In Round two we missed my pick Linval Joseph (who went to the G-men) and landed an impressive offensive linemen out of Massachusetts. Vladimir Ducasse is a the size of a small house and excelled at the LT position in college. I am assuming he will be plugged into the LG spot to fill in for Alan Faneca who was unceremoniously dumped by the Jets not long after drafting Vlad. I think ultimately he will line up at RT when Damien Woody get jettisoned. But, for now the rookie will most likely line up between D'brick and Mangold. Faneca is owed over 5 million dollars and his cap number would have only been about 7 this year. So, essentially, the Jets dumped a pro-bowl, veteran guard who helped lead the best overall O-line in football last season to save 2 million. There is no other way to look at it.
There's a saying, 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. I don't subscribe to that philosophy. I think we need to always be striving to get better as a team because all 31 other teams will be a little better next season. However, I do subscribe to the school of thought that says 'if you are #1 don't fix it'. We had the #1 rushing attack in football last year, and the credit doesn't go to Jones and Greene. It was Bill Calahan and his O-line that got the job done.
To break up an all-pro left side of the O-line and break the continuity was just simply wrong. Some other AFC team will snatch up Faneca and be better off. Have we learned nothing from the Pete Kendal fiasco. We traded away a good quality LG who was our veteran leader on the O-line and our offense fell apart. The Pennington debacle should have also yielded some lessons. We released him and he led our most bitter rivals to the division championship and knocked us out of the playoff run. If Mr. T felt we should dump Faneca than he should have been traded for a 6th round pick to an NFC team. I know Alan was past his prime, but if there is ever a time to hold onto guys like him and Thomas Jones, it's an uncapped year.
In round 3 we traded up for a RB out of USC named Joe McKnight. I see nothing in this player that makes me think he has what it takes to make it on the pro level. First of all, he can't break a tackle. If he is touched by a defender he hits the ground. He has average speed and little burst. When USC is playing some small school guys like McKnight look like gold out on the field. When he starts playing against NFL defenders he will look like exactly what he will be in 3 or 4 years... a very talented, high school physical education teacher.
Hate this pick, however I do like the idea of dumping Neon Leon Washington. He will turn 28 during the 2010 season and the injury he suffered lat year will end his career. He will probably make a short lived comeback and have some moderate success, but I am sure his best days are behind him. His wife posted a statement on her Twitter account that said "thank God we are out of here". What a hardship this experience with the NYJ has been. Sorry the Jets drafted your husband and offered him a ton of money to sign a long term contract, and his greedy agent probably cost your family it's long term financial security... our bad.
Round 5 yielded a very interesting prospect from Kentucky. John Conner is an excellent prospect at the FB position. Nice value on day 3. We need to groom someone to take Tony Richardson's place next season... Conner could be an important part of our offense in a few years.
We did nothing in free agency or the draft to address our defensive line.... again. Rumors are surfacing that Vernon Gholston will move back to DE. I say why not? He couldn't possibly be less effective in that role. When ever we have a package with 4 linemen on defense (nickel or dime) Vernon should be our RE. I like Mike Devito and Ropati Pitoitua, but this team is suppose to be being built for a Superbowl run this year. Why have such big question marks on the offensive and defensive lines? I just don't get it.
Our veteran leadership has been tossed by the side of the road, and players like LT and Jason Taylor have been moved in to fill those holes. These guys are future hall of famers, and are also both stinking rich. They are not hungry, and have nothing left to prove. It will take a long time to get our current roster to start respecting these guys as leaders. Why mess with the delicate balance of a roster that carried a rookie headcoach and QB to the AFC championship game?
I disagree with Tannenbaum more often than not. That being said, he is a professional and I am just a fan. I know the pro's have a lot more insight than an amateur observer like me, but this offseason just doesn't add up. You can't throw together a bunch of stars and win it all in the NFL. This is not the NBA. It takes a long time for players to trust one another enough to make plays in big games and win in the playoffs. It takes an equally long time to assemble an elite offensive line and have them perform the way ours did last year.
I am getting a bad feeling that this is all going to come crashing down and Mark Sanchez will end up as the scapegoat. If we fall flat on our faces in 2010, one man should be blamed, and one man should pay the price... Mike Tannenbaum.
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