Welcome to J-E-T-S-JETS.blogspot.com!
I plan on posting weekly observations and analysis of the New York Jets Off season, Pre season, Regular season and potential Post season, or lack-there-of. Things will hopefully stay analytical and I will try to post the bare minimum of angry emotional rants.
So, to start lets address the Draft and specifically the 2009 NFL Combine. Our draft break down as follows: 1st (17), 2nd (49), 3rd (78), 3rd (81), 4th, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th. The popular opinion seems to be that the NYJ should be addressing the QB position in this draft and possibly moving up in the 1st round.
The Jets have not been shy about draft day moves since 2006 when Mike Tannanbaum (Mr. T) took over the reigns as GM from Terry Bradway. In 2007 they targeted Revis and David Harris and were very aggressive about moving up in the 1st and 2nd rounds to get their men. Last season they quietly targeted Dustin Keller and moved up to insure he would wear the green and white. It also deserves mention that in 2006 the Jets resisted the pressure to move up from the #4 overall spot to #2 to draft Reggie Bush. They would have had to give up their #4, early second round pick and the following years #1. That would have cost us Ferguson, Clemens, and Revis.
That being said, if the front office should decide to target a QB in the top 10 and make a move to get him it's hard to criticize their past moves with picks like Revis Harris and Keller. My script for the 2009 NFL draft doesn't include a QB... in any round, and places our top pick at a position where we already have a young probowler.
I am a believer that an upper echelon team needs an identity and a dominate 'squad'. By 'squad' I mean linebackers, O-line, D-line ...ect. I feel you need one A+ squad to cause match up problems and win consistently. Our O-line is a B+ at most, and they are our most complete 'squad'. Drafting a playmaking dynamic CB in the first round to compliment Revis would make our secondary a real force.
Alphonso Smith will be available at #17 and is the perfect fit. He had 22 picks in college and has all the intangibles you look for in an NFL CB. A nickel package with Revis and Smith as bookends, Lowery as the nickel and Rhodes and Elam in the safety spots would be an A+ squad and reminiscent of Rex Ryan’s secondary in Baltimore. A dominate secondary and a quality O-line can help any team win on a regular basis.
Next I feel our WR squad needs a boost and the strong aggressive wide out from Rutgers Kenny Britt (6'3" 218lbs) should be on the board at #49. Consider an O-line that can run and pass block well, two productive backs in Jones and Washington, and a dynamic WR corps. including Coles, Cotchery, Stuckey, Clowney and the young Britt. Who ever ends up behind center couldn't ask for a much better environment.
I think our D-line is our weakest squad. Rumors are swirling about Sean Ellis's future with this team. After his arrest for drug possession last season, his lack of production, his age and his huge cap number, it's not far fetched to think he has played his last game for the NYJ. That covers our LE position and we have had no identity at the RE spot for years. The obvious rock of our line is Kris Jenkins. He is amazing. However, he has some durability issues. Therefore I would look a DT and a DE with size speed and upside with our two 3rd round picks.
I'll drop two names, Dorell Scott from Clemson: this 6'3" 312 pounder had a very productive sophomore and junior campaign. His lackluster senior year has let a potential 1st or second rounder slip to a late 1st day pick and a quality value. He would be able to play alongside Jenkins in the nickel and dime, and could provide good depth coming from a school that has produced a ton of NFL D-linemen.
I also like Rulon Davis DE from Cal: He's 6'5" 280lbs and a former Marine. He would possibly have been a 1st round talent but a car accident in 2005 injured his leg and his perception among scouts. He recovered and played well his senior year, but his past injury issues push him down the board. I see his speed and strength as a real mis-match problem for opponents, and his leadership would be valuable.
All four of these players, Smith, Britt, Scott, and Davis are playmakers, could contribute in year one and have no character or off the field issues. They also should be available with the picks we already have.
I won't go deep in to our day 2 picks, but I would address our O-line depth and look for an interesting half back. Cedric Peerman from Virginia should still be around in the 4th round. He has prototype size for a RB 5'10" 216 pounds, 4.45 40 yard dash time, 27 reps of 225 pounds at the combine, and can even return kicks. He and 'Neon Leon' could be a nice one two punch a couple of years down the road, both in the backfield and the return game.
I would address CB, WR, DT, DE, and HB with our first 5 picks. There is obviously still some glaring needs on our D-line and LB corps that could use some experienced free agents, and of coarse our field general and leader, our quarterback, still needs to be addressed.
I really like UFA's Chris Canty form the Cowboys and John Thorton form the Bengals. It looks unlikely that the Cowboys will let Canty walk, but trust me when I say that the Miami Dolphins will take a shot at him. Parcells drafted him, and it would be advisable to fill a gaping hole on our d-line and at the same time keep him away from a division opponent. Thorton could play anywhere on the D-line and can be a real menace in the trenches.
There is a lot of talk about Ray Lewis and I think his days in Baltimore are done. I see him landing in Dallas or here. I like Calvin Pace and David Harris and I am not nearly prepared to give up on Vernon Gholston after his unproductive rookie campaign. I think Ryan can turn him around and our new defensive coordinator is Rex's former linebackers coach from the Ravens. I feel confident Gholston will make an impact this year. Harris, Pace and Gholston need one more quality LB to fill out the squad. Lewis, in a limited role and serving as an ambassador for the two gap system could be worth his price tag. He really could be the X-factor as the #2 ILB. I don't think we absolutely need him, but he couldn't hurt and it's not my money!
Finally, after examining rookies and blue-chip draft choices, unrestricted free agents and the different "squads" strengths and weakness’ we are left with the 'one man' squad, the quarterback! We have Kellen, Brett (#5 not #4) and Ainge. I like the idea of an open competition, and for the record I have a feeling about Clemens. I think he can be our guy.
But, with a payroll like ours and the spotlight of New York we simply can't afford to go into the OTA's and preseason without an experienced veteran as part of this open competition. If Kellen can't make it happen in 09' he'll be gone. There are lots of free agent names out there like Warner and Collins, and a bunch of possible trade scenario’s with guys like Bulger and Kitna.
With all of the choices available my pick would be Jeff Garcia. Other than his time in Detroit which is well know as NFL purgatory, he has been productive and a winner. He has led the 49ers, Eagles ad Tampa to the post season. This team is not a lot different from the 2006 Philadelphia team that Garcia had success with. He and Brian Scottenhiemer would be a great match, and I think with him behind center we at least make the playoffs. Basically he would be signed to short money (1 year 3million) and he would be a stop gap insurance policy if Clemens falls on his face and Ratliff is not yet ready. This team is built to win now.
That covers our needs via the draft and free agency. In the coming weeks I will be focusing more on the draft and the QB department, but I will also be addressing some other topics like my take on the Vilma trade debacle, the PSL debate, the Westside Stadium and Woody's broken promise, and the Jets curiously celebrating the 40th anniversary of Super Bowl III, and not realizing how it puts a spotlight on the fact we have been unable to win a championship for 4 decades.
Being a Jets fan is a blessing and a curse, J-E-T-S-JETS!
J.Wagner
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