If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
That’s the approach defensive coordinator Gregg Williams should take when deciding Darryl Roberts’ role against the Bengals in Week 13.
Roberts is set to return to the field against Cincinnati after missing New York’s last three games with a calf injury. As Roberts sat out, rookie Bless Austin and Arthur Maulet stepped up and established themselves as a formidable cornerback duo, bringing stability to a unit that has struggled mightily in 2019.
Now, Williams has a decision to make. Does he insert Roberts back into the starting lineup? Or, does he ride the hot hand and leave both Austin and Maulet in prominent roles?
Frankly, this shouldn’t be too tough of a call for the veteran defensive coordinator. Austin and Maulet have been producing at prolific levels. Austin limited his assignment to only three catches for 32 yards against the Raiders last weekend. Maulet kept everything in front of him, allowing six receptions for a mere 32 yards. Granted, the competition hasn’t been great, but there’s no reason to shake things up and disrupt a duo that has been nothing but solid the past three weeks.
Making this an even easier decision for Williams is how poorly Roberts has played this season. The Jets gave the converted safety a three-year, $18 million contract this offseason to keep him in the Big Apple. All the 29-year-old has done in return is prove why he didn’t start his career as a cornerback, getting burned by opposing wideouts with regularity. His antics haven’t helped his standing with the fanbase, either.
Roberts is on his way to becoming a salary cap casualty in the offseason. Austin and Maulet are trending toward being key pieces in the secondary moving forward. Why would Williams not only go away from what’s working for his defense, but pull a player with the potential to be a contributor for the long run in favor of one who is likely to get cut in a couple of months?
Williams’ decision on Roberts shouldn’t focus on whether or not he should return to the starting lineup. It should focus on whether he deserves any sort of playing time at all. There’s really no sense in playing a cornerback who gets cooked more often than not, especially in favor of players who do their job and help New York’s defense thrive.