Thursday, April 26, 2012

Jets' much-improved Maybin looks to build on 2011

Photo: PennStateLive, Flickr 
BY NICK ST. DENIS

Aaron Maybin had the efficiency part down in his debut season with the Jets. The next step, however, is consistency.

A first-round bust for the Bills turned free-agent treat for the Jets, Maybin tallied just four solo tackles in 2011 -- except three of those tackles were sacks. That, and three were also forced fumbles.

No big deal.

Maybin went on to play in the Jets' nine remaining games, tallying three more sacks and a forced fumble. The 24-year-old out of Penn State was used strictly as a situational pass-rusher in 2011, though he has high hopes for 2012 after re-signing with Gang Green.

"I’m just trying to make sure that through this offseason, our coaching staff sees exactly what I see," Maybin told the Star-Ledger. "And that they’re confident putting me out there on first and second down."

To become an every-down, or at least a more-than-third-down front-seven defender, Maybin needs to bulk up and stay that way. He's currently listed as 228 pounds but said he hopes to maintain between 240 to 250 pounds of mass during the season.

After being drafted 11th overall by the Bills in 2009, Maybin failed to record a single sack during his first two years in the league before getting waived.

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