Five Jets Facing Make or Break Year By Joe Caporoso | June 2nd, 2008 E-mail | Print | Share Now that I am back from vacation, expect to find the site updated at least once every day from now until the Jets kick off their regular season in Miami. I know news is a little slow right now, but that will give us more time to analyze the current roster among other things. Five Jets Facing a Make or Break Year - 1. Brad Smith - This is his third season as a full time wide receiver, either he will step up and win the the #3 spot behind Cotchery and Coles or fade into a gimmick/special teams player. The battle for reps at wide out should be interesting with Chansi Stuckey looking good in minicamp, and Marcus Henry selected in the sixth round. Smith needs to catch the ball more consistently and find a way to get more separation from defensive backs. 2. Justin Miller - The starting position opposite Darrelle Revis is there for the taking, will the most talented corner besides Revis win it though? Miller needs to improve his technique and stay healthy, or this will likely be his last season in green and white. Hank Poteat is competent, David Barrett is awful, Drew Coleman is a nickel back, and Dwight Lowery is rookie, which means if Miller can?t win the job this season than he never will. 3. Bryan Thomas - Thomas admitted to reporters during OTA?s that he slacked off in practice last season, leading to his disappointing campaign in 2007. In response to his poor play, the Jets signed Calvin Pace and drafted Vernon Gholston, now Thomas will have to improve immediately if he even wants to be active on Sundays. If Thomas can regain his 2006 form, the Jets could have 4 very good pass rushing outside linebackers (Pace, Gholston, Thomas, Bowens). 4. D?Brickashaw Ferguson - No, I don?t think the Jets will release Ferguson if he has a sub-par year this season but it is time for the #4 overall pick to step up. He has a hall of fame guard next to him and a good group of tight ends to occasionally help him out. D?Brick has only been adequate so far in his career, he needs to bulk up and become a more consistent player. 5. Kellen Clemens - It is more like a make or break training camp. If he can?t beat out Chad Pennington this summer, he can kiss away being the ?anointed quarterback of the future.? The Jets would likely select another quarterback in the draft or pursue one via free agency if Clemens can?t take at least a few steps forward this season. Another Quick Comment - I think the site ?Pro Football Talk? is a good read, but they have a serious anti-Jets bias. Somehow they discuss all of the Patriots additions last season as being made with ?precision? and the Jets moves this year ?reeking of desperation.? Why desperation? They needed a big nose tackle to run the 3-4, they went and got one. They had a horrible offensive line, they went and signed two quality starters. They had an awful pass rush, they added Calvin Pace and Vernon Gholston. They were terrible in the red-zone and in short yardage last year, so they added a pro bowl fullback, a good blocking tight end who is known for his red-zone ability, and two power running backs. It sounds to me like the Jets targeted their weaknesses and filled the holes.
Brick, regardless of performance, is going to be our starting LT in 2009. A guy who I'd add to that list is Calvin Pace. He needs to show that he wasn't just a contract year wonder (much like Thomas), and that he truly deserves the cash we shelled out for him...
I don't feel Smith is in a position as a true make/break year. He may need 5 years to really grasp the changeover. He's fine for special teams and return duty for now- anything else is an added bonus. He was a 4th round pick.
I read PFT everyday and I don't think they are anti jet. They didn't like all the money we paid old veterns and a one year wonder in Pace. This year will tell if the jets FO made the right moves. I think they did because on paper this team looks 300% better than last years.
Very fair comments on Miller's situation, imo. I think the Jets are taking a huge chance here if they don't make a move to bring someone else in. And one reason I say that is because Barrett sucks. Someone else mentioned Eric Smith as being under the microscope this camp. I can agree with that. Brad Smith, on the other hand, imo is pretty much what he is. And I assume Chad is not on that list since he's already broken.
The reason the Jets moves reek of desperation is that they blew chunks last year and during free agency they spent a huge amount of money to bring in the most touted players to try to fill their holes. There is a huge difference between signing a Pro Bowl caliber player like Adalius Thomas to fill a hole in an otherwise great defense and signing a contract year riser like Calvin Pace to fill one of numerous holes in an otherwise poor defense. Trading for Kris Jenkins was a high profile way to fill an enormous hole in the middle of the Jet's defense, however he's going to be playing a position he's never played before and one which is very difficult to master and he's got weight issues and had an ACL tear two years ago. If it works out the Jets look great but there are so many different angles that it could fail on that you have to ask yourself why the Jets for THREE DRAFTS RUNNING have not just drafted their NT in the first or second round and coached him up to where he needs to be. It's THREE DRAFTS RUNNING now, the argument that there were no suitable NT prospects for the Jets on the first day just does not fly any more. The Jets just chose not to make an effort in that area and when all is said and done that's the most likely reason that Mangini will have failed. Ten out of Belichik's first seventeen first day picks were on the defensive or offensive lines (counting Tight Ends). That's because he knew he had to build the line of scrimmage from within to succeed. The Jets have had nine first day picks in this regime and four of them were in the trenches. Given that Keller is expected to split wide and Gholston to be used at LB that's really just two out of nine on the line.
