott’s mouth never stopped. Davis speaks up only when he has to.

But now Davis is going to take Scott’s place in the starting lineup and replace one of the most visible players of the Rex Ryan era. The Jets are not worried about Davis replacing Scott’s mouth, but about replacing what Scott gave them on the field, particularly in his first two years here.

“Me and Bart are two different players,” Davis said last month. “We have two different styles of play. We’re two different people. Obviously, the position requires certain things that we’re both able to do but we just have different dynamics. I know they brought me here to be DeMario Davis. That’s who they drafted to be. I understand my strengths. I understand the things I need to work on. You just try to get better and better every day. When the time comes, I’ll be as comfortable as I need to be out there.”

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Davis, who was taken by the Jets in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, impressed people in his rookie year. He showed leadership qualities and took advantage of opportunities on defense and special teams.

Now, the Jets are giving him a starting role. He will play alongside David Harris in the middle of the defense. Expect him to be moved around to take advantage of his athleticism.

“The biggest challenge for him is understanding his job, not trying to do too much too soon,” defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said. “Just learn your job, do your job, stay in your lane and if he does that I think he’s going to have a tremendous year.”

Davis came out of Arkansas State, not exactly a football powerhouse, but teammates noticed immediately last spring Davis had something special. Former Jet Darrelle Revis singled him out as a team leader though he was just a rookie.

Ryan compared Davis to former Ravens star Ray Lewis in terms of the way he leads.

“When we drafted the young man, I mentioned that I thought it was [unusual], and I recognize the fact that it is unusual to get a rookie to come in with such charisma and whatever you want to call it, leadership,” Ryan said last month. “But I thought when we took him, when we drafted him, I guess you either have it or you don’t, and he’s certainly a young man that has it. So, what have I seen? I’ve seen him come in [and] work extremely hard. It’s challenging. We put him in a position [in which] he has to replace an outstanding player in Bart Scott, but he’s taken to it.”

Davis said he feels much more comfortable in his second season and does not believe there will be much of a transition for him in becoming a starter.

“As a rookie you’re making a transition. This is not a transition,” Davis said. “You’re just applying all the things you were able to learn last year. They say people make the biggest jump between their rookie year and their second year. You can feel why. It’s just a lot different. It’s no longer a transition. It’s adding onto all the knowledge you already have.”

The coaches have emphasized to Davis he can’t be focused on replacing Scott. They want him to be himself.

“Don’t worry about, ‘Oh, I’m replacing Bart Scott.’ Don’t worry about that,” Thurman said. “You and Bart are different players. You don’t have to live up to the physicality of Bart Scott. Don’t even try. Be the best player you can be at this point in your career. Do your job. That’s all we’re expecting him to do. That position is extensive so he’s got a lot on his plate. We’re pleased with where he’s at right now. The key is consistency day in and day out. If he can get that done I think he’ll have a pretty good second year.”