Just something I threw together, just trying to make sense of why there are so many misunderstandings of the things the team needs. I'd be glad to explain why I categorize certain people as certain things. Legend: Players at the position: Present players at position, FAs in parentheses. Starting caliber players: Players that should start in 2011. Starters for +2 years: Players that should be apart of the team's plans to start in 2013 and beyond. Quality backups: Players that aren't starters, but have proven they can play, or are spot starters (n/i guys who should start). Need: How many players that should be added. Need Rating: What type of pick should be spent on it. Note, I left out Free Agents that I don't think have a chance at returning. QB Players at the position: 4- Sanchez, Brunell, O'Connell, Ainge (technically) Starting caliber players: 1- Sanchez Starters for +2 years: 1- Sanchez Quality backups: 1- Brunell Draft Need: 1, developmental 3rd QB. Need Rating: Late Round RB Players at the position: 4- Greene, Tomlinson, McKnight, Connor Starting caliber players: 2- Greene, Tomlinson / 1- Connor Starters for +2 years: 1- Greene Quality backups: 2- Tomlinson, McKnight Draft Need: 0 Need Rating: Late if at all, UDFA/Practice Squad. WR Players at the position: 5- (Edwards), (Holmes), Cotchery, (Smith), Turner Starting caliber players: 3- Edwards, Holmes, Cotchery Starters for +2 years: 2- Edwards, Holmes Quality backups: 2- Cotchery, Smith Draft Need: 1, potentially 2, depends entirely on FA situation/plans. Need Rating: Potentially high, depending on FA. If both Edwards and Holmes return, low, if one returns then mid round selection. The pick would be based on the skill set of the player they think will leave. TE Players at the position: 3- Keller, Cumberland, Mulligan Starting caliber players: 1- Keller Starters for +2 years: 1- Keller Quality backups: 0 Draft Need: 1, backup with blocking ability. Need Rating: Low, if only because of how the position is valued. OT Players at the position: 3- Ferguson, (Hunter), Ducasse Starting caliber players: 1- Ferguson Starters for +2 years: 2- Ferguson, Ducasse Quality backups: 1- Hunter Draft Need: 1- depending on Hunter's return, and team's comfort level with Ducasse. Need Rating: Later, depending on the above. They would probably add a veteran tackle in free agency. IL Players at the position: 4- Mangold, Moore, Slauson, Turner Starting caliber players: 3- Mangold, Moore, Slauson Starters for +2 years: 2- Mangold, Slauson Quality backups: 1- Turner Draft Need: 1- Starter for the relatively near future. Need Rating: Mid round, developmental player fine, likely won't start for 2 years. DL (combined because of defense's versatility) Players at the position: 7- Pouha, (Ellis), DeVito, Pitoitua, Gilbert, Dixon, Kroul Starting caliber players: 3- Pouha, Ellis, DeVito Starters for +2 years: 2- Pouha, DeVito Quality backups: 0 (a lot of players with some ability, but nothing proven). Draft Need: 1 definite, 2 if Ellis is not brought back. Need Rating: High pick. A starting caliber player is needed as soon as possible, and a developmental NT should be looked at as well. OLB Players at the position: Pace, Thomas, Westerman Starting caliber players: 2- Pace, Thomas Starters for +2 years: 0 Quality backups: 1- Westerman Draft Need: 1 Need Rating: Huge. They have nobody that should be a part of the team's long term plans, and need a passrusher immediately. ILB Players at the position: 4- (Harris), Scott, Mauga, Laury Starting caliber players: 2- Harris, Scott Starters for +2 years: 1- Harris Quality backups: 0 Draft Need: 1 Need Rating: Low round, though a player to develop behind the starters that belongs in a 34 (read: not Mauga or Laury) can't hurt. CB Players at the position: 4- Revis, Wilson, (Coleman), Cole Starting caliber players: 2- Revis, Wilson Starters for +2 years: 2- Revis, Wilson Quality backups: 1-Coleman Draft Need: 0 Need Rating: FA, the need is in veteran help to push Wilson, not in another young player. S Players at the position: 5- Leonhard, Lowery, (Pool), (Smith), (Ihedigbo) Starting caliber players: 4- Leonhard, Lowery, Pool, Smith Starters for +2 years: 1- Lowery Quality backups: 1- Smith Draft Need: 1, depending in team's confidence in Lowery, and what FAs return. Need Rating: Mid round pick, Lowery should get the first crack at the job next to Leonhard. That said, a backup that can learn behind Leonhard and take over in a couple years without his physical limitations would be ideal. Ranked up: OLB- Most (passrusher) DL- High (starter) S- Mid IL- Mid WR- Mid (potential up or down) DL- Mid (yep, again) TE- Low ILB- Low OT- Low QB- Low RB- Lowest CB- Not a draft need
Why is Wilson starting caliber? How nice would it be if our "unproven" players on the DL can step up and turn into starting caliber players? It has been awhile since we've had a player that came out of no where and turned out to be a hidden gem. I agree with your priority list though. I'm sure we will be able to find a quality OLB or DL player in this draft. It's going to be great. The only thing I kinda disagree on is the CB position. I'm not convinced at all that Wilson is a starter at this point, and if Cro disappears, I'm a little concerned.
