Hi all, As I'm not a huge fan of all the scenarios to "backing" into the playoffs and it's against the odds that we're going to win and have the three teams lose to get into the playoffs I'm looking ahead to what we need heading into next year. Before I start, I really wish we could have gotten LT a ring. I don't think he'll be back unless he takes the vet minimum and that's IF he wants to return and doesn't retire. Now, top needs, in order... O-Line LB S WR RB Also, let me preface this by saying we need a new Offensive Coordinator as well. Schottenheimer is not getting it done. I still haven't decided if Sanchez's inconsistencies are his or the OC or a combination of both. I think this is the Jets greatest glaring weakness. They lack consistency across the board on Offense. How many times did we, the fans, question a call? Too many for me to count and when my autistic son mumbles "draw" and sure enough there it is then there's no creativity either. I have seen enough of Sanchez that I want to see him with a better coordinator before I pass full judgement. He has done enough in the first two years to absolutely warrant his entire rookie contract and possibly an extension if we see improvement over that span. The NFL is littered with SB winning QB's who's first team gave up on them. You don't think San Diego wouldn't want Drew Brees back? Just an example. Even the Sanchez haters out there have to concede that. The Defense will be fine and Pettine is a much better than average Coordinator with Rex behind him...especially at his age. He is quite young and improving. Also, I think the defense plays considerably better and with more consistency if it had confidence in the offense. It is an emotional game and it's demoralizing when your offense consistently only plays the last 2 minutes each half. Having said that, on to the positions. Too early to name players as, clearly, until underclassmen commit etc...we can't really have a conversation as to whom to pick. #1 and top priority...Offensive Line. Need I really elaborate? Hunter is not the answer and to be quite honest is barely good enough for depth fodder. It was painfully clear when we had injuries we had zero depth and as we can all agree it starts with the o-line. We lost two games this year due to the loss of Mangold alone and that can not happen. We need to pick up at least 2 decent o-linemen in the draft and possibly a handful in FA for competition and to generate depth. Ducasse is slowly coming on and I'm ok with letting him play/learn out his rookie contract to see what Callahan can do with him...figure this a lost season, as well, with no real OTA's or training camp. (really hampered Sanchez as well) LB...outside of Harris, do we really have much confidence in the rest of the group. B. Scott is an emotional leader but he has always over achieved and with age and the piling on of nagging little nicks and bumps his lack of raw talent shows. He has his flashes but is not the consistent presence we need. The loss of Bryan Thomas was devastating as a group. He wasn't flashy but every team needs that workmanlike consistency that he brought to the table. I never thought I would say it, but his loss was huge this year. But, he, too, has aged and must be replaced...or at least back filled. The injuries have eliminated Pace. Those, coupled with age, have put him in in the position of spot duty. Yet again, we need more every down consistency from that position. The only spot duty guy we have that must be kept is Maybin. Considering when we got him and what he has accomplished I'm ok with him staying on the team as a pass rushing specialist. He's been in the league for a few years now and he is what he is. I've read on other threads that "if" he were to bulk up he would be a fabulous addition as an every down player but, as I just mentioned, he's been in the league a few years now and if he were going to bulk up he would have done so already. Keep him for passing downs and utilize his talents as they are. Besides...he showed me incredible mental toughness coming to the Jets. He was a top draft pick that busted so badly out of Buffalo that he could have easily thrown in the towel. He didn't. He came in, willing to learn, kept his head down and made an impact. That's the kind of guy I want hanging around and he is not going to command a big salary. We have to get younger and faster at the position...immediately. I'm not sure about the Pace or Thomas contract situations but at least one needs to go. Scott's leadership alone can not be overlooked and with a couple more decent teammates around him he can again shine for another couple years. We have GOT to be able to do something about tight ends...NE has two of the best in the league and we have have to be able to compete in that area. Safety...I feel real bad for Jimmy Leonard...he is an emotional leader, intelligent and tough as nails. Yet again, age and injuries have undone him and I would be surprised if he comes back next year...if he does, I don't expect him to be nearly what he was. Another over achiever who lets his smarts, coupled with toughness, dictate his play. I think too many big injuries and the age factor catch up to him. We must bring in a young, big, fast and smart guy(s) to learn from him to take the reins in a year. Maybe draft two safeties...or pick an additional one up in FA. I like Eric Smith...but he is simply miscast and over matched in this defense and with corners like Cro and Revis he has to be more lights out and intelligent. Jimmy L., MAYBE, has one more year and he needs to pass the torch. WR...We have Holmes locked and with a bit more