Positional analysis: Secondary April 20, 2009 Back from a two-day respite. We're getting down to crunch time, so we'll hit it hard between now and Saturday. Unit: Secondary Need factor: 4. What they've got: No unit has undergone a more dramatic turnover than the secondary, the weak leak in 2008. The Jets changed three of the top five players, signing S Jim Leonhard (three years, $5.9 million) and nickel CB Donald Strickland and trading for former Pro Bowl CB Lito Sheppard (cap number: $3 million). They'll join the foundation players, S Kerry Rhodes ($5.7 million) and Pro Bowl CB Darrelle Revis ($1.8 million). They have solid depth with S Abram Elam ($1.5 million), CB Dwight Lowery and S Eric Smith.No doubt, the key player is Sheppard. If he can return to his Pro Bowl form, the Jets will have two outstanding corners. That's a necessity in Rex Ryan's blitz-oriented system, which requires a lot of man-to-man coverage. Rhodes says the system is somewhat similar to the scheme former D.C. Donnie Henderson ran in 2004 and 2005, which makes sense because Henderson, like Ryan, came from the Ravens. What they need: If the Jets hadn't dealt for Sheppard, they'd be in the market for a front-line corner who could play immediately. Now they don't have to force the issue, although Sheppard isn't a long-term solution -- yet. They surrendered a fifth-round pick (2009) and a conditional pick (2010) to the Eagles, and they renegotiated his contract, but the Jets can get out after a year with no strings attached. By that, I mean they can make a clean break from the contract and wouldn't owe a 2010 pick. But, unless Sheppard is a total washout, I don't think it'll come to that. Both sides want this to work, and Sheppard is only 28, so he could be around for awhile.That said, the Jets still might look for a corner in the later rounds. The positional requirements are different under Ryan than Eric Mangini. The Jets need corners with speed and man-to-man cover skills, and there's a dropoff after Sheppard and Revis. Lowery shows promise, but he doesn't have great speed and might not be an ideal fit in the new system. Who's available: It's not a banner year for corners or safeties, for that matter. You could see three corners drafted in the first round -- Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State), Darius Butler (UConn) and Vontae Davis (Illinois). If Jenkins, a top-10 talent, slips to 17, the Jets will be faced with an interesting decision. They'd have to shuffle the depth chart to fit him or, more likely, trade the pick to a team that wants him more. Davis is a terrific talent, but as one scout told me, "He's lazy and immature. He plays when he wants to. Just a bad attitude."The Jets brought in at least five corners for pre-draft visits: Jenkins, Davis, Butler, Bradley Fletcher (Iowa) and Greg Toler (St. Paul's, Va.). Toler is a small-school prospected who opened eyes in the post-season all-star games. He has the tools to develop and could be a third- or fourth-round choice. I'm told the Jets like him. Prediction: Can't see them picking a corner on Day 1. Ditto, safety. I could see it in Round 3 or 4. Oregon's Jairus Byrd could be a possibility. He's a step slow, but he's a ballhawk with terrific instincts. > http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2009/04/positional-analysis-secondary.html _______________________
read it this morning, makes sense to me, if Jenkins is there at 17, it likely means no CB have been taken, so somebody will want to trade up to get him. thats what i am hoping for.
It seems we're not looking at Smith. A shame, I've grown intrigued by him. I cannot wait until Saturday!
I don't think CB at #17 is out of the question. The Sheppard contract could easily turn into a one year rental and there's no guarantee he can stay healthy.
Sucks to hear this about Vontae. Not that it's new news, but I would've thought that maybe he could've shown a different side to him during interviews. Oh well. I'm high on Darrius Butler, but I highly doubt we get him even if he's there. There's a lot of talent in the 2nd round for RB's so if we don't go RB in the first, this is where I expect us to get one. One player I am hoping falls thru the cracks and into 3rd for us is Ron Brace. Maybe a little bit too much wishful thinking on my part and this hangover hasn't really cleared up yet. Oh well. I hope Lito has a tremendous year and no one picks him up after we cut him.
I saw interviews with Vontae and M. Jenkins on nfl.com, Jenkins seems at least 10x smarter. I don't mean football smart, I mean regular smart. After watching those I would be happier with Jenkins.
I saw an interview with V. Davis also. He came off very cocky and not too smart, I agree. Not that I would write the guy off based solely on one interview, but it definitely gave me a bad impression.
re our new S : Emanuel Cook Height: 5-93/4 | Weight: 197 | 40-Time: 4.66 Strengths: Very physical and aggressive...Reliable tackler and can deliver the big hit...Does an excellent job against the run...Decent instincts and awareness...Is strong and muscular...Lots of experience...Productive. Weaknesses: Shorter than you would prefer...Lackluster speed and doesn't have a burst to recover...Character is a concern...Hips aren't fluid...Struggles to match up in coverage ..Poor hands and ball skills...Durability issues. Notes: A three-year starter for the Gamecocks...Earned Freshman All-SEC honors in 2006...Named 2nd Team All-SEC as a sophomore and junior...College career ended when he let his grades slip and was declared academically ineligible for the Outback Bowl...Missed time with a knee sprain in 2006...Was suspended in 2006 after being arrested on a gun charge...Sidelined at the start of the 2007 season with an appendectomy...Not nearly the pro prospect that his college press clippings would lead you to believe...A one-dimensional in-the -box strong safety with sub par physical tools and dubious intangibles. > http://www.draftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/s/Emanuel-Cook.php
re Emanuel Cook : - ok , as far as the gun charge ; it was later dropped.his friend was showing off a new car & apparently his friend had a gun in the car. cook had nothing to do w/ the gun. - he did stop attending classes in last fall's semester & was academically ineligible for South Carolina's bowl game - he doesn't have a lot of size / minimal coverage ability. - he might be a good special teamer.
