1. Cap situation. http://overthecap.com/calculator/new-york-jets/ Jets may look a little over, but that's an illusion. The big 3 to go are: Revis, Clady and Mangold. That alone brings the cap down by massive 30M. If Sheldon is traded [which is a possibility] then the cap room would be at 37.5M. If cap space is the goal, cutting Brandon Marshall and David Harris will clear up another 14M, expanding the cap room to 51M. [That's nearly 1/3 of the cap room on a handful of guys.] It would be nice to bring Marshall and Harris on a reduced pay though - I still think they have their roles on this team unlike the other four above. And the last thing I want to see from this free agency period is that proverbial [big splash.] I always maintain that building the team through free agency is your expressway to the mediocrity. If they feel they have sufficient cap space, they should [lock up their young players at decent value] first. Once that is done - they should go for role players. Not prima-donnas. That's for someone else. ==================================================== 2. Draft picks. If you still think Mac is to blame, consider this. He had 13 picks for the past two seasons, and only Jarvis Harrison is off the team. Compare that with that disaster of a draft from 2014.. In that draft alone, Jets unloaded half the kids before the fall. [That's the draft Jets should have used for the franchise QB like so many were clamoring here. They could really restock the roster in a hurry - except they didn't. Die in a fire, John.] Before the season, half the picks were jettisoned. [And John had quite a few of these borderline head-scratchers that year. Holy shit. If Sheldon and Revis leaves this year - then all the gains from trading Revis is reduced from whatever pick Sheldon brings. Jesus!] As long as the draft goes, I tend to think Jets are in good hands. Ok - enough of John bashing. [It's been quite a while since I had this amount of raw hatred toward a human being for his incompetence - the last time I had it, we had Brian Schottenheimer for the OC.] If the said players leave the team, that basically sets up the players Jets must get in this draft; a franchise LT in the first round. After this, it's anybody's guess. Jets have so many deficiencies that, going BPA would result in most of the holes filled. [Except DL and WR.] Another thing. If there is a sure-fire LT prospect, then Jets should grab the kid. If not - they should look to trade down. ===================================================== 3. Coaching staff. Todd needs to go. For the same reasons Rex had to go. This team always starts the game with that typical unprepared look. On both sides of the ball. That one goes straight to the HC. And I will not tolerate another season of unprepared football. This one is squarely on Bowles and nobody else. That's the image of the team he had envisaged all along, and it shows on the field. I still think, other than Shitz, this team is not that devoid of talent, which would warrant 3-win season. I saw a number of young kids about to break out then somehow they fizzled this season. [Mauldin for instance.] It was frustrating to watch this defense this year for that reason particularly. They had good young talent everywhere in the front seven. [Wilkerson/Richardson/Williams at DL, and Lee/Mauldin/Jenkins at LB] But somehow they were not playing up to their potential. That one is on Bowles. Also, the breakdown of the secondary - that's also on Bowles. Lastly - I think Jets must change their philosophy and identity. Ball-control offense, led by super defense is [just one of the ways to get the job done.] It is not [the only way] to progress further. Especially when the defense is as leaky as this year's Jets defense is, and more so when the offense is as inexperienced as it is, that approach must be scrapped. This all leads to the need for the new head coach. [After this - I am actually at a loss. I haven't been watching college bowls as much for the past 3 years, as I felt the offense in college bowls is but a gimmickery. Then - I am drawing blank as to "who do I want for HC?" question. Any help would be appreciated.]
Zach, I basically agree with everything you said, but I see a couple of problems. One, there is probably only one OT who will be ranked as a 1st round pick (Cam Robinson), or at most two (also the Ramczyk kid from Wisconsin). I don't think either will be worth the #4 or #5 pick in the draft. I'm not sure Robinson would be worth it as he has some character concerns and some think he is overrated. If the Jets could trade down and get Ramczyk, great; otherwise, they're going to have to sign a FA LT because I don't think Ijalana is a starting quality LT, and I don't think they'll find another OT in the draft who could start and play decently at LT next season. Andrew Whitworth will probably be the best LT available. He's older and won't be cheap, but shouldn't be horribly expensive, either. Riley Reiff would be cheaper, but he isn't as good as Whitworth.