consistency from Sanchez and the o-line that dimension should open up. I am unclear as to how much longer Plaxico can play. 1 year...maybe 2...that is if we decide to re-sign him. I think he is fabulous as a red zone option with the occasional catch in between but we need to find that young #2 guy...or a 1A. With the college game going more "pro" style we should be able to pick up that guy in the draft to either compliment Plax or replace him, dependent upon his contract status. Kerley will be a very serviceable #3/slot guy and will continue to grow as long as the QB position becomes more consistent/stable. RB...I love Shonne Greene...but, as proven time and again, this league has come down to a "more than one back" league. He simply cannot take the pounding of carrying the ball 30+ times a game for 16 games. It doesn't matter what LT decides to do at this point we need to draft another RB. If LT comes back then we kind of have the same attack next year as this. LT will be even MORE of a pass catching option, only, and Greene will be the feature. McKnight has shown me a little, from a RB standpoint, but he is quickly becoming more of a special teamer. BUT, having said that, I'm not above giving him an opportunity. We do need, though, another RB on the squad to see if he can supplant McKnight and compliment Greene better or, at the very least, he can add depth. If LT decides to retire then this is a moot point and we need a fresh guy period. The Jets have a pretty good mixture of veterans/youth on the team and, if handled properly by Tanny, we can begin to shuffle out the old and bring in the new. The positions I've targeted are critical to the Jets growth and ongoing success next year. With more consistency from the offense and the "hopeful" growth of Sanchez this team is poised to take the reins from the Patriots as the division's dominant team over the next 5 years. If Sanchez falters, to be quite honest, I think McElroy could be the answer. I know a pre-season does not make a career QB but what I saw gave me hope...a lot of it. He comes from the SEC and from what I saw in the pre-season I think he has the "right" stuff if we had to look at another option. But, please, do not forget Sanchez is only just completing his 3rd year and that without a training camp. Many QB's don't do much until the 4th, 5th or even 6th year...something to remember. I think Rex Ryan is the Jets head coach for the foreseeable future and long term. Yes, his mouth can get him into trouble but at the end of the day he is a hell of a football coach, the players respect him and he's a winner. Don't think that if Brandon Jacobs were on this team he wouldn't love him. No one could convince me otherwise. It boggles my mind when I read the other threads and people talking about Rex's tenure with this team and "when" he would be canned. Ummm...I've been a Jets fan since the early 80's and for those of us who have been around a while and remember history, this man is far and away the best coach in team history. Period. For those who say otherwise have become spoiled too quickly or have decided to forget history. That's not to say I do not want to see improvement and some SB rings...I do...but I think this is the guy to do it. In summation...it's cliche but true...Sanchez is the key. He and an Offensive Coordinator with some imagination. We have far too many weapons on offense to be where we are. The lack of consistency has been the downfall of this team all year. Period...end of story. ZERO consistency. And...no consistency in this league will get you beat on Sunday and twice on Tuesday day in and day out. Final thought...what do you all think about promoting Callahan to OC?? I do not see Norv Turner coming here but stranger things have happened. Final thought #2...the 2012 season we lock up Revis for the remainder of his career...not 2013. Do NOT let this guy get to the one year remaining point of his contract and become a distraction. Visualize and attack this one. Go in with a solid offer out of the gate and do not let it get to the circus it was last year.
We need to take a WR in the first or second round. This draft is LOADED with talent at receiver. We need a big guy that can stretch the field and keep defenses honest, Plax is a great redzone weapon but cannot get separation down the field like Braylon could.
I'd go with a pass rusher\RT with our first 2 picks...this draft is loaded at WR so we can snag 1 in the later rounds.
Couldn't agree more...but, as you said, this draft is loaded with WR's...I'm not above a 3rd round choice as well. I think o-line and LB'er are the priority at this point but I'm open to debate on it.
I think our pass rusher is Maybin, to be honest. A year in the system with a full training camp and an upgrade at the other LB'er positions frees this guy to wreak havoc going forward. Am 100% absolutely on your page about the RT position. RT and G would be my targets.
Good write up Mezz. I think we need to draft an offensive coordinator in the first round! As far as our RB's you didn't mention that new kid we just drafged (Biele of something like that)
Good "call out". I didn't really talk about him because he is kind of an unknown quantity really. But I like him in the competition next year to see who wins out for the various starting gigs! God...if ONLY we could draft a new Offensive Coordinator!!!!!! I've heard a lot of talk about if the "O" does this or that this weekend decides Schotty's fate...I think it's bull crap. I think he is done after this year end of story. That or Rex, Tanny and Woody will be dealing with a full on out Jets fan mutiny in my opinion.
