Calvin Pryor will still play 'a significant role' for Jets, but needs to improve

Rex Ryan stressed that he isn't "down" on Calvin Pryor, adding that the young safety will still play "a significant role" in his defense.

But the Jets coach pointed out one specific area for improvement.

"It starts with tackling," Ryan said Monday. "You have to get guys on the ground. He gets some great shots. He is a good tackler, but you have to get them down in space, especially when you have that much room and that is not easy. I think that is an area where I think he is working hard to improve."

Ryan said Pryor is at his best when playing closer to the line of scrimmage. And yet, the Jets haven't used their first-round safety that way -- the way they intended when they selected him 18th overall in the 2014 draft.

Why? Because of their roster, Ryan said.

"It is clear that he is one of those guys that the closer he gets to the football, the more impact he is going to have. There is no denying that," Ryan said. "...I think going into the season we might have had a different plan on, really, some of our base defense and what that would look like, but with the way the roster is now you have to make adjustments."

And that means the team's needs supersede Pryor's developmental needs. The player who was nicknamed "Louisville Slugger" for his crushing hits in college isn't playing in the type of situations he once thrived in.

"I think if you just were going to do what is in his best interest, then yeah, you would have done that," Ryan said. "But you try to do what is in the best interest of your team.

"We're not looking to just win the Rookie of the Year, we're trying to win games now. We haven't been real good at that right now, but you have to look at what you have and try to put your team in the best situation to be successful. Not just one individual."

Shortly after the draft, Ryan likened Pryor to Jack Tatum, nicknamed "The Assassin" for his punishing hits as a Raiders safety, and labeled the Jets rookie the hardest-hitting safety in the 2014 class. Last month, however, Ryan said Pryor hasn't had the impact the coaching staff expected.

Questions about Pryor only increased after he was benched in favor of backup Jaiquawn Jarrett against the Steelers Nov. 9. Jarrett earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording two interceptions, 10 tackles, his first full sack and a fumble recovery in the Jets' 20-13 win.

Asked if Pryor and Jarrett could play at the same time, Ryan said: "Definitely, our safeties are interchangeable."