I’m in agreement the sweet spot is that 6,5 300lbs marker, I had a quick conversation with Byz and he highlighted that point about Fant as well. With regards to having another high pick on the OL I would absolutely love it if Douglas did that, the only time Jets were any good is when they had a good OL and were able to dominate LOS and run game, unfortunately we didn’t have the QB play to compliment the run game. If Jets ever want to get back to a winning record, the only way they will do it is by dumping high picks on top level OL and start winning game in the trenches.
Yeah, I haven't thought of it like that, but you bring up a good point. I wanted Evan Neal too, but given he is the same size as Becton, maybe we wait to see what happens to Mekhi before investing 4th overall into another tackle of enormous size. Still I would not take safety simply because the position doesn't impact the game as much. Speaking of WRs though, Jameson Williams came out of no where to have a stellar season for Alabama. Big dude too at 6-2 190lb. Could be an option.
The thing about Fant is that he will be 30 next year, and then 31 the following year. I think he is good for one more year, but then we will need to decide if Becton is the answer at LT or draft another one.
But will Fant be 32 the year after that?? That's what the FO should be figuring before making any decisions
Quick question. What is the general consensus on the Fant signing? Wasn't JD getting killed for signing him last year or am I remembering that incorrectly?
You are correct. Absolutely killed. As they were for starting him at RT over Moses to start the season as well.
Don't forget that Fant has far less mileage not having played football in college (save for a couple games as a TE in his final season?) and not being a full-time starter in Seattle. I'm intrigued by how good he's been this year and wonder if he's still an ascending player. Also further reason Becton should have to beat out Fant for the LT job and or compete at RT, hopefully with Morgan Moses.
Safety is the 3rd most important position in the modern game according to WAR, after QB and WR. Hamilton is also a ball hawk safety which is the best kind to have.
What is WAR? This to me does not pass the eye test: I could see CB, Edge, O line as far more important than safety for sure in addition to obvious ones like QB and WR.
WAR is Wins Above Replacement or how much a player impacts wins and losses compared to an average replacement player at their position. It's a longtime staple of baseball analytics that has recently been adopted for football. The most important positions (highest WAR), roughly, are: QB 2.51 WR .70 S .60 CB .51 TE .34 So QB is roughly 3-4X as important as the second most important position group. This just makes logical sense, too. We see every year that the teams that go furthest in the playoffs are the best passing teams. It stands to reason that the most important positions are thus receivers and the guys who throw them the ball and cover them. Interior DL is the least important position group because they're primarily responsible for defending the run in a league where the best teams are mostly the best passing teams. Offense is also more important than defense so it makes sense that the least important guys are the guys who defend suboptimal offensive attacks (running). RB is the 2nd least important position group.
I don't know - at the very least CB seems a lot more important than safety because they are primary line of defense against the pass. Also when O line played like shit, I see even the best QBs fail and even get injured, which impacts the game a lot. KC rebuilt whole o line, since that was the reason they lost SB. The ranking to me just doesn't pass the eye test. Maybe WAR is not yet fully developed as it was adopted recently as you said, but I think safety should not be so high on the list to be sure.
You remembered correctly, however that was because Fant was not a good fit at RT and was not playing well. Once he moved to LT he went back to position he played in with Seattle and showed that is where belongs. I slung criticism at JD for it but I did a 180 once Fant showed he belonged at LT. JD did a good job with that signing, what it shows is this, sometimes the CS is not using players correctly and when they don’t, and players don’t do well, it reflects poorly on GM.
So is he now considered a good signing? I know JD has taken a lot of hits for his FA signings, specifically on the OL. The goalposts move so frequently that I honestly can't keep up.
When Becton was drafted, they showed him with his Dad and some of us through the Dad was the draftee. The guy was huge and way overweight. Then we realized he wasn't the guy. But now we realize maybe that IS who the Jets drafted.
I remember this now - his dad was a gigantic and overweight. I am wondering if genetically Mekhi is predisposed to being obese, which is why it is so hard for him to come in shape, in spite of constant berating by the coaches. We may be screwed here. Note to JD: drafting OL men it's like marriage: you gotta make sure you check bride's mom (dad in this case) before you tie the knot.
This is just a reactionary board and we judge players, GMs, Coaches very quickly. It is all about today and extenuating circumstances be damned. To be honest I have fallen into this trap at times as well.
The only person I remember raging against Fant was DWC, who went on a crusade about it. Mostly people were upset at Josh Andrews, Van Roton, and Ryan Kalil (and a little at McGovern and Alex Lewis). And most of that was because JD made a vow that he was going to protect Sam better, and it didn't really happen. For the record, he hasn't done a great job of protecting Zach either. We need to go o-line in a big way this offseason.
