5 Questions with Gang Green Nation on Demario Davis

Our friend David over at SB Nation's Gang Green Nation on the New York Jets, was kind enough to answer a few questions about one of the new additions to the New Orleans Saints: Linebacker Demario Davis.

Early reports are that Davis signed a three-year deal worth $24 million, with $18 million guaranteed. Is this a contract you wish the Jets would have offered? Do you think the Saints underpaid or overpaid?

When the Jets reacquired Demario Davis last year, it was less about him than getting some value from the Cleveland Browns for Calvin Pryor. The team was familiar with his skill set and ended up putting him in a different role than his first stint.

Before, he was the youngster paired up with aging David Harris, while last year he was the veteran with second year LB Darron Lee.He says that the Jets never even made him an offer this year, but they had already signed Avery Williamson, who could be an improvement.

For the Jets, we were thinking he was worth $5 million a year.

What is the strongest aspect of Davis’s game?

Demario Davis was good at stopping the run last year. Teams also ran against them a lot though because the Jets were often behind, so that padded his stats. The Jets also used him to blitz and rush the passer instead of covering.

Where would you see he could look most to improve?

Davis could most improve in pass coverage.

While he had good stats in this area, he received plenty of help from Darron Lee, who was assigned to the better RBs and TEs.

Does Davis play best inside or outside at this point in his career? How is he at diagnosing plays?

Davis is a Mike LB, and he had some struggles diagnosing plays early last year but seemed to improve later in the season.

The Saints have a bunch of veterans at linebacker in Manti Te’o, Craig Robertson and A.J. Klein, but also youngsters like Alex Anzalone on defense. What are reports about Davis’s locker room presence and how is he mentoring young players under his wing?

I can’t say much about Davis mentoring young players.

David Harris was a class act during his Jets career, so hopefully Demario learned from that. There were never any off the field issues with Davis, and I doubt character will ever be an issue with him.

Thank-you, for taking the time to talk with us! Saints fans, make sure you check out their work over at Gang Green Nation. You can follow them on Twitter at @GangGrenNation and David @DvdVill. Of course, as always, you can follow me on Twitter @dunnellz.