AFC East Fillability Index Cold, Hard Football Facts for May 7, 2007 See the AFC North here *** By Jonathan Comey / Cold, Hard Football Facts contributor We start today with what should be the NFL's power division in 2007: the AFC East. It posted the best out-of-division record in the NFL in 2006 (23-17) and, for the most part, its teams look they'll be even better in 2007. AFC EAST: ~ ~ ~ N.Y. JETS (10-6) How they ranked in 2006 Total O Score O Rush O Pass O Total D Score D Rush D Pass D 25 18 20 17 20 6 24 14 2006 Quality Stat rankings Scoreability Off. Hog Pass YPA Bendability Def. Hog Def. Pass Rating 15 22 16 4 19t 12 Additions: QB Marques Tuiasosopo (Oakland) FB Darian Barnes (Miami) RB Thomas Jones (Chicago) DE Kenyon Coleman (Dallas) DE David Bowens (Miami) Subtractions: RB B.J. Askew (Tampa Bay) QB Patrick Ramsey (Denver) DE Dave Ball (Carolina) Draft choices: 1 (14) Darrelle Revis, db, Pittsburgh. 2 (47) David Harris, lb, Michigan. 6 (177) Jacob Bender, ot, Nicholls St. 7 (235) Chansi Stuckey, wr, Clemson. Eric Mangini turned New York's roster upside down as a rookie head coach. He did it smartly last year, while facing down the pressure to make an immediate PR splash, by using the first two draft picks on offensive line. He was widely praised by the Cold, Hard Football Facts for the decisions, and the results were impressive: a six-game improvement from 2005 to 2006, a playoff berth, and an open challenge to New England's divisional supremacy. The offseason approach has been much different in 2007, as the Jets have done only the mildest tinkering to the roster ? they don't lose a regular starter on either side of the ball. It tells you that they like the direction the team is headed.They made some attempt to improve their mediocre defensive line (19th in the Defensive Hog Index, 24th in total run defense) with the additions of Kenyon Coleman and David Bowens. And on the offensive side of the ball, RB Thomas Jones, one of the prize offensive free agents of 2007, should start for a team that finished 30th overall in yards per attempt (3.54) last year. New York went defense with their only high picks, grabbing CB Darrelle Revis and LB David Harris, both of whom will at least contribute as rookies.The Jets didn't address the offensive line (22nd in the Offensive Hog Index), but figure that their two first-round rookies in 2006 (T D'Brickashaw Ferguson, C Nick Mangold) are on the rise. The Jets were dead last on the Hog Index in 2005. So here on the offensive line, as it seems everywhere else in New York under Mangini, the direction is up. With a lot of young talent, the Jets can expect that their intact core should take a step forward in 2007, and they've made some nice small moves to complement that group. Surpassing New England is a formidable challenge. But the Jets beat the divisional powerhouse once last year. And they only need to beat them once this year, too, to challenge for the divisional title. Fillability grade: A > http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Article.php?Page=1431
I agree with most of this, but Thomas Jones was NOT a free agent. That error makes you wonder exactly how much effort they really put into this piece.
That and he was EXTREMELY generous and rosy when talking about the state of the Oline. Yeah, Mangold and Brick might play better, but unless Brick can play LT, RT, and RG at the same time it won't matter much to the run game. Focusing on the defense is fine and all, but if you are evaluating the team and offseason with any kind of objectivity you would see the that right side of the O-line (hence the run game) and Oline depth are still HUGE problems. And should drop the overall grade from an A to a B/B+ IMO.
Meh, that could just be a small blunder. Sometimes people post things that make me wonder how the hell they wrote that, but this isn't one of those.
Mostly accurate, although I think Revis and Harris will do more than "at least contribute" next year. I think they'll both play important and medium to high production roles
Well adding guards via cuts is the easiest position to fill. Obviously you wont find any good Left Tackles that get cut, but you can find decent interior lineman to be stop gaps. Look at pete kendall. We picked him up a few years ago and he started for 3 seasons.
It might be the easiest position to fill, but that doesn't mean it is an upgrade. Players of Kendall's calibur don't normally get cut June 1st, it was lucky, and I wouldn't count on it happening again. Stop gaps are fine but the run blocking/right side of the O-line was bad last year and they didn't address it. Clement is not that great, especially when he has to move his feet to get position on a DL to open a run gap. The FO was already shopping Kendall apparently. And Moore is average on a good day, and a penalty waiting to happen. They addressed the depth on the line a little with Bender, but who knows how he will turn out. Other then Bender whose left for depth? Wade Smith? Blanton? Doesn't exactly spur confidence. Just pray none of the OL starters get hurt. My point was that he was generous and not too objective when evaluating the Oline. The line and the run blocking was not addressed this offseason. So if you are going to evaluate the FO's offseason performance I think you have to take that all into account. Which IMO, would bring the grade down from an A, to a B or B+. That's all I meant.
We have got to do something to bolster this line before the season starts. i was disappointed it was not addressed during the draft. (BTW, a 6th pick is not seriously addressing the OL.)
Fairly good assessment even if he classified TJ as a free agent. I'm not so sure we're all that weak on the DL or the OL like some of us in this thread seem to think. I think that with another year in the same system for the holdover players and the injection of the new FA signees, the DL seems to be one of the sleeper units in this forthcoming season. Hopefully Pouha can finally show us what he's got and couple that with the anticipated improvements with the Linebacking corp and cornerback from our top two picks and we have the look of a very promising defense. My only concern with the team is the recently disclosed issue with Kendall. Granted he was a positive influence and solidifying presence on the line in 2006 but I believe that an upgrade on both the guard spots is forthcoming by 2008 anyway. If fate has it that Kendall doesn't suit up for the Jets this year, picking up Andruzzi as a one-year stop gap would make a lot of sense. Looking at some of the potentially draftable guards in the college ranks this coming season, it might not be a bad idea to look towards the 2008 draft to upgrade this position.
We're not only weak on the DL and OL but we're thin on depth also and undersized. There are only so many fundamental problems that can be present before one of them is likely to be a killer. Last year we went with a complete unknown on the DL as we moved to the 3-4, with only KVO having had any experience in the format. The result was a defense that could not stop the run for it's life. We got lucky and played mostly sad sacks the second half of the season and so we won 10 games anyway. This offseason we have added one part-time defensive end, one pass rush specialist (who did not play in a 3-4 on his last team) and a rookie linebacker with an injury history and somehow we expect different results. No impact moves at all on the defensive line for 2007, although Harris may eventually become a good answer at ILB. The early line says the Jets have not significantly improved their run defense for 2007 based on these moves, On the offensive line we just couldn't move people enough to generate any rushing attack between the tackles for most of the season last year. We're also small with LT, LG and RG all underweight by 20 lbs or more. Our RG weighs 295 lbs at a position that routinely has 330 lb drive blockers holding down the fort. We have undistinguished journeymen at RG and RT and an aging LG who is 30 lbs lighter than most of the defensive tackles he faces. Oh, and we're thin with only two backups who have played much in Wade Smith and Adrian Jones. Adding a premier back in Thomas Jones certainly helped, but he's not going to get any further inside than the motley selection of backs the Jets have had over the last two seasons unless the line becomes more of a force. Again, the early line says not much improvement in this critical area of the game. When your offensive line and defensive line are both mediocre it basically dooms your team to be so also. We have a tougher schedule this year and no realistic prospects for more than 8 wins or so. If we get a slew of injuries, like 2005, we'll be lucky to win 5 games. Just a couple of injuries could turn us into a 6 or 7 win team.
