I used to do these alot, but haven't done one in a few years. Offseason 2008: Trades: It is very clear that Shaun Rogers wants out of Detroit and Detroit, despite his play seems just as willing to part with him. That said, Detroit is going to want a player or two to plug directly into their porous defense. Either Johnathan Vilma or Dewayne Robertson would fit their Tampa cover two very well. I would trade one or possibly both of them for Rogers (if both, maybe also a conditional pick from Detroit could be tossed in). Free Agents: OLB Clark Haggans Pittsburgh: Hobson will leave and while Haggans is not the answer at pass rush OLB, he will fill in nicely while a draftpick learns the position and then will provide good depth aftwards. A typical Tangini signing. CB Randall Gay New England: The Jets could also sign Asante Samuel here, however we did bring in Gay last year as an RFA. Look for one of the two to be in green and white next year. TE Anthony Becht Tampa Bay: The Jets have made it known they are looking for a blocking TE and though I hate to say it, there are few better at it than Becht. RT Stacy Andrews Cincinatti: The Jets brought in Andrews last year as an RFA. he is a slightly above average RT and a pretty good Guard. Depending on how the draft falls Andrews could either be playing guard or RT. DE Tommy Kelly Oakland: At 6?6? 300 he is the prototypical 3-4 DE. The Jets need a player to rotate with Coleman and Ellis, Kelly could be that player. Draft: 1. OLB/DE Derrick Harvey 6'5" 255 Florida: While Gholston would be the more flashy pick, there is serous risk as he has serious flaws in his game. He has one pass rush move (bull rush), there is serious concern about his ability to cover, he very well may be juicing, he has an inconsistant motor, and he appears to lack passion for the game. Harvey on the other hand is more athletic, a more natural pass rusher with multiple moves, and appears to be a better pro prospect. Depending on how Harvey performs at the combine, his stock may very well climb this high. 2. RT Gosder Cherilus 6'7" 325 Boston College: While the Jets signed Andrews, it is difficult to pass up Cherilus at this point. While he was arrested this past year, it was breaking up a bar fight, something that Tangini could surely overlook. While Cherilus struggled at LT this year, he is a perfect fit at RT. 3. LG Roy Shuenning 6'4" 317 Oregon State: Shuening is a guard in the mold of Logan Mankins. He is an ideal fit in this system and as ?Mangini? player. 4. WR Adarius Bowman 6?4? 220 Oklahoma State: Bowman was very good in college, but is slipping due to concerns about his possible combine numbers. If Bowman falls this far, which he very well may, he could be a steal as he is the tall receiver this team is lacking. 4. FB Owen Schmitt 6'3" 260 West Virginia: Owen Schmitt is the ideal blocking fullback. He is a throwback to old brusing fullbacks. That said, Schmitt also runs solid routes and is a very good shortage yardage back. 5. S Tom Zbikowski 6'0" 210 Notre Dame: If he had come out last year he could have been a 2nd round pick. He is a typical ?Mangini? type player. Unlike most ?Mangini? players he also has the knack for making big plays. He can also return punts. 6. ILB Jeremy Leman 6'2" 240 Illinois: Leman was one of the best linebackers in the country and would likely go higher, but he will not be able to run at the combine to disprove doubts about his athletic ability, thus he will fall this far or even farther. He has a nasty demeanor, is a leader, and was very productive. 7. BPA 7. BPA QB: Pennington, Clemens, Ratlif RB: Thomas, Washington FB: Schmitt TE: Baker, Becht, Kowalewski WR: Coles, Stuckey, Wright WR: Cotchery, Smith, Bowman LT: Ferguson LG: Shuenning, Montgomery C: Mangold, Smith RG: Moore, Bender RT: Andrews, Cherilus (when Cherilus is ready to start Andrews can slide over to RG) LE: Ellis, Kelly NT: Rogers, Pouha, Mosley RE: Coleman, Devito OLB: Haggans, Harvey ILB: Barton, Leman ILB Harris, Kassell OLB: Thomas, Bowens CB: Gay, Poteat, Coleman S: Rhodes, Smith S: Elam, Zbikowski CB: Revis, Miller K: Nugent P: Graham LS: Dearth I?ve left two spots open on the roster for the undrafted free agents and late additions that always seem to make the team.