1. I suggested trading down in such scenarios. As for Dom: 2. I am suggesting the first three as the sure cuts. [It hurts to see Mangold go, but he's not worth 9M tag. He'd be welcome to stay at lower figures however, provided he's back at 100%. Revis and Clady are goners - Revis himself claimed he doesn't want to play any more.]
Look, I appreciate the in depth write up but bottom line is more than anything else this team needs a legit franchise QB. There is simply no other way to dice it. The tangible and intangible benifits of a solid leader on the field that has the physical attributes to make the plays should be our only priority right now. Everything else is secondary. Trade the farm for all I care but find that young guy that can be IT and the rest can fall into place over the years if necessary. Who else wishes we made the Wentz deal?
We might have one in the wings already. All he needs is the right support to bring the best out of him. [We don't know yet. And same story for Carson as well. If you think Carson Wentz could thrive with current Jets roster, you are delusional.]
Thank you for providing some reasonable perspective regarding Maccagnan's draft picks, ---- especially compared to John Idzik's. His 2014 selections are beyond mind-boggling, -- rendering him unworthy to even be considered for a GM interview.
Andrew Whitworth is a freak of nature. He is actually getting better as he gets older. He's having an All-Pro season this year similar to last. The guy is 35 drafted the same year as Mangold & D'Brick. He could actually go 2 more seasons. But he's going to want something minimum of $8 million per season for 2 years, - all guaranteed. He knows we pony'd up $10 mill to Ryan Clady. At his age, why else would he leave Cincinnati after 11 years & come to a team with clearly nowhere near a playoff run?
Pretty much agree with your cuts - Would love to see Nick come back cheaper and I'm not completly ready to give up on Revis if he actually stops conceding a cushion and jams like he's supposed to these next 4 games. Sheldon or Wilk has got to be traded so we can get back to 3-4. As for where we spend the money? - Let's see if we have a QB on the roster that can actually start next year. If not then we're looking at spunking it all on trying to get Cousins or kicking the tyres on Glennon. Failing that we may as well sort out the OL in FA (whitworth) and draft and maybe try find the edge rusher we need.
We have no coach, no QB, no O-line, no identity. Trade down ALL DAY. I would trade down even if we don't get max value. Point being, don't get too heavily invested in anyone or anything until we can actually see some kind of identity taking form. When it finally happens, we'll have flexibility. The good news is that we are at such a nadir that there is really nothing we can botch at this point. Kind of like walking through a dangerous neighborhood while flat broke and terminally ill.
Have you seen the Eagles' roster? They have arguably the worst reciever corps in the league and half the team is injured. Check the, 'delusional' talk at the door fella.
In this league, right now, there is only one winning identity; a poised QB that can make all the throws. Without this 'identity' you simply can't compete.
A fair warning. If we fire Bowles, we will have a very hard time convincing a good replacement to come here.
Eh. I don't really buy that school of thought. If I were a coach, I'd be happy to come to the Jets. There's little pressure to succeed immediately because we have few assets, and there's plenty of room to mold the team how you like it. Also, if and when you succeed, you'll be a freaking legend.
If this was his first year, 3 wins would forgivable. To be racing backwards is a tougher pill to swallow.
Then: "Hey Mike and Todd, come run the Jets! There's little pressure to succeed immediately, and you can mold the team how you like it. Also you can be a legend!" Now: This thread.
Again, you're suggesting my post is ironic, but there really wasn't pressure to succeed immediately. The problem is that it's late in year 2 and we're terrible and getting worse. All signs point the wrong way. If we were showing development in some areas, if we were showing up to play hard, then we'd all be optimistic and giving out more leash. Obviously that's not the case. We're plummeting, and signs of Bowles being responsible are plentiful. Hence... this thread.
