McKnight is the definition of a fringe player in the NFL. He does not have one job. He is on the team because he can do many different jobs. He can return both punts and kicks, and when he's not he serves on the punt and kick teams. He is a running back both in regular sets and special sets, like the wildcat. He can lineup at receiver. He has been successful at each job, too. Last season he returned a kick for a touchdown, blocked a punt, and forced two fumbles, showing off his special teams skills. On offense, he caught 13 passes for 139 yards, and seven of those passes went for first downs. Now, head coach Rex Ryan wants to add a defensive role for McKnight to try.
McKnight obviously won't replace Revis on the field, that job goes to Kyle Wilson. McKnight will be taking Wilson's spot as third corner though, according to ESPN's Jane McManus. McKnight did not play corner at his alma mater, University of Southern California, and he obviously hasn't played in the NFL as the Jets have been his only team. This means that McKnight will have to learn how to be a corner from scratch, which is not a good sign for Jets fans. You don't usually want the #3 guy on your corner depth chart to be learning the position as he goes. McKnight does have a good frame though at 5-11, 205 pounds. That is basically the prototypical body of a cornerback. He is also fast, agile, smart, and tough. He has proved his speed and agility by having the ability to return a kick for a touchdown. He had proved his toughness and intelligence by flying down the field on a kickoff and forcing two fumbles last year. He could turn into a decent corner, maybe even a good one, but is it worth it?
We are entering Week 4 of the NFL. Players are just about used to playing and practicing every week, and the offenses and defenses start to click. Week 4 is when teams start to show what they are really made of. There is no more rust and should be no miscommunications; in other words, there are no more excuses, which brings up back to McKnight. Is it really smart to throw a running back in at corner? He'd be the target of every offense. Offenses would take their best receiver and put him in the slot, presumably forcing Antonio Cromartie to the slot with him and McKnight to the outside. Once teams force McKnight outside all they'd need to do is put a burner opposite him who is decent at double moves, and McKnight will have no chance, either he'd give up the big play or commit pass interference trying to stop the big play. Meanwhile, a real corner would have much less problem guarding any receiver.
The one disadvantage to bringing in a cornerback is that he won't know the playbook. He would have the skills necessary, but would need to get caught up in the language. This is one the reason I can see Ryan trying to fix his problem from the inside. The problem is that he picked the wrong player. McKnight is in deeper than a new corner because he doesn't know the position or the playbook. Being a offensive player who also contributes on special teams, there was no need for his to look the defensive plays, but now he does. If Ryan wanted to convert a player, but not use a backup safety? Safeties around have to cover receivers occasionally and it'd be much easier to move from one position in the secondary to the other. McKnight could then learn how to be play safety, which is an easier job to learn, especially free safety. Ryan chose to convert McKnight to corner though, and it probably has a lot to do with McKnight being a fringe player. Ryan and McKnight both know that if he can learn this role then he could potentially become indispensable. How do you get rid of a guy that can play offense, defense, and special teams? You can't, and Rex Ryan wants that guy. Ryan has done some crazy things in the past, but this one might be just crazy enough to work.
References
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/8428252/rex-ryan-says-new-york-jets-rb-joe-mcknight-work-cb
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/13209/joe-mcknight
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/13209/type/college/joe-mcknight
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