[hydro51]

Jets Team Report
Posted: March 4, 2007

Rich Cimini
For Sporting News

The Jets' willingness to lock up WR Jerricho Cotchery, who signed a five-year, $20 million contract extension through 2012, demonstrates a new approach. Cotchery wasn't eligible for free agency until 2008, but the Jets want to secure their top young players before their value peaks. Shades of the Eagles' philosophy. Don't be surprised if third-year S Kerry Rhodes signs an extension in the near future. With more than $15 million in cap room, the Jets might as well use it . . . .

After the expected release of QB Patrick Ramsey, the Jets are in the market for an experienced backup to Chad Pennington. But it won't be easy to find the right player because there's no guarantee he will be handed the No. 2 job. The Jets want second-year QB Kellen Clemens to win the job, but they don't want to hand him the position. They want a veteran that can provide stiff competition. Good luck finding one. One possibility is former Viking Brad Johnson, 38, who would be the ideal insurance policy. . . .

The Jets aren't fretting the loss of FB B.J. Askew (Bucs). He's a hybrid back who didn't fit their system. They want a thumper at fullback. One free-agent possibility is Darian Barnes (Dolphins), who would fit that mold. The Jets aren't going to pay big money because they use a lot of one-back formations, sans the fullback.

SCOUTING REPORT: RB Leon Washington is an ideal change-of-pace back. He's only 5-8, but he has exceptional acceleration and change-of-direction skills. When he gets the ball in space, he's very dangerous. Despite his size, he's not a bad runner between the tackles. He's tough and decisive, not afraid to mix it up in the trenches. He's at his best when carrying the ball 10-15 times a game, so he probably will share the workload. Eric Mangini, like a lot of other coaches, wants to use a two-headed tailback. Washington's pass-protection and ball-security skills, once liabilities, have improved considerably in one year.

DRAFT BUZZ: G.M. Mike Tannenbaum is conservative by nature, but don't be surprised if he makes a big splash by trading up from the 25th spot. The Jets have some bargaining chips -- two second-round picks and LB Jonathan Vilma, if they decide to put him on the trading block. Vilma is a terrific player, but he doesn't fit the Jets' 3-4 scheme. If the Jets trade up in the first round, the object of their desire will be Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson, the only franchise back in the draft. They'd have to get into the top 2 or 3 to make that happen -- difficult, but not impossible.

Rich Cimini covers the Jets for the New York Daily News.

Sportingnews Mock Draft

Round 1
Zach Miller
TE, Arizona St.

Hands: Is outstanding. Consistently reaches out and catches the ball. Twists and contorts body to adjust to off-target throws and make great catches. Grade: 8.5
Patterns: Runs sharp and precise routes. Is quick off the snap. Shows the agility and quickness to make sharp cuts and the burst out of cuts to easily gain separation. Is adept at juking defenders to get open. Is smart; finds holes in zone coverage. Grade: 8.5
Run after catch: Has the ... Full analysis

ROUND 2
Pick Projected Player Pos. School
5 (37) Marcus McCauley CB Fresno St.

(from Washington) The Jets should gamble on the ultra-talented McCauley, who has top-10 talent but had a terrible senior season and terrible week at the Senior Bowl, because their secondary needs too much help.

27 (59) Michael Bush RB Louisville

The Jets need a big, strong power back to complement second-year man Leon Washington. Bush, coming off a broken leg, can drag tacklers and carry offense on his back if needed.

[GreenScreen313]

trade up to get a rB? Give me a break...

[Jets81]

So basically he's saying everything that gets rehashed on these boards over and over. I sure wish other people did my job for me...

[hydro51]

Originally Posted by steJ

So basically he's saying everything that gets rehashed on these boards over and over. I sure wish other people did my job for me...

fareal. lol

sidenote if the jets wanted a rb so damn by why didnt we just trade up for bush it would have been much cheaper.

[Tight]

Originally Posted by hydro51

fareal. lol

sidenote if the jets wanted a rb so damn by why didnt we just trade up for bush it would have been much cheaper.

cheaper how ?

we would have to given up both first rounders and more, that sounds more expensive to me.

[hydro51]

Originally Posted by Tight

cheaper how ?

we would have to given up both first rounders and more, that sounds more expensive to me.

