Position-by-position ranking of the players The Jets didn't practice today, but you're looking for your daily fix. So here it is, a ranking of the players based on practice observations and conversations with people who know stuff. (By the way, the Jets must release an official depth chart this week in advance of their first pre-season game. That should be good for a few laughs.) The rankings: Quarterback: 1. Chad Pennington, 2. Kellen Clemens, 3. Marques Tuiasosopo, 4. Brad Smith, 5. Brett Ratliff. Comment: Tui and Smith are running neck and neck. Smith is a lock to make the team because he does so many things, so it's a matter of Tui convincing them he belongs. Running Back: 1. Thomas Jones, 2. Leon Washington, 3. Alvin Banks, 4. Danny Ware, 5. Tony Hollings. Comment: (Cedric) Houston, we have a depth problem. Fullback: 1. Darian Barnes, 2. Stacy Tutt Comment: Not exactly Csonka and Kiick, but they'll do. Tight End: 1. Chris Baker, 2. Sean Ryan, 3. Joe Kowalewski, 4. Jason Pociask, 5. James Dearth Comment: You can bet the Jets will be checking the waiver wire for tight-end depth. Wide Receiver: 1. Laveranues Coles, 2. Jerricho Cotchery, 3. Justin McCareins, 4. Chansi Stuckey, 5. Brad Smith, 6. Frisman Jackson, 7. Wallace Wright, etc. Comment: Sorry, I'm not going to list them all. I still consider Smith a wide receiver. Remember, Tim Dwight is on the PUP list. Center: 1. Nick Mangold, 2. Wade Smith, 3. Joseph Villani Comment: Solid. Guard: 1. Brandon Moore, 2. Adrien Clarke, 3. Pete Kendall, 4. Robert Turner Comment: Starting to get the feeling that Kendall may be sticking around for a while. I'm sure he'll be thrilled if that happens. Tackle: 1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, 2. Anthony Clement, 3. Adrian Jones, 4. Jacob Bender, Comment: Brick looks a lot better than last year. Jones has emerged as a valuable backup because of his versatility. Defensive End: 1. Shaun Ellis, 2. Kenyon Coleman, 3. Kimo von Oelhoffen, 4. Bobby Hamilton, 5. Michael Haynes, 6. Eric Hicks Comment: Can't keep 'em all. Two or three "name" players will get cut. Defensive Tackle: 1. Dewayne Robertson, 2. Sione Pouha, 3. C.J. Mosley Comment: Mangini has been talking up Pouha. Count me among the cynics. Inside Linebacker: 1. Jonathan Vilma, 2. Eric Barton, 3. David Harris, 4. Brad Kassell, 5. Anthony Schlegel Comment: Looks like the Schlegel era will be coming to close soon. Outside Linebacker: 1. Bryan Thomas, 2. Victor Hobson, 3. David Bowens, 4. Cody Spencer, 5. Blake Costanzo Comment: Bowens will earn his keep as a nickel pass rusher. Costanzo has his own cheering section as practice. You gotta love it! Cornerback: 1. David Barrett, 2. Justin Miller, 3. Andre Dyson, 4. Hank Poteat, 5. Drew Coleman Comment: No.1 pick Darrelle Revis is one of only three unsigned first-rounders. How is that possible? The Jets owe an explanation to their fans. Safety: 1. Kerry Rhodes, 2. Erik Coleman, 3. Eric Smith, 4. Rashad Washington, 5. Jamie Thompson Comment: Coleman and Smith are running pretty much neck and neck. Rhodes is good. Placekicker: 1. Mike Nugent Comment: Nugent was impressive in the scrimmage, but let's not call him Robo Leg just yet. Punter: 1. Ben Graham Comment: He da man. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/
This was the best part of the blog...Tanny can comment besides the cliche "we're open in negotiations."
One of the most average looking rosters i've seen anywhere in the league. What team can look at that roster and fear anything?
This has to be a first for me.... other than the Pouha comment, I think Cimini is spot on. He obviously had help. I don't feel like the Jets owe me anything regarding Revis. This franchise with Mr T has been very good... this is the first hiccup. He deserves a break here.
Honestly, I could care less that Revis is not in camp. I want Tanny to do what is best for the team. Revis will have very little impact as a rookie at CB anyhow. He might be albe to contribute as a punt returner, but Leon is good too and we have an all pro KR in Miller, so I really and not sweating this one. Do your think Tanny.
that's ridiculous. The reason why traded up to get him is because we thought he could contribute now to a team that just made the playoffs the year before... it's not like we drafted him in the 2nd rd...he was the best cb in the draft and we expect him to play...thiis sucks
This was my favorite: Houston, we have a depth problem. You're talking about who's going to be our THIRD RB. Great problem to have. I agree about Revis - no need to explain to me. I understand the positions of both sides and I want Tanny to get 6 years and I'm willing to wait for it, based on two assumptions: that Miller really has turned a corner and that Miller is not seriously injured.
Yeah, I don't see the issue w/ Houston leaving the team. We have some pretty decent young guys competing for that 3rd spot, and additionally have Brad Smith who could easily play a few downs at RB. I like Danny Ware alot. The only thing that scares me about Miller is, he looked almost as good last TC(Truthfully he was our best TC defender after Rhodes). I think alot of his past(and over-dramatized) struggles are a result of 2 completely different systems in his first 2 years combined w/ confidence. He still has all the physical tools to be a very good corner. I can say first hand that he looked awesome at TC when i saw him. Even better than last year. Assuming Revis signs and lives up to the billing, and Miller doesnt get back into a funk, we're gonna have 2 fast,physical corners for a very long time(Drew Coleman could become a great nickel guy as well). You add that to Rhodes at safety..and that is a very young, fast, physical and downright scary secondary!
If Andre Wadsworth makes it into the 3rd week of preseason games, I will be surprised. I don't think that warrants leaving him off the list because he is still in camp, but the guy has so many chips against him and we haven't heard much about him except he is not doing so well. I'd love to see the guy make the team but I don't think it has a chance of happening.
I'm confused about some of the rankings. I've heard nothing about von Oelhoffen, Barton, Hobson, Ryan and plenty about Haynes, Bowens, Kowaleski, etc. Are the guys in that first list really excelling quietly? Particularly, given the glowing reports on Haynes, is he really performing worse than KvO? If so, I may have to readjust my overall picture.
Haynes has indeed looked very good, but really only as a pass rush specialist. He isn't good against the run even in a 4-3, nevermind in the 3-4. OMO, Coleman will easilly beat out KvO as the starting DE in the standard 3-4 set. One reason I haven't said much about Hobson, Barton, etc is because there isn't anything new there to report. Status quo. Ryan has had a fairly quiet camp until that practice game they held at Fordham.
The reason that we picked him and the way he preforms as a rookie CB coming out as a junior are two different isssues. Unless we have injury issues, it is highly unlikely that he sees much or any time as CB this year anyhow..mostly just nickle and special teams.
Miller is so key. Revis was a pick at least in part because they didn't think they could depend on Miller. But what if, all of a sudden they can? THen we will have a secondary that compares favorably to Miami's back in the madison surtain days. Which is exciting. Just the indication that he's starting to make somethign of his physuical tools is exciting. Ah, optimism, how will you crush me this time?
It's nothing official, it's just scrambled together IMO. Kenyon Coleman the 3rd DE? Come on. Dyson was back with the 1st team today, and Coleman is on the cusp of taking over Kimo's spot.