http://mondayqbs.com/v/showthread.php?48-2012-NY-Jets-Mock-Offseason-1-0-(pre-combine) Rex Ryan couldn't have been any further off from his Super Bowl prediction from the 2011 pre-season. However, after 2 straight AFC Championship games in 2009 & 2010, who would have thought the team would go a disappointing 8-8? Who would have thought the locker room would implode, and the franchise quarterback would have been a target for most of the criticism? How is the front office of the New York Jets going to turn it back in the right direction? A lot of questions need to be addressed, and here is a possible solution. Let's start with what has already taken place, and how it will affect the team going forward. Brian Schottenheimer, the offensive coordinator since 2006, told the team he would not return for the 2012 season. Schottenheimer was under contract through the 2013 season, and could have been paid for those seasons if he was fired for the offensive problems in the 2011 season. Resigning from the Jets is just another closed door mystery. The front office however didn't waste any time hiring a replacement, former Miami head coach, Tony Sparano. Sparano is a fiery coach who will not allow the distractions in the locker room that became evident at the end of the 2011 season, and also believes in the ground and pound that Rex Ryan wants. In addition to the change at offensive coordinator, Bill Callahan, the 2011 Jets offensive line coach, left disgruntled after he was denied the offensive coordinator position. Callahan who coached the 2009 & 2010 offensive line to a top 5 running game in both years had trouble solidifying the eye sore offensive line in 2011, and could be the reason he wasn't considered for the offensive coordinator position. Dave Degugliemo, former Miami offensive line coach, has followed his head coach to the New York Jets. The front office also hired Sanjay Lal, former Oakland wide receiver coach, to the staff. It is obvious the front office is looking to make a significant change on the offensive side of the ball. They did hire defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, which may have gone unnoticed with all the offensive activity. The 2012 NFL Salary cap is estimated to be $124 Million, and the New York Jets are currently sitting at $127 million for the 51 players signed. (http://nyjetscap.com/salary12.html) Fortunately, they had slightly over $8 million in cap space from 2011 that they can use in 2012, and leaving an adjusted cap of $132 million. Mark Sanchez is the biggest question mark going into the 2012 season. Sanchez is due to make $14+ million, and could restructure with the front office, be traded, or just plain cut to save the front office $9+ million in 2012, and $6 million in 2013. Explained in another post (here) New York Jets could sign (former starting quarterback for our new offensive coordinator) free agent Chad Henne to a 4 year / 20 Million dollar contract and increasing the cap space by $4 million (depending on how it is structured). Wayne Hunter was dubbed a freshly greased turn style at right tackle, and will be the obvious player to receive the axe this off season. Cutting Hunter will save an additional $2.5 million. Additionally, Eric Smith, Mike Devito, and Brandon Moore could become victims of their paycheck do to their play last year, and combined with Hunter an additional $10 million would be saved. Assuming that the previously mentioned player moves happen, the front office will have approximately $ 20 million to play in free agency. Aaron Maybin, who busted in Buffalo, showed a ray of hope for Jets fans with his relentless motor, and tenacity during his time in New York. Jamaal Westerman, and Patrick Turner are also restricted free agents, that should receive a contract to return. New York does have some unrestricted free agents that they will most likely let walk, and the most notable are Bryan Thomas, Siona Pouha, and Ladainian Tomlinson (who likely will retire) The front office for the Jets has made a splash in the free agent market the last few years, and you can assume they will target players like offensive guard Carl Nicks, and defensive end Calais Campbell would improve the trench tremendously (Obvious problem from 2011). Actively pursuing both players will eat up a majority of their cap space, but would be worth it. Nicks is going to see a contract in the range of 7 years $50 million, and Campbell will probably see something like 5 year $25-$30 million. Assuming the Jets can sign both they would have $6 million going into the NFL Draft. Oh it’s fun putting on the GM cap, and attempting to predict the moves that could happen. Of course, it is still just a prediction, and all for fun. Pretendng, that the free agency is over, the Jets now need to fill the team through the draft. The following are the draft selections: 1st Round – Courtney Upshaw – OLB - Alabama 2nd Round – Dont’a Hightower – ILB - Alabama 3rd Round- Tommy Streeter – WR - Miami 4th Round- Phillip Thomas – FS - Syracuse 5th Round- Matt Reynolds – OT - BYU 6th Round- Bryan Anger – P - California 7th Round- Joe Looney – OG – Wake Forest Well the New York Jets may have had a horrifying 2011 season, but there could be some light at the end of the 2012 off-season tunnel. Here’s to wish full thinking.
