This list contains my opinion on the level of impact an injury to a key player would have on the Jets in 08. Key criteria I used in establishing this list was: - Significance of contribution to team player should have at his position - Level of separation in quality of depth at the position - Intangibles lost by player not being on the field For instance, if i were evaluating the Patriots: #1) Tom Brady (by far) #2) Randy Moss There are simply no replacements for what those 2 bring on Sundays. While the Jets don't nearly have players of this impact, the below list suggests which injuries would be the hardest for the team to overcome. #1) Alan Faneca - LG The Jets gave Faneca a tractor trailer packed full of crisp lettuce for a reason. They needed a player with his skill and experience on the Oline in the worst way. Faneca's leadership alone will bolster the play of the younger guys, and in many ways, he'll serve as the cohesive glue across the whole line of scrimmage. He's well proven, will make an impact right away, and is a big part of the Jets plans to emphasize the rushing game. Furthermore, w/o depth at the position, no Faneca equates to a similar Oline in 07. #2) David Harris - ILB While the Jets have gotten bigger in the front 7, i suspect they'll struggle with mismatches in coverage. Harris is their best LB at both stopping the run AND pass. It is unknown at this point who will start along side him, and there is almost no quality depth at the position. They need their defensive signal caller on the field. #3) D'Brickashaw Ferguson - LT At the most critical postion on the line of scrimmage, the Jets have no quality depth behind the Brick. An injury here might force the team to play Woody out of position, weakening both bookends on the line. This can be a year in which D'Brick can really come into his own playing on a much improved line, and he'll obviously need to be on the field to grow into this critical role. #4) Kris Jenkins - NT A 350lb mauling presence in the middle of the field is exactly what this defense has claimed to have needed since Mangini began. If Jenkins can successfully make the positional transition, he will be a player opposing offenses will actually need to game plan around. If you can't move him, offenses will need to find ways to contain him with either double teams or misdirection. Either way, this frees up LB's and enables the team to get more creative on blitz packages. The only reason Jenkins isn't listed even higher, is that we don't know just yet how big his impact will be. #5) Darrelle Revis - CB Revis is the most important player in the Jets secondary, and will see opposing team's #1 WR all year long. In addition to very solid coverage skills AND run support, he is the defense's biggest playmaker IMO. Expect to see his INT's increase as teams attempt to throw more on the improved rush D of the Jets this season. With some ?'s at the other corner, the Jets need Revis out there to lock down his side of the field. It was tough to keep this list at only 5, as good arguments can be made for many others. QB was noticeably left off, as i don't think there is a big separation between our QB's (and wanted to avoid another QB thread Feel free to comment with your top 5 needed healthy..
D'Brick Faneca Mangold Moore Woody If one of them goes down the backup is ass. Unless somehow Bender has improved tremendously.
I have a feeling a few more vets will be brought in after the June 1st cuts. At least one offensive lineman and a couple defensive players: a safety, a corner, and a linebacker. The roster isn't all the way there. This team lacks depth at a few important position...and you're right about the offensive line. RIGHT NOW, if any of the starters went down, the offense would be screwed.
David Harris, he might be the best player on our team, if he improves just a little bit from what he was last year he could be one of the best linebackers in the league..
Kerry Rhodes, David Harris, and Darrelle Revis are equally important in this defense. Newcomers Kris Jenkins and Calvin Pace will also be extremely important this season.
I'll go with.. 1. Feneca - As stated in the opening post, if he gets hurt our line is pretty much the same as '07 2. Jenkins - If he gets hurt, problems with getting to the quarterback will start all over again. 3. Revis - We have absolutely no other CB with the skills to play the #1. 4. Rhodes - Leader of our backfield, that would be a difficult gap to fill. 5. Harris - His sideline to sideline play and ability to get to the QB is going to open other people up a lot. With him gone, I don't think people would be worried about his replacement. Notable mentions include Pace, T. Jones, and Cotchery/Coles.
I was thinking them too. Also if one of them go down with an injury, it will make it hard for the unit to gel.
How has nobody said Coles yet? This entire offseason has been spent talking about how we need an answer at QB after last season. Last season LC was hurt.. there is a disconnect there. If anything last season showed just how important he is to our offense. We need Coles on the field.
if you havent noticed we have an awesome line so we can run like 40 times a game now and do fine. Cotch could be the number one and do fine + we picked up keller
Very good post. I would probably go with: 1. Jenkins 2. Jenkins 3. Jenkins 4. Jenkins 5. Jenkins If he gets hurt we are screwed. We will revert back to all our prior seasons where we couldnt stop the run even if we knew it was coming. He will also help keep lineman off our linebackers enabling them to make plays. IMO, without him, every other player on our D will be be much worse off.
Coles. This passing offense is atrocious without the pair of him and Cotchery. Outside of that, you're guaranteed to get 3 drops a game from their replacement.