1. I'd like to see Brad Smith be used less in the WR role, which I hope Stuckey will take. Smith is still worth his place as a special teamer and should be used more effective on trick and all-purpose plays. If he only has to learn a small part of the playbook, why not throw the whole QB playbook at him and see in practice if he could actually be a decent QB. 2. While I'd like to see Justin Miller turn into a decent player, his coverage skills are terrible, hits hard though for someone his size. Can't see him coming back after this year unless he takes a position as a low paid return guy. I'm sure a team like the Raiders will suck him up. 3. Even if Bryan Thomas decides to turn up this year, he's going to find his position filled. Unless our top draft pick is a total bust, bye bye BT. 4. I'd really like to see D'Brick play on a decent OL, finally we'll get to see how good this guy is. Barring him getting benched this year, he'll be back. 5. If Kellen can just improve enough and lead this team to twice the amount of wins as last season, I'm sure he'll be returning.
Ferguson isn't going anywhere. Has he lived up to the #4 overall pick hype? No, he hasn't. But he hasn't been terrible either. Infact, he's been pretty good. I don't think its fair to look down on him for his 2007 season as Adrien Clarke was to blame for a lot of things that went bad on the left side of the line. He doesn't need a superstar next to him, but he needs someone whose adequate. Alan Faneca should just make things that much better. As for Miller, this is going to be his make or break season. If he can start at Corner, stay healthy and play well, he will receive a contract extension without a doubt. For Brad Smith, this is also it for him. Chansi Stuckey will beat him out if he stays on the field, without question. Smith will have to improve his game to remain on the roster as Henry isn't going anywhere and the team likes Wallace Wright on Special Teams and as a 5th or 6th receiver. Smith could be a surprising late August release, although I don't see that happening, it could. Bryan Thomas? Gone if he has another 2 and a half sack season. Simple as that. Kellen Clemens? The only way I see him in another uniform in 2009 is if he is a complete failure. Mangini isn't going to give up on him after one full season of starting, IMO.
He actually has one of the largest playbooks, including plays and attending meetings for the quarterbacks, runningbacks and wide receivers.
i think we'll finally see Dbrick step up this year. the oline is definetly a unit and it seems as though our unit is strong. the faneca signing should help as everyone says it will.
Ferguson is a good player, with Faneca next to him he will play like a #4 overall player. Mark my words. I have kind of quit already on Justin Miller and Brad Smith. If they make a good play here and there fine, but they aren't great players. I feel the same with Bryan Thomas. This is not really a make or break year for Clemens. Probably a mediocre year would be good enough for him to remain the starter. 9-7 would do it I would say. Even 8-8. He just needs to show signs of being a good quarterback.
Sounds to me that people gotta lay off the hatorade . We made very good pick ups in Free-Agency and we filled the holes we needed too. The Pats did nothing but Cheat and Cheat some more.
i agree w/#'s 1,2, and 3, clemens has to win the job 1st, and if he doesnt, you can put chad on that list
Yes, there is. Now explain to me how one is more desperate than the other. Don't tell me you're bringing this shit back... 1. What Day 1 NT prospects have been available the past 3 drafts? Ngata, Branch (more a DE to me), Watson, and Rubin. Ngata would have been considered a reach by many. Branch and Watson had alot of issues, but either way we had no shot at them without losing one or both of Harris/Revis. Rubin really was a dumbass choice on their part...I really wanted this guy. So we've really passed up on one potential NT that we coulda/shoulda/woulda had. But you with your excellent gift of hindsight will probably show me the way. 2. How fucking retarded is it to even say we HAVE to draft a NT in the 1st or second round? Which 3 of those guys were first/second round prospects...well see the explanations above. 3. Didn't we just GET a NT? What in the fuck are you crying about? 4. Isn't that guy we got considered one of the best run stuffing DTs in the NFL? 5. Won't that first or second round draft pick have to learn a very tough position himself...as a rookie...with first or second round pick expectations? 6. Are we done drafting? I didn't know coaching staffs were only allowed 3 drafts to build a team. Sucks...cause theres a bunch of potential 3-4 NTs coming out and Mangini/Tanny were stupid enough to use up their 3 draft limit already. I think I'm starting to see the light you've been trying to show us all man. D'Brick Mangold Harris Gholston Keller Thats 5 of 8 first round picks on O-line or DL/front 7. And we've used like 10 of 20 total picks on DL/front 7, OL, and TE. You don't even bother with facts...or real analysis. You really should considering working for the NY Post or something.
I like the 5 choices in the OP. I like Thomas, D'Brick, and even Clemens to step up...I'm just not a Smith or Miller (as a CB) fan.
Quick word on Rubin: the book on him was that he's stupid. Not football stupid, seriously stupid. Like, "needed help filling out forms at the Combine" stupid. Possible learning disability stupid. So I don't think he's the can't-miss NT of the future. Definitely agree with your post, just wanted to add some more evidence to your already-strong case.
1. Gabe Watson and Ahtyba Rubin weren't Day 1 picks...I'm glad we passed on them. Kris Jenkins is a much better, more experienced player. (I don't see how you can see Alan Branch as more of a DE, and not Gabe Watson when they are virtually the same player.) 2. A left tackle like D'Brickashaw Ferguson was much more important than a defensive lineman like Haloti Ngata...who played END in the 3-4 for the Baltimore Ravens, not NT. So Ngata may or may not have worked out for the Jets as a NT. 3. The Jets' FO had plenty of chances to draft Gabe Watson, and they passed on him...same with Rubin, who fell all the way to the 6th round. If he was so great, someone would've taken him earlier. 4. We didn't pass up a potential NT. We already had one in Kris Jenkins, so there was no need to draft another.
