So, thinking about our roster and the predicament we have with too much talent at d-line to keep everyone , I recalled a thought process about the D line from a few years back that we seem to drifted away from. I seem to remember back when Rex was first brought in and even further back than that to the Mangini coached defenses, that the idea was you don't necessarily need to have great talent at DE in the 3-4. I seem to remember that people were content with a few big uglies up front just to be clogs and take up space so that the linebackers have more freedom to to their thing . Shaun Ellis is the the only DE I recall us having that is worth noting (maybe John Abraham but he was here before I knew anything much about football so idk ) and Chris Jenkins (but he was a completely different kind of beast) . Now in the past 4-5 years we've stocked up with so much 1st round DE talent that we literally have to give away some (ex: Coples ). Meanwhile, David Harris continues to be the only premier player at LB and the last LB we signed in free agency is Calvin Pace , I believe. It would have been nice to hit on Demario Davis from the 3rd round but that seems like a pipe dream at this point. Pace never lived up to be the monster we payed him to be when signed him but has actually developed into a pretty decent veteran stop that doesn't eat up much cap but it is time to replace him with someone who's young and explosive . We can all hope that Mauldin continues to grow and becomes a big time player, but clearly the LB position has been ignored for quite some time now. I think this might explain why for such a highly touted defense, we always seem to have those few games where a team finds ways to rip us apart with huge chunks of yardage at a time . So the question here is , has having all these premier guys at the Dline translated into more sacks and pressures ? I know the run d is always good every year but is it worth it ? I'm not sure how many sacks we got this year but I don't think it's too high compared to other elite defenses and under Rex the lack of pressure was always an issue. So this year maybe we make an effort to make the 3 levels of the d more equal . -Tag and trade Mo (I know it hurts but could get good picks from a win now team looking for 1 year rental) and use that pick for an offensive player (RB?) -let snacks walk and hope that guy from the practice squad is ready -get one ILB and one OLB . One from the first round of the draft. One from free agency ( a good expensive one too, not some JAG) -Let Sheldon and Leo play out the rest of their rookie deals and keep only 1 (probably Leo ) and hope that one of our developmental players turns into a sufficient starter . Whoa this post got a lot longer then intended . Please feel free to rip this idea apart , since I basicly pulled all this out my ass . Can it be sept 2016 already please ?!?
Its not a bad idea. I would take a little downgrade from the run defense if it meant an increase in pass rush. Im not opposed to trading Mo. Sheldon and Leonard and a FA replacement for Snacks would still be good enough. Just need a huge upgrade at OLB. Von Miller is obviously the guy to target , and it could be a pipe dream , but I would take him over both Wilk and Harrison. To me though , Bowles defense works best when CB's are playing at a high level. Last year when he was in Arizona that defense was its best when Peterson and Cro were at the top of their game. Same this season with Revis. We all saw how different the defense looked when he had an off game , specifically against Oakland and Houston and then obviously the last game of the year. Right now if I get the choice of a top OLB FA (Miller, Irvin) plus a decent enough CB to replace Cro..or Wilk and Snacks. Im taking the first option every time.
same this season with Revis. We all saw how different the defense looked when he had an off game , specifically against Oakland and Houston and then obviously the last game of the year. Heres where things have changed: before our eyes we see the decline of Mevi$ and Slomartie. Revis should take a pay cut and Cro let go or also be paid less. You mentioned 3 games Revis was on cruise control; imo there were more and Cro was beat like a drum. Without 2 shutdown corners Bowles scheme is er down the toilet. We need linebackers and prob corners...and yes an edge pass rusher. Mac overpaid for those two guys...his one bad move offseason.
Revis does not jam the receiver at the LOS like he used to. Is this coaching or is playing style? I don't know. It's more than just a decline. He is playing a completely different style of play.
You did a good rip job from your ass. LOL Maybe you ought to try it more often! Seriously, the philosophical approach has changed. Mangini's approach was the basic, or older idea of the 3-4 where the DL's job was to tie up the OL and stop the run. JJ Watt and some others showed what could happen with a dynamic DE and differing versions of the 3-4 started appearing. In addition, some NTs like Jenkins could get monster pressure up the middle, whereas others were just the basic space-eating slobs that weren't athletic, but couldn't be moved, and that added some new wrinkles. Offenses have changed, and Ds have had to adjust as a result. You are correct that with all the DL talent the Jets have, they haven't been able to consistently generate pressure on opposing offenses. I believe that's because Rex forgot the basic tenets of the 3-4...i.e., that the OLBs are the primary play makers and pass rushers. Rex wants his CBs to solely stop the passing attack and thinks his DL can supply the consistent pressure, and he wants his OLBs to just focus on stopping the run or an occasional blitz. Because of that, he wants his OLB to be bigger and heavier, which means slower. Think of how much Lawrence Taylor weighed vs. how much Rex's OLBs way now. He's wrong, and that's just one reason why he will never be a consistent winner and won't be employed long as a HC. It has also changed since both Rex and Bowles shift between various fronts, and unlike Rex, Bowles seeks to put players in a position to succeed. I think Mac quickly assessed the Jets' situation, and that's why his first act as GM wasn't signing Mo to a contract extension. He realized that the Jets had too much cap space and talent on the DL and practically none at LB. They couldn't generate consistent pressure and were frequently getting killed over the middle by RBs and TEs. I think he took a "wait and see" approach with Mo. If Mo played well this year, he might consider signing him long term, but if not, he wouldn't have a problem parting with him. Mo made things more complex by having a great season. Things were made even more complex with Williams falling into the Jets' laps. If the Jets are high on Deon Simon at all, and I read something the other day that said that they were, I think both Mo and Snacks will be gone. The only alteration to that may be because of Richardson's character issues. Mac may have decided he'd rather keep Mo and try to trade Richardson, but with 23 FAs and not that much cap space, I just don't see how we can possibly keep Mo and retain our other FAs, much less sign the rookies and/or any other FAs. With Richardson, Simon, Williams and Douzable, we should still have a very good DL, the team's cap will be better spread over the roster, and this will give us the ability to pay a topnotch QB, pass rusher and/or WR when Mac finds them in the draft. This should make the team more competitive for the long term. With faster, more athletic LBs, some of whom can also cover, the Jets' front 7 will be much better. They will be able to generate more consistent pressure on opposing QBs, get off the field on 3rd down (especially 3rd and long situations), and stop the TEs and RBs from killing us over the middle. That will make our secondary more effective, and should create more TOs.
