Mostly valid points. Tanny has been too guilty of swinging for the fences, and more often than not has popped up or hit a Texas League blooper. The Jets definitely need to get some players in this draft who can contribute immediately. That has been a big problem with each of the last two drafts. As far as greatness and Floyd or Jeffrey goes, I disagree. The Jets already have one head case at WR they don't need another. Rex wants ground and pound. What's the point of taking eithe rof those guys when the Jets aren't going to be primarily a passing team? They'd essentially be wasted picks or at least wouldn't give the potential value and impact that a pass rusher or even a solid RT would give.
Unless Tanny starts trading up or trading picks for a player or players again, the Jets should have at least 9, if not 10 picks in this draft. There's absolutely no reason why the Jets couldn't draft 2 OLB, 2 S, 2 WR, a RT, a TE, an ILB, and P or whatever else you'd want them to draft. As important as the position is, with Pace probably leaving after this season, and the lack of a consistent pass rush all these years, imo the Jets cannot afford to NOT double dip at OLB.
Tanny and his staff, in the past, were identifying players they wanted and going after them. They really have cooled off on that since the Sanchez draft. Becasue of that they have drafted more players and had mixed results. As for the receivers, look at what Marshall brings to the table in Miami. A huge target that can make plays after the catch. Even if we go back to 55% run and 45% throwing, we are still throwing alot. One cannot stress enough that having elite outside targets makes the running game that much easier. Floyd and Jeffery both provide that type of skill. If we go into next season with Holmes and Kerley (whom I like alot) as our top two receivers, we are going to see Tons of 8 in the box and constant double teams on Holmes. I would not be upset with Floyd and a guy like curry in the second round.
I agree that the Jets need a WR with speed to stretch the field and prevent opposing Ds from stacking 8 in the box. I just don't think it should be Floyd. He is too risky and the last thing the Jets need is another head case or selfish player in the locker room. There are other good WRs with speed in this draft, as there were last year.
I want us to draft Upshaw - as I stated earlier. But I also want us to use every other draft pick on players from Alabama or LSU. I'm tired of the small school picks that we've used the last two years.
Same here. Enough with the projects already. If we take one more player from a small school early that either doesn't work out entirely or works out minimally I'm gonna jump off a cliff.
While its not a bad idea, there aren't many big players besides the first rounders coming out of Bama and Lsu this year. Look for next year to have many prospects when Bamas big Tackles Jones and Fluker come out and Mathieu and Montgomery for LSU come out they'd be solid targets. There is a lot of talent in small schools this year. It's not a bad idea to look that way this year in the mid to late rounds.
Using mid to late round picks on small school guys don't bother me too much. But our first 2 picks from each of the last two drafts have been small school guys - Kyle Wilson Boise St., Vlad Ducasse UMASS, Mo Wilkerson Temple and Kenrick Ellis Hampton. Mo Wilkerson looks like he could be a really good player and Wilson showed improvement last year. But the other two are big projects and one looks like he's a complete bust. Those picks (the top ones) should be used on guys who are ready to step in immediately. I mentioned Alabama and LSU, but obviously there are other programs who have NFL ready players (Wisconsin, USC, Oregon etc). I want guys from big time programs who are NFL ready. Enough with the projects. Leave those picks until rounds 6 and 7.
There are just as many players who come from small schools and do well, and guys who come from big schools who wind up being busts too. Most blanket statements on the draft are a result of putting too much stock on what's happened in the past (ie, not wanting to draft Ohio St. players because of Gholston while ignoring our All-World center is a Buckeye alum.)
This my first comment in this thread, I can't believe the amount of opinions, so I'll chime in. The is absolutely NO WAY Rex Ryan will pass on Upshaw if he's OTC at #16. Rex has ties to Bama (Son) and he has stated publicly he loves Bama players and they're NFL ready. BT is gone, and OLB is without question our biggest need.
I know I was making a blanket statement. And I know that there are small school players who become stud NFL players (Jerry Rice) and there are many players from big schools who become dud NFL players (Vernon Gholston). But it doesn't make much sense to have the top 4 picks in your last 2 drafts come from small schools. There's a reason they went to the small school instead of the LSU, USC or Alabama. I want guys to come in here who are NFL ready and come from NFL ready programs. Take a chance on a small school guy every now and then. Okay, I can fall in line with that if the right player comes along, but that shouldn't be a regular draft strategy IMO.
CMon now, lets not pretend we know what Rex Ryan is thinking in regards to the 16th pick in mid February. I guarantee he doesn't know who he is picking this early in the process, let alone one specific player that he would absolutely not pass on. There are many ways I can envision Rex passing on Upshaw if he is available. What if TRich is there? What if he feels Ingram is a better prospect? What if he thinks Merciless is the next DWare? What if he feels getting Sanchez a weapon is the biggest need? I just think it is silly to come in and say there is absoutely no way Rex Ryan is passing on Upshaw this early in the process and I sure as hell hope he is not going to be selecting players cause he has ties to the school.
That's my opinion. Sorry you don't agree. I gave my reasons why Rex would love Upshaw. IMO, if Upshaw is avaiable he is the clear choice. The Jet's defense needs an impact OLB, it's a huge need. Upshaw is probably the 3 or 4th best defensive player in this draft. I can't see us going WR in Rd 2 with Tone staying. I don't think T Rich will be available, he should go in the top 10. Mercilus is a possibility, the combine next week will tell us his ranking.
Is it out of the question the Jets re-sign Thomas? He could be a relatively cheap stop-gap. I understand we need to upgrade at OLB, but I would argue that any position on defense is not the Jets biggest need. The offense clearly needs to improve far more than the defense which has been top 5 every year Rex has been here. Personally I'd say RT or WR is a bigger need than OLB or S.
He's had one hell of an injury... I think without the injury they might have wanted him back, but a torn achilles at age 33 is a career ending injury. Maaaybe a one yr deal @ vet minimum and no guarantees he'll make the team.
