It seems all of those teams got "Lucky as hell" somewhere along the way, as well as quality drafting.
So basically being great means making all the right moves and "getting lucky" as you call it. Got to love how "getting lucky" is part of that "textbook plan." Keep the analysis that vague and shallow and you can always think you're making good points...think about it for a second...you're mapping plans that you watched unfold for those teams over a fuckin' decade plus dude...of course they'll have many first rounders at many positions.
Brad Smith had a good showing against the G-Men...if he keeps it up I'd keep him around and nix the trade I have for him. Does anyone know when final roster cuts are?
This is true, however they also had excellent plans to build depth and star value in the draft process. The Jets have thrown depth to the wind in pursuit of star value, a plan that has not produced any noticeable success anywhere in the NFL since the free agency era began.
The Jets rebuilding plan is complete. In three offseasons they have turned over the majority of the roster and improved the roster drastically. In three offseasons they brought in: QB Farve (trade) QB Clemens (drafted) QB Ratliff (undrafted FA) QB Eric Ainge (drafted) HB Thomas Jones (Trade) HB Leon Washington (Draft) HB Chatman (FA) FB Richardson (FA) WR Brad Smith (drafted) WR Chanci Stuckey (drafted) WR Henry (drafted) WR Wallace Wright (FA) TE Dustin Keller (drafted) TE Bubba Franks (FA) TE Jason Posiack (drafted) LT Brick (drafted) LG Faneca (FA) C Mangold (drafted) RT Woody (FA) OT Bender (drafted) DT Jenkins (trade) DT Mosley (trade) DE Kenyon Coleman (free agent) DE Kareem Brown (picked up off waivers) DE Devito (undrafted FA) OLB Calvin Pace (free agent) OLB Vernon Gholston (drafted) OLB David Bowens (free agent) ILB David Harris (drafted) ILB Brad Kassell (FA) ILB Matt Chatham (FA) CB Darrelle Revis (drafted) CB Dwight Lowery (drafted) CB Hank Poteat (FA) CB Drew Coleman (drafted) Safety Eric Smith (drafted) Safety Abram Elam (FA) Holdovers: Coles Cotchery Baker Shaun Ellis Siona Pouha Eric Barton Bryan Thomas David Barrett Justin Miller Kerry Rhodes Mike Nugent Brandon Moore It seems they turned over about 75-80% of the roster in three offseasons. They drafted players who have all pro potential (Revis, Harris, Mangold, Brick, Gholston, Keller and even Lowery). Now they have to work on depth on both lines. Figuring out who the long term quarterback is. They have stockpiled draft picks for next year, they have solid young players all over the field. They have new a facility and will not have to travel across state lines to play games. Mangini and Tannenbaum have made plenty of mistakes but they seem to learn from them. I do think this team is solid but probably a year away from competing with the Pats, Colts, Chargers and Jaguars.
That's not a rebuild. That's putting together a roster that has about fifteen key players on it with a career expectancy of 2 or 3 seasons. The stars the Jets may have found over the last few seasons are going to be awfully lonely when the older players start dropping out around them. The Jet's "rebuild" has left them in the bottom half of the league in terms of projected age of starters on offense and defense. Established playoff teams like the Colts and Chargers are younger than they are. Up and comers that are much younger than them include the Texans, The Browns and the Titans. The teams that are older than them breakdown fairly well into two categories: successful teams in the middle of or nearing the end of their run and sadsack teams that never were or will be.
We are like the 10 youngest team in the NFL, how are the old guys dropping out? The rest of the post is just apocalyptic banter.
