1.24.11 Most of TGG's regulars know me more as someone that's more of a draftnik. With this, I'm bringing everyone into the discussion, because this needs to be talked about with everyone. This is about the future of this franchise. Whether it's through free agency or the draft, the Jets need to improve some key areas. It's looks like we'll have the 30th overall pick in the first round. We'll also be strapped for cash if we lock up vets like Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, and hopefully David Harris. I'd rather have a receiving duo of Holmes and Edwards than a 3-4 inside linebacker in David Harris. The following are, in my opinion, this team's biggest needs: Outside Backers and 3-4 Ends: I'm putting these two together because they work off of eachother. This unit needs to be revamped. With each passing week, it became more obvious that our team speed in the front seven is almost non-existent. No one is getting after the quarterback on a consistent basis. Shaun Ellis has obviously lost a step or two. It'd be ideal to find a replacement as soon as possible. Mike DeVito has been a pleasant surprise, but he could use some help. A rotation at end should be put together. I'm hoping that guys like Ropati Pitoitua and Jarron Gilbert step up in 2011. Regardless, we still need young talent at the position. I'm not putting any kind of faith in a practice squad player and a guy coming off of a serious injury. Calvin Pace is a solid all-around linebacker, but he's not a pass rushing threat. Bryan Thomas is basically the same player. We need to find a high motor guy that can get constant pressure on the quarterback. I'm sure if the defensive line becomes more talented, our OLBs will benefit. Starting Caliber Safeties: I don't know about you guys, but I'm sick of all of these rotational safeties. Jimmy Leonhard is a hard-working, smart player, but he lacks great size and athleticism. Brodney Pool and Eric Smith have no business starting in this league. James Ihedigbo is a solid special teamer that does well in a pass rushing role. They're all role players - that's it. Dwight Lowery has the ability to play free safety. Hopefully an off-season playing the position will work out for him. I'm predicting a few new safeties in 2011. Damien Woody's Replacement: We might already have this player on our roster. Wayne Hunter stepped the hell up late in the season when Woody went down. 2010's second round pick Vladimir Ducasse could be our future right tackle, but is he ready yet? We chould sign an inexpensive stopgap, plug-in-play veteran and let Ducasse prove he's ready by competing for the right tackle spot. Inside Linebacker: If we go the way I hope, we'll end up re-signing the receivers. That means David Harris will be gone. A lot of people got pissed when I called him a two-down linebacker last off-season. I stand by that statement. I'm not trying to knock the guy by saying this, it's just the truth. 98% of the league's 3-4 inside linebackers are two-down linebackers - they have no business in coverage. Harris is one of the best run defenders in the NFL, but in my opinion, it's not worth it to invest big time money in the position. Bart Scott already has a big contract. We could tag him, but that would cost the team 9 or 10 million bucks. Bart Scott is aging and there's little-to-no depth at the position already. A decent, inexpensive free agent could get similar production in Ryan's scheme. He certainly won't be the same caliber as the Hitman, but using less money on the position will allow us to upgrade more positions. Rotational Nose Tackle: This isn't a huge need. I could easily put another position like running back here. Sione Pouha is having an All-Pro type season. He's got plenty of years left in the tank. What we need is a player that can spell him from time to time. Martin Tevaseu was called up before the AFCCG. He's a likely option in a nose rotation. If you guys feel like another position is more of a need, bring it up. I want this to be an open discussion throughout the off-season.
I have talked about letting Harris walk to bring back other players with my dad before... I think I originally heard the proposal on here but maybe not. I would have to agree that Harris is the guy that makes the most sense to not keep. We hired Rex to be a defensive genius and I think this might need to be his big test. I love Harris but he does not get off blocks at all and as you said he is bad in coverage. The getting off blocks thing is what makes him seem expendable to me. He makes plays, but a lot of it seems to be because the scheme is designed to keep blockers off of him so he has a free run at the ball. I don't want to suggest that anyone could do his job but I think it could be done by a cheaper option without a large dropoff on the defense as a whole. The key to me is keeping the offense in tact as much as is possible and getting younger and faster in the front 7. We need to see the Jets draft picks used on the OLB's and DE's. I will take 3 young role players to go with the guys that are already on the roster. I assume that the stud pass rusher we all want won't be around at the 30th pick and I doubt even Tanny could pull of some crazy trade for one. Youth and speed in the front 7 is going to be key for next season. The scheme can cover up a lot of things but not a non existent pass rush.
Good OP. I'd like to see what people think about the Cromartie situation. People seem to be mixed on him; some say he's had a good year, others seem to think he struggled. In my opinion, it doesn't make sense to pay him the money he'll be demanding, especially if Kyle Wilson can move to his natural position on the outside. Clearly, the two WRs are more important at this point. Damn, I wish I had all the answers to these questions right now. Anyone know when we'll start hearing news about our free agents? I'm guessing no time soon.
Shaun Ellis Steve Weatherford Brodney Pool Tony Richardson Braylon Edwards Wayne Hunter Trevor Pryce David Harris Robert Turner Nick Folk Antonio Cromartie Lance Laury Santonio Holmes Eric Smith Brad Smith James Ihedigbo Drew Coleman Kellen Clemens Marquice Cole Michael Turkovich Marcus Dixon After looking over this list again, our team is going to look a lot different next season.
Jetfan76, if you look in the draft section, GH explains it. I had thought the same thing too, but E is right, we're 30.
