The New York jets had one problem last year that was very uncharacteristic of a Rex Ryan Defense. The inability to stop the run, ranking 26th in league giving up 133.6 ypg. Some say it was our lack of speed at linebacker while others have disregarded it all together. The truth of the matter is we need help right up the middle. Pouha was released for his poor play and didn't live up to his contract. So we are thin at Nose Tackle. Kendrick Ellis has done little to excite me so far, flashing some potential here and there but he just doesn't excite me for the future. Well I say I have the answer to a ton of our defensive problems and its the guy known once to be a pipe dream, an interesting prospect who has fallen in the draft to no fault of his own. Enter the once touted first overall pick and lock for the top three DT from Utah Star Lotulelei. This guy dominated his competition in college and only by a miracle is this guy even able to be mentioned at the ninth or thirteenth pick A misdiagnosed heart condition caused him to drop out of the discussion. Well guess what the prospect locked for the top three is now an underrated prospect. Some might say we have taken a d-line man the past two years and there is no way we take another one! I say we should. Beef up the middle of our defense and get our version of our Haloti Ngata. This guy instantly comes in and demands a double team. Hell that won't even stop him be splits double teams for a living and will cause pressure right up the middle Ala Kris Jenkins. He reps 225lbs 38 times and has the strength to hold it down at NT in a 3-4, if that's a concern it shouldn't be because our defense shows so many different looks and he can be used in a variety of ways. 4-3 DT and in the 46 bear he can do it all. Most importantly he demands a double team, as does Muhammad Wilkerson, and my prediction is Coples will too this year or the offense will be in serious trouble. The truth is there isn't enough offensive linemen to cover those three players let alone our line backers and blitzing safety's. Star will open up Rex to do what he does best; dial in pressure through exotic blitzes with our freed up linebackers and safeties, force your Oline to cover our three d-line men one on one and roll the dice. Ill take our Dline for the next ten years. Star is my guy at number nine and should be yours too as he opens up so much for this defense and allows Rex to be Rex.
Star is compared to Haloti Ngata, which would make for a dynamic pick up in any defense. However, I just don't see Idzik picking a 3rd defensive linemen in a row for the 3rd season in a row. I do agree with you though it would be like the Giants method of having pash rushing players or people who command double teams on the line. With Star, Cope and Wilk on the line the linebackers would have free lanes to rush the pasher in one on ones all game.
You make a very convincing argument... I like Star a lot. It just depends on whether they choose to give up on Ellis. Ellis doesn't seem like a guy who wants to play football or really compete, he seems to be along for the ride. Just my opinion. But Ellis could prove us wrong and turn out to be very good, for all we know. He certainly has the required athleticism, but we haven't gotten much of a return so far. You don't want to give up on a guy too soon, either, though. Star is a less risky prospect than Mingo/Jones. Why not build the team around the interior line, draft Star and then grab a guard later on, I could see it. But I like Mingo, too. That could be a tough opportunity to pass up if the Jets believe in Mingo.
If Star Lotulelei is there at 9 you take him. He won't be, but if he is you take him. He's no worse than the 5th best player in this draft.
Our problems against the run last year were two fold. The biggest problem was our anemic offense which left the defense out on the field all day. Our defense played some great games last year before eventually wearing down allowing teams to run over them at the end of the game. The secondary issue was team speed as we allowed a lot of long runs. Our run defense can be improved the most by improving our offense and giving the defense a breather. When a defense has to play almost perfect to win it can be quite demoralizing. A strong running game combined with a NFL caliber QB will greatly improve our defense.
The thought of having Coples-Star-Wilk up front for the long-term is so damn intriguing, but we have so many other needs that it's hard to justify taking a D-Lineman for the third year in a row.
I couldn't agree more and we do need a playmaker however we do have a second pick just four slots back at number 13. Tavon Austin will probably be gone is my guess but its still a hope, I'm a lot higher on Cordell Paterson than most as I love what he can do with the football in his hands. Another option at 13 is Tyler Eifert out of Notre Dame he is as Mayock said a "matchup nightmare" and was even mocked to the Jets by Mayock himself. If Paterson and Eifert are on the board I say try and trade back a few slots and pick up one of the two. Either way I think Star opens up the most for the Jets defensively and is the BPA on my board, and there are still some playmakers available. In the end my ideal draft scenario would be Star and a trade back for Paterson or even take him at 13.