I believe the older players dropping out, as referred to, include notables such as: Brett Favre (QB), Alan Faneca (LG), Coles (WR),Eric Barton (ILB), Tony Richardson (FB) and solid depth guys such as Bubba Franks (TE), not to mention the preexisting holes. After they leave the Jets will have glaring needs at QB, WR, LG, ILB, FB to add the needs at DE, WR and FS (possibly CB as well depending on Lowery but he's looking good), and not to mention the depth issues at WR, CB, NT, and OL. I also count RB as a need once Jones is gone/released since LW is not an every down back in my book
Every single team has issues like this. This is why you have to keep drafting well which the front office has done. No team has great depth at every position. We know Farve at best is 2 more years. Either Clemens or Ratliff will probably take over after that. We have two more years from Coles and then he will be replaced either in house by someone like Brad Smith, Clowney of Stucky if they can continue to develop. Faneca will be here 3 years minimum. I'm sure in the next three years the front office is going to draft lineman mid round to improve the depth and be possible replacements for Faneca and Woody down the road. Barton is solid and no reason he needs to retire any time soon. Some people are never happy no matter what the front office does. If we didn't sign anyone this off season they would say what a bunch of idiots. If they sign players it's oh they are so old we will stink in a few years. A true rebuilding of a team starts with the draft. You analyze what you currently have and who needs to go. You spend 2 seasons fixing the salary cap and signing budget players. By the third offseason you have the ability to fill some holes through free agency.
Great teams have a mix of promising rookies and veterans. You can't win with just one or the other - you have to have both. And the Jets have a great combination. They have the senior vet leadership like Faneca, Favre, Richardson, Woody and Ellis. Some great mid-career guys like Jenkins, Pace and Rhodes. Along with a lot of talented youngsters. All of these players have been pros for less than 3 years: DBrick, Mangold, Leon Washington, Revis, Harris, Gholston, Keller, Lowery. That's pretty much an ideal roster.
If the Jets were a great team I'd agree with this, but it's not clear that they're even an average team at this point. Having a bunch of seasoned vets doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot if those vets were part of 4-12 twice in the last three seasons. Adding a bunch of seasoned vets to a team that just went 4-12 twice in three seasons isn't any guarantee of making it much better moving forward. The Jets could easily go 9-7 next year and then lose three key players and be right back at 4-12 in 2009. That would be the pattern they have established since 2002.
That last line I agree with. I think the Pete Kendall situation taught this FO/CS about replacing what was lost. I really hope so, because then this team might sustain winning seasons for the first time since the turn of the millennium.
For adding players from the final cuts which goes along with rebuilding, go to my thread in "New York Jets"
Immediate need: DL. Jenkins needs a proper backup, whose productivity doesn't fall off monumentally. One high-rounder, one project (all must weigh more than 330) should be drafted, and all the garbages impersonating NT on Jets roster must be cut. Remember, Vince Wilfork was drafted at 21st - you can still find a damn good prospect even at 20th or lower in 1st round. Also, Ellis is getting up there in ages - his replacement should be in place by the end of next year. K. Coleman isn't far behind when it comes to ages. This DL is aging quickly. I wouldn't mind seeing this team go DL for the first three picks. Since Vilma is playing very well for the Saints, possibly Jets will have three day 1 picks (1/2/2) After DL, what?: Another immediate need would be FS. This is the year Skins cough up their 4th round pick, right? (Kendall trade) Hope for another 4th round steal there - I see a good chance of that happening. (haha) After that... What else. OL. Faneca is on the wrong side of 30, and you would do well to get his replacement. Woody and Moore needs someone behind them too. *Age concerns* Since they don't need immediate attention, Jets can draft project players and nurture them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- What else is missing? 1. QB - I don't know how much more Favre is going to play, but given the situation, I would think Favre will come back for one more year. Especially if his first year in NY doesn't pan out. That doesn't mean you can neglect the position. Maybe Ratliff can be the next starting QB... Clemens is NOT going to be the one however. 2. WR - I think a tall and physical WR is in order. Speed is important, but I think speed is overrated. A WR that can use his frame effectively will be much tougher challenge for a defending team, especially if that WR comes with height. If he is fast - he would be gone in 1st round, and I don't believe in drafting WR in 1st RD - so much for discussion there. 3. RB - can Leon carry 20-25 carries a game? If he can, he'll be replacing TJ. If not, they better draft a RB. These can be dealt with later...
ummm besides drafting Tebow (who i'am not high on) this actually wouldn't be a bad plan. Instead of Tebow I'd try and get Sam Bradford who is the real deal IMO or we may not need to draft one as we would have Ratliff and Ainge competiting and Ratliff may be money in the future.
I made this plan in August lol....I don't know resurrected it but things have changed. If you want over the next few days I can redo this.