I didn't mention him for a reason. I don't think it's realistic to bring him back with Kyle Wilson waiting to take over. It'd be awesome if he came back for an inexpensive contract, but this is Cro we're talking about. If it means we can re-sign both of our top wideouts, I'd be fine with losing both of them - it'd give us some flexibility in free agency. We could upgrade the front seven with multiple players for the cost of one (David Harris).
Shaun Ellis I'm torn on, he's been a Jet forever, but dude's old and just isn't much of a force anymore. Steve Weatherford, unless something better is out there, bring him back Brodney Pool, he stepped up in the 2nd half of the season, bring him back Tony Richardson, probably retiring otherwise bring him back Braylon Edwards, resign him Wayne Hunter, bring him back Trevor Pryce, let him go David Harris, resign if the money is right, but I think the other guys are more important Robert Turner, resign Nick Folk, let go Antonio Cromartie, let go Santonio Holmes, resign at the right price Eric Smith, resign Brad Smith, resign James Ihedigbo, resign Drew Coleman, resign unless there's something better out there Kellen Clemens, not sure, depends on if there's a good backup out there Marquice Cole, resign
Outside Backers and 3-4 Ends: This to me is unequivocally the team's biggest need. An OLB with some speed and a strong motor along with a big 3-4 end that can command double teams should be at the top of the list in terms of additions to this team. The end should be the bigger need imo. You can manufacture a pass rush if you have guys that do a good job opening up lanes in the trenches. I think Devito solidified himself as a starter on our D-Line but we need another guy at the other spot. Starting Caliber Safeties: While this is a need, I think we can get by with a rotation. The front 7 and re-signing our guys are such big priorities that I think we may not have a choice but to get by or hope that we strike gold with a late round draft pick Damien Woody's Replacement: I think we'll have to promote from within. Duccasee played well against Buffalo in that last game but you can't really take too much away from that. As the RT, you know he's gonna get help from a TE or FB blocking because teams will try to keep their elite pass rusher away from Brick on the other side. Also, Hunter did a nice job too Inside Linebacker: This is where it gets tricky. You have to wonder, can you really lock up both Bart Scott AND David Harris for huge money? They're both essentially the same type of player (good sure tacklers that struggle in coverage) and if you bring Harris back you know it's gonna be on a big contract which will likely mean either Edwards of Holmes will be gone. IDK if it's worth it, we have two gamebreaking receivers and this is quickly becoming a passing league. Tricky... Rotational Nose Tackle: I'd say the only thing to really do here is sign Jenkins back on an incentive based contract. Pouha is a young 30, he can play for a few more years. Here's a huge question...what do we do about Cromartie? We're losing a 2nd round pick but the market for corners is inflated. Also, Asomugha is available too.
Hey Electric, one more thing: I know the current CBA is expiring, but assuming there was NO CHANGE, can you provide and data as to how does this team stand with the salary cap going into the offseason?
I think we might all have to come to grips with losing Brad Smith. He is bound to get a contract offer that is too high for the Jets to pay.
I absolutely disagree that Pool "has no business starting in this league". In the 2nd half of the season and through the playoffs he stepped up his game and played great. I would absolutely like to have him back as a starting safety next year.
Front 7 absolutely needs to be the focus, especially at the OLB position. We all need to be praying someone drops to us in the first and pick up a DE in the 3rd. I'm also hoping Gilbert and Tevaseu are able to develop into rotational guys. We have some youth on the line, it just wasn't able to contribute this season. Mike Devito was one of those guys in the past. OLB is of the utmost importance, which I think we all agree on. The Cactus should be rotating, not starting. Unfortunately, I think the team may be more likely to draft a safety than sign one, which means shifting Lowery full time to allow time for a late rounder to develop. Given that OLine play is more dependent on the unit than the individual personnel, I don't particularly want a new RT coming in. I'd rather focus on resigning Hunter AND Turner and allow Hunter to compete with Ducasse for the starting RT position. Plug and play isn't a term I particularly like hearing with the offensive line. I stated my case for why I think Harris resigns (goes for Cromartie, too). The circumstances are different this season. I have no idea what happens with Holmes. I hope he loves being a Jet as much as he seems to, but we have no idea what's on his mind. The lack of draft picks is going to start to bite us. If the new CBA is reached, and a rookie scale is included, either RFA will be destroyed, or length of contract will be based on round to allow teams to renegotiate with players in the 4th season of contracts in the first and 2nd rounds. We're not going to reap the same benefits from our FAs that we would have prior to this season.
OK. I see you focused on Players and left out the obvious O.C :wink: So...working from your list. First and foremost at least two big, nasty and fast front 7 players. We need more bad intentions in the front. (I think this is a major sore spot for our Defense, and as much as a lack of speed contributes to inability in big spots). I think with Wide Open Wayne Hunter, we at least have a stop gap should Vlad not be ready by end of TC. (Though we could also scheme a little better to help make him ready) Rotational Nose tackle, COULD be filled by Jenkins returning. Letting Pouha be the man helps to alleviate the fact that KJ has been met with injuries the last two seasons. Saftey... Jimmy L isn't going anywhere....So, what remains is can Lowery play FS, or do we need more speed and ball hawking ability....? Personally, if we can keep the O relatively in tact, I'd prefer to see most of the draft used for Speed, Attitude and athleticism in the front 7. (That also depends on how good Ropati and Gilbert can be....) Hopefully we can One Outside Backer and one DE that can step in and play right away, and later find two developmental prospects with raw athleticism that the staff can coach up.
