The first two sentences are utter BS! The OL was not worse this year than last year. McGovern was not a backup, neither was Van Roten. Fant would have been a starter in Seattle if he hadn't gotten injured a couple of years ago and Seattle then brought in someone to replace him. The line got off to a rough start because they didn't have mini-camps, OTAs, had an abbreviated TC, no preseason, and there were 4 new starters. Factor in Gase's stupid offense and play calling, Herndon's horrible play early, and all the WR injuries, and it's no wonder the OL and offense struggled early. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that. By midseason they were playing better, and have gotten better and better. They've had some injuries at the OG spots which interrupted and curtailed some of that success.. There's no question that the OL needs to be further upgraded, but the main problem are the two OG positions. Fant will be fine for another year or two. The bold is just stupid. Douglas is going to continue to upgrade the OL. He's a former OL himself. If you think he's not going to continue to upgrade it, then you're drunk or high. Yes, hiring the right coach is the #1 priority, but I disagree that the #2 priority is not upgrading the OL. It's figuring out what to do at QB. WB is the most important position on the team. If that's not right, then having the best OL in the NFL won'pt mean squat. Upgrading the OL and the WR corps are even as priority #3. Between FA with all the cap space we have and the draft, with all the draft picks we have, accomplishing priorities 2 and 3 should be able to be accomplished, unless Douglas focuses on defense (which he had better not).
I'm pretty sure the WR's were the worst unit overall given the amount of time Crowder and Mims missed. The TE's were right there with them though.
Last years line ranked 28th, this year they rank 30th. Both lines are bad, one could argue one way or another but it has not been a real improvement + still one of the worst units on the team. To say “utter BS” means you either don’t understand football or you are not paying attention to reality. There’s a reason Sam has been much worse than last year and it’s not just Robbie Anderson.. Van Rotten has been bad, Mcgovern also not good... Fant gets some kudos but statistically ranks near the bottom of OTs. It’s not like JD wasn’t ridiculed before the season for these moves as not being upgrades. The oline + Sam playing better of late is the result of a revamping of how they are approaching games. They are running behind Becton more and from a passing perspective everything is short, quick throws (3 step drops, screens, 2 seconds and get rid of it). It’s a mask, not reality of great oline play. People will say but that’s what the Pats did, but that’s only true to a certain extent. When needed Brady could hang in the pocket for 4+ seconds... That never ever happens for Sam.
Do you think last year's easy schedule had any impact on the rankings? It totally did. My saying "Utter BS" doesn't mean any such thing. It means you're a negative Nancy, too critical, and not in touch with reality. I guess Sam having more time to find receivers, and our RBs being able to pick up some big gains on the ground were just an illusion. You're out flat out wrong. Most posters on this board agree with me, including posters whose OL knowledge I greatly respect. You don't know more than the rest of us. Using those same stats that you used to discredit Fant, over the last half of the season, McGovern has been the 9th best center in the game. Just because JD may have been ridiculed before the season doesn't mean that whomever said it was right. One has to consider the source and their motivations. There are always posters on here who think they know more than anyone else, including the GMs and HCs, and who don't have the first clue about how to build a team and wisely use draft capital and cap space. There are fans and those in the media who foolishly think a team should go all in every single season and waste resources just to get another win or two. No one said the OL play has been great, but it has been greatly improved. You lose credibility on this issue with your hyperbole and overreaction.
Players I’m excited to watch today : -Najee -Chris Olave -Devonta Smith -The ND linebacker. Still think he’s a freak talent. -Liam Eichenberg/Alex Leatherwood. Forget Sewell, these have more value -Etienne
The WR's in this draft are definitely interesting. The Alabama WR's primarily so and Ja'Marr Chase as a Randy Moss-level wild card. I wish Chase had played this season. It's hard to get excited about him given that he chose to opt out. It was a money move on his part and I have grown extremely distrustful of players who want money more than they want to play football. Give me one of the Alabama WR's who competed all season. At least we know their heart was all-in on football in what has been a very stressful season.
And they already lost him to an injury...if they don't get Sewell or another stud LT and they lose him AGAIN next year, they'll be crucified.
I wish that Chase and all the players who opted out had played, but I can't fault them for sitting out if it was because of a fear of Covid. I don't like players abandoning their teams right before bowl games. While I understand their injury concerns, playing at the school and on the team they did helped create their draft value, and they've received a free education. I think college athletes should be able to make money off of merchandise and their name or be paid, but until they are, I think they owe it to their HC, teammates and school to play in bowl games.
There's talent and then there's talent. I don't think the Jets should opt out on Sewell despite him sitting out because he's clearly one of the premier players in this draft and nobody but Lawrence is on the same plateau in terms of potential for a Hall of Fame career. Chase might have got there with a great season this year but he didn't play and so I group him with the Alabama WR's on the same plateau. When I have the choice between someone who played and someone who didn't play and I see them on the same plateau I am going to give preference to the guy who wanted to play football despite the challenging environment. I want football players on the Jets. I don't want mercenaries looking to make a buck. That sounds kind of harsh but it is back up by the results we have gotten over the years. Give me the guy who just wants to play football and win - the money generally follows those things.
I would have to assume that Douglas would've had discussions with both Becton and Sewell before he would make this pick, and gotten assurance from either/both that one of them at least would be ok with moving.
Unless THEY were at high-risk for Covid and/or were quarantining for 4 months away from school/football....they should have played. I know it was mostly for the money, but the truth is that the college and NFL -- by playing this year -- probably have kept most of their players from getting Covid-19 by having them occupied most of the day/week/weekends....and away from what they would be doing which would be hanging out with friends at risk for C-19. I still can't believe that not one player has gotten C-19 from playing in a game and constantly being in close contact to other players....esp. OL and DL, RB's and WR's.
Yeah, I wouldn't use the #2 pick...but I'd think hard about it. If they trade back within the top 10 I see him as the pick.
This would be up to the coaching staff but I assume they would lean towards playing the rookie at RT and then make adjustments from there depending on how things went. Becton missed a few games this season and while there's no reason to believe that was anything more than a one year thing it would be nice to have Sewell there to take over if Becton went down again.
“Utter BS, hyperbole and overreaction....” And I’m the negative Nancy. If you think the Jets Oline is good/set based on the moves made this year, then we will have to agree to disagree. The Jets will have 2-3 new starters next year. We’ll see who is right in time, not worth fighting over now + no hard feelings.
I would agree, although GVR had improved significantly after the first 5 or so games, but you cannot take the Gase factor out of the equation entirely. Shell looks serviceable in Seattle, Winters okay in Buffalo, etc. Everyone looks worse on the Jets.
Poll results are interesting....almost equal numbers saying grab a QB at #2 and also trade down for a non-QB.....and also equal numbers saying trade down for a QB and draft a non-QB at #2. Bottom Line: No consensus here at TGG.