http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/07/05/interview-with-bart-scott-lb-new-york-jets/ Long article but I love his breakout players (below). Gonna be a great season if it happens. Can't wait! (Do I owe BS royalties for that?) SW: In the NFL draft in April, defense was clearly a focus for the Jets. What’d you think of the Jets first two picks in the draft addressing the D-Line? BS: I’m excited. Let me tell you a secret. We got four players I want you to pay attention to. Jeff Cumberland: TE that no one knows about. I think he can be one of the best TEs this year or next year in the NFL. SW: Why is that? I know he’s a good pass-catching guy. BS: This dude is 260 lbs, runs a 4.40, and I’ve seen this guy touch the top of the ceiling in the locker room. SW: Alright, that’s one guy. BS: That’s one. Ropati [Pitoitua]: the guy that Jenkins took off in Hard Knocks. Six foot nine, 315 lbs. He’s learning how to play low and is ready for a breakout season. Tremendous talent. Can’t wait to see him. I’m excited because we were super thin at D-line last year and now you add youth and size and the guys that played great last year [Mike] Devito and [Sione] Pouha get an opportunity to be in a rotation and stay fresh. SW: Ok, that’s two guys. BS: Joe McKnight is ready to come out to. I know we drafted a guy from Louisville that’s going to be great for us too, but Joe McKnight is ready to go. It took him a while to learn how to be a pro. Vlad Ducasse is ripped up right now. I’ve watched Vlad on the inclines with almost 400 lbs and he’s worked off all that baby fat. All gone. He’s working ridiculous. He’s lean. He’s 345 lbs. If I can say a lean 345, he’s a lean 345.
I think D-line is going to be one of our strengths this year. We've got the guys who worked for us last year in Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito, the two guys we drafted in Muhammad Wilkerson and Kenrick Ellis, and the practice squad guys with upside Ropati Pitoitua, Marcus Dixon, and Jarron Gilbert.
Awesome article. I hope he's right about Vlad and McKnight... having an explosive change of pace back as well as RT of the future will really help ensure we continue to have a solid all around lineup for years to come.
I really hope he's right about Westerman and Cumberland. Draft picks are supposed to contribute but good teams need reliable UDFAs too. I've said it before and still believe that Cumberland takes over Braylon's role this year. He's 6'4", 260lbs, and runs a 4.4 40 and jumps out of the stadium. Giddy up!
Such a great read. You gotta like Bart Scott. You just gotta! Man I hope they get the CBA done so we can watch our Jets this season.
I would love nothing more than to see the later draft picks and UDFAs get some rotational time ---- this is what separates the good teams from the average teams. And to get a UDFA to perform at a level like Mike DeVito (UDFA from Maine) translates good teams to better teams. Vlad & McKnight showed what they can do vs Buffalo at the end of last year's season (and I dont care that it was Buffalo & the last game of the season). Was dying to see what Ropati could do last year before he tore that ACL. Hoping he can last this season (if we have one) to contribute in rotation.
The compliments to some of the players remind me of what was being said about Vernon Gholston just prior to the start of the 2010 season.
I liked what I saw of Cumberland, who knows if he ability will translate to production but I was glad they kept him. Ropati is coming off a major injury, the staff was really high on him as we saw on hard Knocks but I don't think it is fair to expect him to be at the same level coming off the injury. We may not see the real Ropati until 2012. Mcknight has the ability w/o a doubt, w/ him it's in his head and how hard is he going to work. I have high expectations in year 2 for him. I don't expect him to get many touches but I expect he's going to make some plays to help us win this year. We'll see if Vlad is ready, I still want Woody re-signed as an insurance policy.
Ever since we picked up Cumberland I have been hoping, praying we could somehow turn the mess of an athlete he is into a star. I know we have a great WR's coach but, if we somehow made that misformed piece of clay into a stud recieving TE, Sanchez is going to have a new best friend. This kid has so much raw talent As some of you may know after reading my posts on why we dont need to draft a d lineman (I am not disagreeing with our draft picks because wilkerson and ellis are great), Ropati has been one of my favorite players since we picked him up in 08. I mean how can you not notice him at a preseason game and be enthralled in his progression he is fricken 6'8. If he can pick up where he left off and we can bring back Shaun or a comparable vet this D-line is going to be stacked. I know it won't happen but imagine if we could bring back Jenkins for a minimal contract. Having Jenkins play 30% of the snaps a game rotating in with devito, pouha, wilkerson, Ropati, along with our other young up and comers would be amazing.