Some of my concerns with this mock: 1. Hightower lasting until #48? Never gonna happen. 2. Tommy Streeter has the worst hands out of any WR in the top 150. I would hate this guy for the Jets -- and that coming from a former Canes season ticket holder. 3. I know Reynolds had a bad week at the Senior Bowl, but the 5th seems a little low for him. 4. A punter? With the lack of depth on this team, it would seem silly to draft a guy that might be better than Conley.
While I agree about most of this, a Punter isnt a terrible idea considering we have several compensatory draft picks. I have absolutely no issue using a 6th round comp on a punter. Conley obviously isnt the future, and since this is likely our last year with Westy I would desperately like to have the very last thing he does for this team is help us select and work with our punter of the future
hightower moving up to late first round it is still very early.but you can be sure that hightower will be climbing up the board.a very talentrd player.who has yet to reach his potential.I hope that the jets will trade down for this future all pro.
Cuts Sanchez and Sign Henne makes the rest of this moot. Its a big block of shit. Cutting Hunter saves you nothing, his 2012 Salary is guaranteed in full. You then go on to release Eric Smith with no talk of how your replacing him. You don't mention Leonhard as a notable FA for us, leaving us with no safteys on the roster and no added replacements. Hightower at 48 is a maybe at best. Phillip Thomas is as likely to go undrafted as become a day one starter. If you think Streeter is the answer outside, uggg. Tell your "friend" he spends too much time on Madden, becasue thats what this offseason looks liek to me.
I started out jsut skiming myself untill I say The Sanchez line, then said "what the fuck" .... I ahd to go back and read it all. Its like watching accident footage, sure its horrible, but you just can't look away.
Totally agree. This is like fucking madden. Yeah lets go ahead and cut Sanchez and signed someone whos even worse in Chad Henne. Lets also cut Devito and let Pouha walk and risk the NT position on a rookie who hardly stepped on the field his rookie year. Oh yeah, lets go out and sign a RG meanwhile RT is a huge whole... In this scenario who would be playing RT? Ducasse? A 4th/5th round pick in Matt Reynolds? Oh yeah, and lets have a rookie come in and be our 2nd WR (who is obviously going to draw double teams away from homes). I really dont agree with much of this at all. I think Calais Campell should get some interest being that he is young and an up and coming talent... But I really think that this year’s FA will be dedicated to the safety position (where in this mock we have a rookie starting and who else?). Oh yeah, and Donta Hightower wont last til the 2nd round. If he did, I would be for trading up to get him, but it is EXTREMELY hopeful that he drops to 48.
I know it may be hard to stomach, but don't be surprised that Henne signs with the Jets next month. Sparano has an excellent relationship with Henne and he isn't going to sign with Miami.
I agree that he is the most likely "vet" QB that will be brought in this off season - and in terms of physical ability he has the tools but he just doesnt seem to have "it" - so I would rather stick with Sanchez who has at least shown flashes from time to time. I would have liked to have had Josh Johnson but given his previous relationship with Harbaugh I think he is almost certain to go to the Niners to provide competition to Alex Smith (assuming he signs thre again this season).
I never suggested that, it was the OP. I can't stand some of nonsense that is posted, it makes me question why some people even make these assumptions.
I was not saying you did calim that, sorry if you misunderstood my post. Was more comenting on that i'm ok with Henne coming in.
I agree, and I would be okay with him as a #2. He could provide some competition being that he has as good physical ability as most in the league. If he comes cheap, I would say it would be a solid move. But the OP’s motive of cutting Sanchez and giving Henne the starting job is just a terrible idea.
Apparently the biggest problem with Henne is that he has the leadership of a catus... can't see that working too well in NY.
I disagree. To get a good punter these days, you almost have to draft him. With the style of play that Rex wants, an excellent punter is critical. In addition, with comp picks the Jets should have something like 10-11 picks. If that ass Tanny doesn't trade half of them away, the Jets will have a pick to use on a punter and it would be a wise use, imo. I doubt that 10-11 rookies would make the roster anyway, and a punter taken there has a better chance than a position player.
I agree with ya. I was baffled when we got rid of weatherford. He was very good at pining people inside the ten and givign us a feild position advantage. Sure he sucked it up in the playoffs, but he was a young guy that showed promise. Conley was jsut awful this season.