Thanks for putting this together its an interesting read. I do think CB is more of an issue regardless of whether Cro stays or goes but agree with all the rest (for what its worth )
I think Wilson gets the benefit of the doubt being listed as starter quality because of where is was coming to the team as a rookie. He didn't play a ton last year, but he's capable of being a starter based on the skills we all know he has. The opposite is Ducasse, who also didn't play much, but came in as a raw player and needed to show us something before any of us could justify a starting gig for him. And as for corner as a need, I really don't see what drafting another corner could do for us. They have enough young players they're trying to develop as it is.
I just took another look at the Jets' current roster. There are a few players on the roster at positions that have been discussed as being potential mid to lower needs, S (Emmanuel Cook), LB (Brashton Satele) and OG (Marlon Davis & Dennis Landolt). Does anyone think they have potential to develop? Wasn't Cook one of the last players cut in TC last year and didn't he show some flashes? I remember that on the Jets site where I used to post, one of the posters was pretty high on the potential of Davis. There's also Dennis Landolt, a Penn State kid. Is he just TC fodder, or does he have a chance of developing into at least a backup if not a starter? Magilla, aren't you a 'Bama fan? If so, how about it, do you think Davis will develop into Moore's replacement? I believe that Satele's brother is a starting OL in the NFL. Is Satele an ILB or OLB? I'm assuming he must be OLB, since Laury and Mauga are ILBs. To be clear, I'm not saying that any of these kids are the answer and that the Jets don't need to draft a player at those positions. I'm just seeing feedback on what you guys think about the potential of these kids, and what, if any, impact that might have on the Jets' thinking.
I wouldn't but all my eggs in that basket, but they did see something they liked, they wouldn't have brought him in predraft and signed him twice afterward if they didn't. He's a hardworking finesse blocker, very agile on his feet. He's good, not great, in both aspects of blocking, with a slight edge to runblocking. That said, I don't think he'll ever be more than a backup at best, I don't think he has the overall strength to hold up inside in the NFL...
Great write-up Hurricane. I agree we have to address the front seven. I would also question Wilson as a legit starter. Despite his prowess coming out of school, he really struggled last year and was eventually behind Coleman AND Cole. Not giving up on the kid as many CBs struggle early and then find their way, I just think it's as much of a stretch to say he is a quality starter as it is Ducasse. I believe Turner is FA too. Why is Cro not listed? Thanks for posting.
I used NYJetsCap.com for the roster/FAs, and they had Turner as returning. As for Cro I left out guys that I didn't think had a chance at returning. I should know better than to doubt Tanny, but I really feel he's a goner.
I don't think any of those guys have a shot at developing. Cook has shown those flashes, but I don't think he'll be consistent enough to start in this league. STer at best.
I agree with references to Devito (and 36% of our players in the AFGCG were UDFAs so we are clearly good at getting undrafted players) but Pouha was a 3rd rounder so should be expected to be capable of starting.
