Jets LB Aaron Maybin: 'I fit here'

When New York Jets linebacker Aaron Maybin is on the field, everybody knows it. Not only is Maybin loud -- he is known to some as "Microphone" -- but he goes a steady 100 mph all the time.

As the first-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2009, Maybin made almost no impact. In two seasons, playing in 27 regular season games, he had a total of 15 tackles, no sacks and one forced fumble. In 13 games with the Jets in 2011, he had 10 total tackles, six sacks and one
forced fumble.

After the Bills waived Maybin during their 2011 training camp, the Jets signed him for the league minimum. They released him at the end of training camp but re-signed him at the end of September.

Almost a year later, Maybin has become a fully entrenched member of the Jets. In his first year, Maybin relied on his speed and was used almost exclusively on third down. Now, that he has absorbed the defense, he is able to focus more on the details. According to outside
linebackers coach Mike Smith, the team will now design certain packages for Maybin, the same way they do with other players.

At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Maybin sat down with Smith.

"We kind of evaluated my entire season of play," Maybin said. "We identified point of attack and run defense as the areas I can improve in a lot. So we felt like we need to attack the strength and conditioning part this offseason. I also needed one-on-one work, not just to learn my plays just to learn the reason why I need to do certain techniques.

"I’ve improved by leaps and bounds, which is a tribute to the coaching staff. They keep me on point to make sure I hit my goals."

Maybin is now light years more relaxed, comfortable and confident.

"I think that the only way I could describe it, for the first time in a long time I feel happy playing the game. There was a matter of the fit not being right," he said, referring to his time in Buffalo. "My old coaching staff, they never felt as though I fit into their scheme.
They said that countless times. That’s an issue they always had with me."

"I fit here," he said.

Stay dialed in on the New York Jets by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter@CBSSportsNFLNYJ and @LisaZimmerman.