But we woulda kept vilma.

[fenwyr]

I would vomit if that were our first three picks. We can get RB help on the cheap right now with Duckett or Brown. Dyson, Barrett, Poteat and Miller are good enough in the secondary. And if we want to pick a TE it better now be until the end of day one. Where is Olsen from the U projected to go?

We need to improve our line. We need a RT at 25 and a NT at 37.

[DaBallhawk]

You dont draft a friggin TE in the 1st round, except for guys like Heap, Shockey and company. You can easily find talented TEs in the 3rd or 4th round. And i dont like Bush at all. Too slow, he will not get anywhere behind our o-line. McCauley has bust written all over him, i dont want him. Plus he's already 25 years old i believe.

[jonnyd]

TE in the first round? I sure hope not

[The Green Dude]

Originally Posted by DaBallhawk

You dont draft a friggin TE in the 1st round, except for guys like Heap, Shockey and company. You can easily find talented TEs in the 3rd or 4th round. And i dont like Bush at all. Too slow, he will not get anywhere behind our o-line. McCauley has bust written all over him, i dont want him. Plus he's already 25 years old i believe.

If the talent is there why not? Olsen is an excellent TE and the only one I would consider using our first pick on. He just reminds me of Doug Jolley too damn much!

[The Green Dude]

Jolley

Height: 6-4
Weight: 250

Olsen

Height: 6-5 (edit)
Weight: 252

tempting none the less!

[MAJORPAYNE]

This may not be appealing, but expect our front office to trade Dewayne Robertson and the # 25 with a conditional 2008 1st or 2nd day pick to the lions for the #2 overall and select OT Joe Thomas in the 1st round. A veteran back will be persued and signed to compete with Washington the expectations are that Chris Brown will likely be the back, injury concerns are futile even though there is history, unhappiness is more the problem, but things might get complicated with the release of Travis Henry, expect the draft to be Defense specific D-lineman,MLB,CB or situational pass rusher to be coveted within round 2. A back to consider in the 3rd round is Kenneth Darby from Alabama.
Expect at least 2 offensive linemen along with a veteran quarterback to be signed late in the free agency period.

[GreenMachine]

Originally Posted by MAJORPAYNE

This may not be appealing, but expect our front office to trade Dewayne Robertson and the # 25 with a conditional 2008 1st or 2nd day pick to the lions for the #2 overall and select OT Joe Thomas in the 1st round. A veteran back will be persued and signed to compete with Washington the expectations are that Chris Brown will likely be the back, injury concerns are futile even though there is history, unhappiness is more the problem, but things might get complicated with the release of Travis Henry, expect the draft to be Defense specific D-lineman,MLB,CB or situational pass rusher to be coveted within round 2. A back to consider in the 3rd round is Kenneth Darby from Alabama.
Expect at least 2 offensive linemen along with a veteran quarterback to be signed late in the free agency period.

NONONONO!


Darby is garbage. Why would the Jets draft a guy that looks like a career back up?

[IIMeanDeanII]

Originally Posted by hydro51

fareal. lol

sidenote if the jets wanted a rb so damn by why didnt we just trade up for bush it would have been much cheaper.

Our O-Line was far more important than, Bush. I dont think Bush would've excelled here either, but who knows. Peterson to me is more of a all around balanced runner that would fit our team well.

I dont like it though. Not at all.

[DaBallhawk]

Originally Posted by The Green Dude

If the talent is there why not? Olsen is an excellent TE and the only one I would consider using our first pick on. He just reminds me of Doug Jolley too damn much!

sure, i would give olsen a shot with our 1st round pick but not zach miller. that dude is just way too slow and clumsy to be a threat in our passing game. he's not even a good blocker. i would rather pick up either olsen in the 1st or patrick in the 3rd or 4th round

[Br4dw4y5ux]

Originally Posted by hydro51

But we woulda kept vilma.

No D'Brick and no Mangold but we would have had Vilma... In order to draft a runningback. To run behind the league's worst offensive line.

Think about it for a bit and tell me what would have been wrong about trading up for Bush last year and keeping Vilma or trading up for Peterson this year with Mangold and D'Brick filling two otherwise holes on the line.

[akibud]

Originally Posted by hydro51

But we woulda kept vilma.

...... and Bush is a better back!!