This one thread with 5 posts has been more insightful and enjoyable to read than most other recent threads combined thx for the insight
The thing with Revis is he still has the speed but has lost his quickness and agility. He can run with receivers but if they make a double move he worries about gettin beat deep and allows the underneath stuff. He doesn't break on the shorter routes like he used to because his recovery as declined. It's a mixture of age and the ACL reconstruction. I am 6 months off acl reconstruction and learning what these guys go through to try to come back from major knee surgery (except I don't have the money to make it all better lol). It's a struggle but these guys have the best trainers, doctors, and it's their job and they get paid for all the rehab. Revis is still a top ten corner but he's not the shutdown corner he once was. Honestly there isn't a single corner in the NFL that is a shutdown corner like he was. Norman is named the best corner this year but got tore up by Julio Jones. It's was great to see revis for those couple of years because we may never see corner play like that ever again. As far as his contract he shouldn't be making as much as he does but revis of all people will never take a pay cut. It's sad when he makes as much as Decker and Marshall combined.
Its hard to argue when we took arguably the best player in the whole draft last year, but continuing to pick DEs year in and year out is really hurting us. I believe in economics its called the law of diminishing returns. We seem to be trying to play a 3-4, but generating the pass rush from slower, big DEs and not the linebackers. I would argue against BPA this year, because it could simply land us another defensive end. Virtually any other position can be upgraded for this team so I would prefer us to do like BPA for need positions if that makes sense.
I doubt that will happen again this year, I think everyone was stunned that Williams fell to the jets. This draft picking 20th, BPA will probably get the jets the OLB they need to complement Mauldin. You make a good point with BPA for need, my only concern is how much of a difference between the guy you need and the guy on the board.
Hopefully BPA will pay off for us if we can get a good deal for Mo. I suppose that's the whole reasoning for bpa . To trade and get value back if you don't need them . The more I am thinking on this I'm wondering what we'll actually be able to get for him . Is it possible to make a trade where Mo accepts a long term deal as part of the trade ? I don't see any team giving up a 1st to have a guy for just one year when they could just use the pick and have a player on rookie pay for 4+ years.
Sure, let's just let all of our young talent walk out the door. So we trade Mo, let Snacks walk and keep one of our remaining studs on the DL? Or, now here me out, we could keep at least 3 out of four and draft some young fast LBa to go with them. Which way do you think we stop Tom Brady & friends?
lol we all now Revi$ won't take a paycut. Plus you don't make a guy take a pay cut over 3 bad games when he had about 10 phenomonal games .. Revis Island style. You make bums like Ferguson take a pay cut .. top paid lineman with bottom of the barrel production on the field.. every game. Thnk Brick had a good solid 2 games that's it.
Not seeing those "10 phenom. games" but if you can name them Ill agree. Otherwise, Revis did have 2 key interceptions as I recall eg 1 against Brady. But really him and Cro wont soil themselves making a tackle..ridiculous +100 about Ferguson gotta restructure. Problem is Mac has to free up money to pay people includng Fitz, maybe Powell or others. Gotta come from someplace and imo Revis doesnt deserve that whole enchalada of what 30 million??? For what? Hes in decline and I say we draft a couple of good CBs and negotiate from strength with that greedy SOB
You did a good job with the post, and I think the crux of the problem is we don't have the LBs to play the 3-4 or the 4-3 so we use a hybrid 3-4-4-3 and it does ok, but not exactly what it should do. Hopefully MM and TB can reset this 3-4 to what it should be. Personally I would put the money into the LB positions, let the young DL of Richardson, Williams play out their contract and trade Mo.
I'm with you, but Snacks is replaceable, keep Richardson, Williams, find some one to replace snacks with, and hopefully with the 20th pick we can get another good young fast LB to complement Mauldin.
I think that any deal we make with a team for Mo will be contingent on their being able to sign him for a long-term contract. No one will take him for a one-year rental.
Sometimes it's not a matter of what you want to do, or even what is best for your team, but what you have to do due to the cap. Look at all the players that teams have had to cut since the institution of the salary cap in order to get under the cap. Hopefully, we can sign Snacks if we have to trade Mo. I was just pointing out that we may not be able to. The reality is that our roster, as good as it is in some ways, is still a big mess in others. Too much money and talent was added to the DL. We can thank Rex for that. How many years in a row did the Jets take DL with their 1st pick? 3? 4? That was insane. The only reason that Mac took Williams is that he was the bpa, and many thought the best player in the draft. He would have been making a worse mistake to not take him and instead reach for another player. I think he knew that there was either a good chance that they wouldn't be able to re-sign Mo, or he had already planned to not re-sign Mo due to having so many FAs and so little cap space. I definitely think that Mac will look to add some youth and speed in our LB corps.
