Moore is less I guess...

Brandon Moore is on his way out. He's been our starting guard since 2004 (the year C-Mart won the rushing title) and has grown into a very solid lineman. Considering he was a DT at Illinois and was named All-Big Ten in his senior season, making the move from D-line to O-line is very impressive. He's 28 and entering his prime. Our O-line developed good chemistry and played well pass blocking and run blocking. So what does all that equal? Rumors are the Jets will release Moore this week and move Damien Woody our LT to LG and try to find a new starting tackle. Keeping with the age old Jets philosophy if it ain't broke, tamper with it and try to fix it.

Think of the 03' off-season when the Jets had a young quarterback (Pennington) who had completed a break out year leading the team to a division tile and a big post season home win vs. Peyton Manning and the Colts. On cue the Jets allow his top young receiver Coles to walk as a free agent, breaking up the WR corps of Chrebet, Coles and Santana Moss. In 07' we traded Kendal, a veteran guard who mentored our two 1st round draft picks and was the unquestioned leader of our O-line because of a minor contract disagreement. We had no suitable replacement and the line collapsed. A 4-12 season followed.

Knowing that we will have a new signal caller behind center it should be our number one priority to maintain the integrity of our O-line. It should also be important to hold on to a pet project player. We suffered through he growing pains, lets enjoy the harvest.

Now lets turn our sights to "the nuge". The 2005 season was a real turning point for our NY Jets. It was a 4-12 year and the end of the Edwards/Bradway regime. I remember our season opener in Kansas City, and more specifically I remember KC's opening drive when Holmes and Larry Johnson simply ran the ball down our throats. I also remember our top draft pick, Mike Nugent missing 2 short field goals.

Overall Nugent is an 81% kicker. He is 3-9 for field goals over 50yrds, and has even missed a few extra points. He is the second highest drafted kicker of all time, and was our top pick of the 05' draft. Those numbers reflect an undrafted journeyman kicker who plays for the league minimum and moves from city to city. So, hopefully we will cut ties with him now that his deal is up, and allow him to fade away into mediocrity.

Graham Gano form Florida State is probably obtainable with one of our two 4th round picks and looks like he has a big league leg. I am also sure that the Giants will release John Carney who had a great year in 2008. He's old, but has a year or two left in him. That being said, what ever direction the Jets decide to go in regarding our 2009 kicker, there is no question that Nugent needs to go.

Finally regarding the draft, I am on record that I don't want Sanchez or any QB in this draft and I would like to use our #17 pick on CB Alphonso Smith. However I hold RB Knowshon Moreno from Georgia in the highest regard. I had a co-worker who lived in Middletown NJ and watched Moreno from pop warner through to college. He gave me great insights into his upbringing and how he started at the bottom and worked his way to the top.

He has great character, amazing natural agility and instincts, impressive strength (25 reps on the bench press at the combine), and is an every down bell cow back. I pay little attention to the 40 yard dash, so Moreno's slow 4.60 time doesn't dissuade me. He is FAST, it's that simple. If this 40 time lets him slip down to #17, I would look very hard at this player. I know we don't have a real need at RB, and I am weary of 1st round big money backs, especially because there are so many good backs available. That being said, this guy is exciting and will be a real impact player for years to come.

The first round should be about game changers!

J.Wagner