Here's a couple of paragraphs from today's Newsday article regarding likely targets for the Jets in the 2008 draft. One of the names they throw around is Chris Long of Virginia, touting his character and leadership. Last year, that sounded good to me. Not so much this year. After watching what Mangini's 2007 "Team of College Captains" has done, I'm less enamored with intangibles and leadership than I am with strength, size, production and attitude. I'm hoping for one of the DT, Dorsey or Ellis. "The deepest position in the draft, according to many experts, just happens to be one of the Jets' needs: the defensive front seven. Defensive tackle Glenn Doresy of LSU will likely be the top overall pick, so barring a loss to Miami on Sunday, the Jets won't get a peek at him. But Chris Long of Virginia (Hall of Famer Howie Long's kid) is also a playmaker on the line and the Jets will fall in love with his character and leadership skills. He's been listed at 6-4, 275, and the last thing the Jets want is another undersized down lineman for their 3-4 scheme. But Long actually weighs in closer to 290 and is familiar with the 3-4 from playing it under Al Groh in Virginia." "Another defensive end is Calais Campbell (Miami), who is 6-8, 280 and would do a nice job of keeping offensive linemen occupied (and away from linebacker David Harris). Sedrick Ellis of USC is a strong interior defensive lineman (he reportedly bench presses 510 pounds) who could be planted at the nose, allowing Dewayne Robertson to move to an end position and see more one-on-one matchups. Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey could also become an outside pass-rushing linebacker for the Jets." "The top offensive skill player is Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. Some have compared him to Adrian Peterson in terms of speed and strength. The Jets have Thomas Jones as their primary running back and Leon Washington as a change-of-pace guy, but McFadden could be too talented to pass on in this age of two-headed running attacks in the NFL." "It's unlikely that the Jets will look for a quarterback in this draft. Even if Kellen Clemens bombs in the remaining five games, it's too early to bring in someone younger. If anything they would take a chance on a veteran to come in and stabilize the situation, possibly mentor and/or push Clemens. Someone like, well, someone like Chad Pennington. But that's another story." "The Jets could also consider taking Michigan tackle Jake Long. It would be an odd move considering that they drafted tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson with the fourth overall pick in 2006. But if the Jets believe that Ferguson hasn't developed into a cornerstone-type lineman - and many would concur - they might move him to the right side and try Long at that all-important left tackle position. The Jets would then have three first-rounders from the last three drafts on their offensive line (center Nick Mangold being the other)."
I actually like the idea of taking Jake Long and moving DBrick to the right. We need Oline help, thats one way to get it.
Tom Rock says that the Jets don't need another undersized defensive lineman but Ellis is listed at 285. Thats REAL small for a NT even if he can bench press 500 lbs. The same goes for Dorsey. To get bigger, the Jets might need to draft, say, Chris Long and move him to OLB. Not sure how well suited he is to OLB but at 265 (which he is listed at) or 290 (which Rock claims he's at) would be a huge upgrade. Of course, he probably weighs somewhere in between.
for that much money we could get Starks and a guy like Andrews and would still be able to pick a Playmaker.
NO JAKE LONG!! We need to pick an impact player with this pick. I'm sick of these conservative picks. You need to gamble a little bit to get some results in this leauge.. we've seen how far 'safe' picks have gotten us.
This is another brilliant observation. Lets pick undersized players with a number 1 pick so they can get blow off the line or move them to other positions where they can look confused just because they are ranked high. Never mind taking Mcfadden who is prepared to do what he will be drafted to do.
Gholston and Groves are pretty sick. I like Chris Long but the size thing could be an issue. You can't pass on Mcfadden..I think it would be a huge mistake.
I like Long if he weighs in at 290+ at the combine. I like him ALOT if that happens. But I'm skeptical as to whether he can and will do it when he'd make such a good 4-3 DE. Question: Where did this move D'Brick to RT come from? If anything Long would be the RT. D'Brick has the potential to be an elite pass protector and shut down like 6 guys in a row (including Suggs, Schobel, Osi) before his bad game last week. And it's not like Ware completely owned him either.
Groves has nothing on Gholston. Especially if they're going to play OLB in the pros. My dream scenario would be landing in the top two and trading out and getting both Chris Long and Vernon Gholston...but that won't happen, but one of those guys and another solid player would be a great first round.
