Sunday will be Darrelle Revis’ homecoming and the debut of the Jets rookie who will replace him.
When the Jets snatched Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner with the ninth overall pick in April’s draft, there were comparisons to Revis, whom the Jets had just shipped to Tampa Bay.
The Jets and Bucs kick off the season Sunday at MetLife Stadium, and Milliner will be making his NFL debut, starting alongside Antonio Cromartie while Revis is on the other sideline.
“He’s his man. I’m my own man,” Milliner said yesterday of Revis. “I’ve just got to go out there and do my job.”
Milliner figures to be overshadowed by another cornerback Sunday, and has been overshadowed during training camp and the preseason by another Jets rookie.
The team’s top pick was Milliner. The Jets’ next selection was four picks later when they took Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. But in the second round, they grabbed Geno Smith, ensuring the former West Virginia quarterback would receive most of the rookie headlines.
Much like Smith, Milliner experienced a shaky preseason, in terms of performance and health. He played in the first two exhibition games versus the Lions and Jaguars, but looked unimpressive against Jacksonville, with coach Rex Ryan saying afterward that Milliner played off of the line of scrimmage too much.
Milliner then suffered an Achilles’ injury that kept him out of the final two preseason games.
“I’m fine. A hundred percent,” Milliner said. “Practiced all week. Feeling good all week.”
If Milliner’s health is resolved, his readiness is not. As a rookie, Milliner would be a question mark, but he has also missed valuable time with the injury. When defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman was asked this week if Milliner is ready to play, he admitted it’s a mystery.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Thurman said. “He’s a young, talented kid. He understands the defense. He knows what he’s supposed to do. Can he go out and execute it? That’s the most important thing. We believe he can. He’s getting his first start. We’ll see.”
“He’s a highly intelligent guy,” safety Dawan Landry added. “He’s very capable.”
As is Tampa wideout Mike Williams, to whom the 6-foot Milliner figures to be assigned while Cromartie figures to be on Vincent Jackson. The 6-foot-2 Williams is entering his fourth year, has averaged 64 catches and almost eight touchdowns per season and in Week 2 last year at MetLife hauled in a 41-yard touchdown against the Giants.
Milliner anticipates the Bucs will throw at him early, welcoming him to the NFL.
“I’m the new guy on the block. They’re going to be out there throwing at me,” he said. “But I’ll be ready for it, expect it. I want plays like that so I can make plays on the ball.”
A season ago, the Bucs also grabbed a defensive back from Alabama, selecting safety Mark Barron with the seventh pick.
Milliner calls Barron a close friend, stays in touch with him and has trained with him in Tuscaloosa.
“We didn’t talk this week. Not yet. But I’m pretty sure when we get out there on the field, we’ll talk a little bit,” Milliner said, “and then it’s game time.”