I think that this year that the Jets need to address all their needs in either free agency or the draft. They can't afford to take the best overall player, but I wouldn't over draft just to fill a specific need. Draft who is presented in a good position to you, and fill the rest of your needs in free agency. This is who I would take in the first round if they fall to the Jets WR:Alshon Jeffrey, Michael Floyd OT: Riley Reiff, Jonathan Martin OG: David DeCasto DT: Devon Still, Brandon Thompson ILB: Vontaze Burfict OLB: Courtney Upshaw Some of those are immediate needs and others aren't, but someone will drop and the Jets need to draft a player who is a good value at where they are drafting and fits a need. You can't say I need a safety badly so I am just going to over draft a guy like Mark Barron by a round. I really don't have a preference who is drafted by the Jets. I want them to draft someone who slips to them at a position of need.
I haven't seen the free agent lists but ideally, I'd like to see an o-lineman and a safety through free agency, since those positions require more football development and an OLB pass rusher and WR through the draft, since those are more athletically oriented positions where a rookie could step in right away
Final thought #2...the 2012 season we lock up Revis for the remainder of his career...not 2013. Do NOT let this guy get to the one year remaining point of his contract and become a distraction. Visualize and attack this one. Go in with a solid offer out of the gate and do not let it get to the circus it was last year This is a big point. Hopefully, they will do it
We need Braylon back (if healthy). Im sick and tired of the rotation at WR for our young QB. Its bullshit to expect him to perform like this.
I haven't been paying much attention to the receivers coming into the draft, but are there any can't-miss prospects? We need the top WR in the draft and that's that. Look at Julio Jones and AJ Green. If there are any receivers like that in the draft, we can't pass on them. We drafted Mark #5 and have done little to surround him with talent. If we keep going defense, our offense will keep holding us back.
If we sign Bray Bray back, Holmes 1) Bray 2) Kerley 3 and possibly Old Man Burresses as a situational #4 , thats a pretty fucking solid recieving corp/depth if you ask me. And completley eliminates the need to draft one this year
That's a lot to read but I for sure agree about your needs and the order as well. I have a bad feeling about next year honestly.
Except Holmes isn't a #1 receiver. It's only a good receiving corps if you have a #1 receiver. Two secondary receivers will not get it done. If we get a #1 receiver in the draft, then everything will fall in line. I'm definitely for getting rid of Holmes for Edwards this offseason.
Pretty good write-up, Mezz. Here are my thoughts: 1. RT and LG are both top priority on the offense this season, especially RT. I know you want that stud prospect fresh from college, but I'd have to say RT spot needs to be filled through free agency, not draft. With full off-season and training, I'd say Slauson can be serviceable next season (meaning his immediate replacement does not have to be drafted right now.) More attention should go to Moore's replacement - Moore should be able to produce at high enough of a level for one more year, so Jets would do well to use next year to groom the RG heir apparent. Now there is DuCasse sighting - I'd say he is at best depth body at this point, just like Wayne Hunter. 2. OLB: Jets need some fierce OLB that will strike fear into the heart of the opposing offense. This pick should be 1st round pick in my mind. The front seven must be able to generate intense pressure by themselves. Pace and Scott is not going anywhere, so that means the last OLB must create a lot next year. (Getting one this year and the another one next year should work - hopefully a right prospect should be there.) 3. Safety: That's the position I'd spend the 2nd round pick. That won't be enough either, however - Jets should snag one out of the free agency pool. Eric Smith and Brodney Pool should provide quality depth. 4. WR: It takes good 2 to 3 years minimum to develop a WR into NFL calibre one. Instead I'd love to see the Jets brass bringing in Braylon Edwards. He already had good chemistry with Sanchez so if he regains his health, then Braylon/Holmes/Kerley/Keller should be pretty effective receiving corp. 5. RB: Picking one out of low draft pick or even UDFA pool would be the way to go. Once drafted, they should be put on special teams - RBs that hit hardest should get the notice. (I call this Terrell Davis rule.) Last, but not the least: FIRE BRIAN SCHOTTENHEIMER AND GET A REAL OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR.
This is a good read mezz and I agree pretty much with everything you say here. Looking ahead to next year my big concern is that we overlook the fact that we are not going to be the Pats only big threat for the AFC East; the Bills will continue to improve and I can see the fish being very strong, this division is going to be brutal next year and if early results are poor things can impact huge on the players confidence in particular our young QB who is going to feel the heat early.
So we just don't take one at all? We're going to have to eventually bring in some #1 talent at receiver. We can't keep skimping in the receiving department and then blaming our QB when he can't get it done with second rate guys. WalterFootball says Alshon Jeffery is the top WR prospect. I'll admit, I haven't done my homework on this guy, but from looking at his highlights, he looks like an explosive receiver, and he's 6'4 too. Maybe he can be our AJ Green?