...yeah, but if WE drafted McFadden, he would turn into Ki-Jana Carter. If anyone else drafts him, he'll be the next Eric Dickerson. I'm all for drafting a playmaker on offense, especially if we're in the top 3, but nothing's a sure thing. I don't want to see us invest millions and millions into a running back and then that player turns out to be bust. Thomas Jones will do for the next couple of season, and then someone new will come along in the draft or through free agency. If we take McFadden, I just hope he's half as good as Adrian Peterson was for the Vikings this year.
Iunno about nothing. Groves is one of the best pure pass rushers in this draft. He's explosive as hell, and will probably fly up come combine. He's not as stout or good at stuffing the run as Gholston, but Gholston isn't a dominating force against the run either.
Groves has been horrible at OLB since Auburn made that switch. I know Groves is a beast...I'm going to an SEC school right now, and he'll most likely be First Team All-SEC, but Gholston is so much more powerful, and probably faster. I think Groves will slip at the combine. Remember Quinton Moses from UGA? He was supposed to be a 1st rounder and he fell into the third round. You never know with these guys...the same thing could also happen to Gholston though. I doubt it will happen to either of them, but you never know.
I agree with all of the first paragraph. I don't think Groves is the next Moses. He's more athletic, he's fast, he's more fluid, and he's been a better pass rusher for a longer time. Groves is really going to remind people why he was so highly touted at the combine. This is a guy who ran a 4.46 last Spring, and has been hampered by injury this year. If Auburn beat South Florida earlier this year, Groves would have been the #1 reason why. Groves to me is the most fluid athlete of all the 3-4 DE/OLB prospects. If we walk out of the draft without Gholston, Groves, or Crable...I think thats when I'd be pissed off at Mangini. The only reason we shouldn't draft one of those 3 is because we signed Suggs or Dansby.
I didn't see a big divide between Gholston and Groves athletically when the season started, but Gholston has really stepped up whle Groves hasn't done much of anything. I'd much prefer Gholston at this point. -X-
I emailed Tom Rock on the issue of Brick to RT.... Told him it was ridiculous... IF ANYTHING Brick is a finesse LT certainly NOT the more powerful RT we need... Brick needs to keep improving, add weight as his metabolism slows and get better play around him... it'll come... His reply: "I was speaking to an NFL scout a few weeks ago who said his team projected Brick in the draft as a right tackle because he doesn't have the strength to match up with the elite pass-rushers he sees at LT. At RT his athleticism could be used for more of an advantage against (for lack of a better word) weaker and less-polished pass rushers. Now, do I think that's what the Jets will do? No. But it is an option. They've been known to put supposedly mis-cast players at other strange positions. Just look at their NT and their ILB (or former ILB now that Vilma is shelved). I think they like to try to reinvent the wheel sometimes."
That makes no sense. D'Brick is a LT because of elite athleticism, technique, and pass blocking skills. LDEs are usually bigger than the pass rushing RDEs. Rock is either an idiot who made that up or that scout is from the 70's.
I'm starting to think that Rock is rather clueless. Between his assertions regarding Ellis and his reply to your email, it's obvious he has no idea what he's talking about. His assertion that the Jets draft Glenn Dorsey was even more absurd. The only draft picks the Jets expend on defensive lineman in this draft should be focused on finding effective two gappers. Personally, I'm starting to lose faith in this 3-4, but I don't think it's going anywhere and we'll have to make the best of it. I think a 4-3 with Moseley and Robertson in the middle would get a lot of interior pressure and probably be more effective overall. -X-
I've actually been thinking. At a 4-3, we only need one player and I think with the right coaching we could be elite, almost as good as when we had Donnie Henderson a few years ago. All we need is to fix up our DBs (Hey, we got 2 out of 4 set) Line - Thomas - Mosley - D-Rob - Ellis (With Coleman/Pouha to roate in) Here is where it gets nice: LBer - Harris - Vilma - Barton (With Hobson to sub in at OLB) And of course the DBs - Poteat?? - Revis - Rhodes - Elam?? Where we would need help is at RDE and CB/Safety. And with those LBers (assuming Vilma is healthy) I would match them up with anyone in the league. Can anyone tell me what happened to Andre Dyson? Last year he had an awesome season and I thought we would be set at his spot this year, but he has seemed to be MIA all year.
