Not only were the running calls at the line so similar they were also snapping the ball late. Defenses set up their run blitzes, they knew the ball had to be snapped so they were already moving to the running gap upon the snap. it is hard to break or evade tackles when the defenders aren't reacting, they are attacking. you want to get the defenders on the balls of their feet or in space so you can break tackles easier. You do that by catching them off guard with the play design or timing, among other things
Spot on. Our running game was predictable in so many ways, timing, motion, play design and personnel package, not to mention having AR behind center was a telegraph of things to happen. They knew the play better than our OL ability to react.
The 2024 Jets 1st round draft choice debate looks similar to 2023: OL or TE. On the other hand, there are seemingly other possibilities this season b/c there are other needs. Maybe they trade down and get draft both positions - late 1st round and early 2nd round. Maybe they go with edge or DL. Who knows?!
To me we clearly made a mistake in 2024 by taking the OL over Brock, but that's because Bowers was a unique talent. The guy was dominating CFB as a true freshman, and I personally underestimated how special the guy was as my focus was on positional value this early in the draft. I admitted fairly early last season it was a mistake not to take a talent like that, and big kudos to the people who called at the time. Lesson learned there. It would have been great if we took Brock last year and this year we could have taken a tackle. However, going with OL last year does not mean we need to take a TE now, because two wrongs do not make it right. If Tyler Warren is a special talent in the ball park of Brock, then of course. But the question is: is he? Unlike Brock, he did not dominate as a true freshman. In fact he was quite pedestrian for 4 years until this 5th year, and is a somewhat older guy, turning 23. He is actually half a year older than Brock. He did win the best TE award, but he was not selected as consensus all American, that was Harold Fannin. Brock was not only consensus, but unanimous last year. Moreover, as I am learning more about him, it looks like reports about his blocking abilities vary. Same about athleticism. So at this point, while I am now open minded about a TE going this high, because of Brock's success, I want to ask others, including these who called it right on Bowers, is Tyler Warren in the same ballpark? I am just not sure if he is or not at this point, and honestly I am beginning to lean towards no.
Bowers might be the greatest collegiate tight end ever. Maybe Ozzie Newsome edges him out. Maybe Warren had 1 good season and 3 without much impact. Hes not in the same ballpark as Bowers — I like Warren but I think the Oregon TE Ferguson could be a better pro than Warren anyway. You can get him in the 2nd round
Athletically Bowers is just different…he’s more a WR in a TE frame. Elite speed and quickness that just separates him from other TE’s. Ty doesn’t have that game breaking speed but he’s still a monster…think Kittle/Kelce. Has the ability to box out defenders more due to his 6’6” 255 lb frame, better blocker. You can just tell he was born to be a TE…
Thinking it'll be Membou or Campbell right now. Obviously need help at WR, TE and DT as well, but OT is a gaping hole. Clearly this is going to be a run-first team. Tyler Warren or Mason Graham wouldn't be bad picks either, but I think they have a better chance at adding depth elsewhere at those positions than they do at OT. Detroit invested heavily in their bookends and it paid off. I think they'll do similarly in the draft
Warren’s “versatility” doesn’t really translate to the NFL. It’s cool and fun to line him up at QB to do a read option but 15-20 gadget players a year doesn’t move the needle for me especially considering maybe 3-4 of those really affect a game if you’re lucky. I still worry about how quick twitch ability in space. Maybe he finds tons of soft zones in coverage or really learns to use his body to box guys out, but my problem with taking a tightend that high is I don’t see him as a special athlete or force (like Bowers was). I see Cole Kmet more than Kittle, Gronk, Bowers, etc.
I was a Bowers guy, based on his unique talent AND it being an all-in win-now year AND supposedly we were going to be fine at LT for the year. Now given we are building for the future AND don’t have a starting caliber RT AND Warren is not in the same class as Bowers, I say finish the OL and pick up TE and DL later in the draft. Next year will be first round QB or WR depending how this year goes.
That's my feeling also, but it's just a feeling. The are many possibilities this year for the Jets in the draft.
Yeah I saw an SI article where they were saying the Jets could take Warren and trade back into the first for an OT, but it would mean trading next year’s second rounder.
I agree with all of this. Great post. Warren's definitely not worth the 7th overall pick in my mind. What do you think of Ferguson? I really like him in day 2 of this draft. 6'5, can run, can play inside and out, productive college career.
Meh. Jets fans and always wanting to look 2-3 moves ahead at advanced chess plays when we can't even figure out checkers. Brock isn't a hitter playing baseball. Like we see time and time again with guys we bring in....just can't copy and paste production over from one place and system to another. That isn't how the NFL works Bowers' 2024 season looks like nothing like it did in with Rodgers as your QB and within the Hackett offense. It likely doesn't hit this year either in the event we don't figure out how to spin up a better then bottom tier offense with a league worst level run game either, and I'm not sure that happens subtracting away from OL right now instead of adding more to it. You could *maybe* talk me into wanting Tet if he is still there at 7 and one or two of the T, who they like most on the board, is gone. But picking TE at #7 would leave me feeling more immediately down on the GM hire then I already am on the OC one.
If the Jets stay at 7 they will choose an OT. I know it's boring and draft speculation is what is done this month. But adding the final piece to a young talented O-Line that will be around for years is too good to pass up.
This is probably the worst case scenario: https://x.com/NYJetsTFMedia/status/1902456428561928504 "The addition of Justin Fields won't preclude the #Jets from drafting a QB. If they have a strong conviction, they won't hesitate to pull the trigger at any point in the draft. There's a lot of #Jets buzz surrounding Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart."- @RichCimini" Dart seems like a decent prospect, Day 2 guy who may have worked himself into late round 1 with good showing at the Sr Bowl and combine plus scarcity of the QBs, but it will be a huge mismanagement of resources if we pick him with #7 or even with a trade down in the 1st round, especially after signing Fields. Heck I don't think I would even take him in the second: we have so many holes to fill, and I am very happy with the Fields, Taylor, and Travis QB room. I hope "the buzz" is just BS. If we stick and pick, I am hoping for Mason Graham or if not there, Membou or Banks at OT. Ideally we trade back a bit and still get one of these guys while picking up an asset.
Agreed…I don’t know enough about any of these QBs other than the general consensus online that none of these guys are really top prospects…they will be overdrafted because they are QBs and there aren’t any sure fire top QBs this year, so these guys will go higher than they probably should. I also think that if we can trade back and pick up additional picks, great. Otherwise, I’d draft a RT and solidify that OL which right now doesn’t actually have a starting RT on the roster. I could see the choice being Graham if he’s there and that’d be fine as well but if you do that, then that 2nd pick HAS to be an OT. I’ve no fantasies that Fields will become an above average starter, but at this point, I’d rather use the picks to build the roster and roll with Fields and then see how he does…he’ll either surprise me and do well enough to keep the starting QB job next year, or he won’t. If he sucks, we can take the QB next year and choose from a better overall class. If he does well enough to warrant keeping the starting job, great…we can continue to add talent around him, or even still draft a QB high and let him sit behind Fields. Personally, I don’t think Fields will become the answer for us, but we have too many holes (OT, DT, Edge, WR, TE) to waster a high pick on a mediocre QB this year…let’s fill some holes…I think we NEED to come away from this draft with starting RT, WR, DT, and we sure could use a DT and a TE (though honestly if push came to shove, I’d be fine with resigning Conklin if he’s still out there…not great, but can man the position if we can’t get a good TE in the draft)
Honestly don’t know enough about him. Can he block? I think that’s always the biggest question with guys that come out of those spread vertical offenses. I’ve seen him listed as low as 240 and as low as 260.
I understand he would not have changed much last year for us and arguably we could have been worse because without Olu and any depth our OL would have been total unserviceable shit again, and that would negate Brock and others, but it was the right pick longer term. Brock is already the best TE in NFL as a rookie. He was the best TE in College as a true freshman. We cannot discount these accomplishments. As much as I like Olu, overall he was just OK, and there is a lot to prove still and I now am concerned now about his durability after season ending injury. Of course just OK is better than what we've ever had as LT with JD, so it is a good thing, and he is young, but Brock is already the best at his position, so no brainer there. It is becoming very obvious though that Tyler Warren is not in the same ballpark, so to your point I also would not be super excited about his selection. Same with Tet. I like WRs who can separate and are fast. The probability of that translating is higher IMO than slower higher radius guy like Tet - at least for top 10. Looks like AG values speed/separation more as well. So, to me it is beginning to look more and more like the trenches pick at #7, most likely OT, like Membou or Banks. Graham is in play as well. If we trade back, then some other options can open.