1st: What do you do with which of Robertson or Vilma you don't trade? 2nd: What happened to Dyson/Barrett? 3rd: I don't see Gay as a starting corner. New England'd secondary was one of the weaker parts of the team, and he wasn't even a starter. I don't mind him, but not at starting money. 4th: Anthony Becht??? 5th: As far as I know, Haggans and Kelly look like solid signings to me. 6th: Your fixing the line with a 3rd round pick and a "above average" player? I wish Kellen luck. 7th: Also I do not see us drafting a guy 6th overall I haven't seen in the top ten of any mock. 8th: I can't justify it in any way, but I don't like Shaun Rogers. I think he is a problem waiting to happen. 9th: If we trade Vilma we need more depth at ILB. A 6th round pick won't cut it with an aging Barton. 10th: If we trade Vilma what do we do with D-Rob? Sorry to play Devil's Advocate hmy:
Come to think of it, the Harvey pick would be OK with me over Gholston, it's just that I would rather trade down to do it.
Shuenning is the 2nd best guard in the draft. With all the talent at other positions in this draft, guards are falling. Shuenning should be just fine. As for Andrews he is far better than Clement. and above average RT is certainly better than one of the worse starting RT's in the league. If things unfolded this way, I would expect Cherilus to be starting at RT at some point and Andrews sliding over to guard, where he certainly would be an upgrade over Moore. As for Dyson and Barrett. Dyson fell to fourth on the depth chart and is way overpriced to stay on as the fourth corner. Barrett also has an inlfated contract. One of the two very well could stay, as I noted there are two open roster spots. We probably won't get Shaun Rogers, but Rogers taking 60% of the snaps at nosetackel with Pouha and Mosley taking the rest. As for whoever doesn't get traded out of vilma or robertson, they should be traded for a future pick. I have a hard time seeing either on the team next year, as much as I love Vilma. Anthony Becht was probably a bad idea, but they have made it clear they want a blocking TE and he is one of the best.
Here's my analysis... I'm not crazy over the Shaun Rogers trade idea. He has made it clear he wants out of Detroit, but he's not a hard-worker and is known for not giving full effort. He's not the type you want on your team. I wouldn't trade Jonathan Vilma to Detroit for this guy. I'd rather keep Vilma around. All five free agent signing are good ones. Clark Haggans is a typical Jet-signing. He's older and isn't the long term answer, but he has expeirence in the 3-4 in Pittsburgh and has been good for them, although he had a down 2007 season. Love the Becht signing just as long as he's more of a third OT rather than a second TE. He's the type of blocker that will pay major dividends in the run-game. Let's see how he works out when he doesn't start. Probably much better IMO. Kelly, Gay and Andrews are also solid signings that all could potentially start or work the rotation. Interesting choice with Harvey over Gholston, but realistic depending how things go in the next month or two. If Cherilus lasts that long, he's the guy. Same with Schuening. He's probably my favorite prospect for the Jets in this draft. He compares favorably to Logan Mankins and Davin Joseph, who both started in their rookie years. If he makes it to Round 3, which he might, the card should come in in about 10 seconds. We'd better hope Bowman runs a 4.7 because otherwise he won't make it there. He could go in the first with a big combine. Schmitt would make a great pickup in the 5th and Lehman is the type of guy that Mangini or even Bellicheck likes to have around. Damn All Star, I'd like to see your mock-offseason. There's a lot of negativity coming from that post. You really dislike it that much? Personally, I like it alot. Great job.
It's actually not too bad, I just agree with you that I don't like the Rogers trade. I also don't think Gay is the answer at corner, I would rather give Dyson a second chance to start, but I don't mind the signing. Personally I won't draw up a complete offseason but here's my general idea: Draft: Jake Long, long shot if he's there, but if not then Kenny Phillips, then get a couple hybrid DE/LB prospects in the middle. If Long not drafted go OL in second. Sign: Alan Fanaca, I don't mind a 3 year deal for him. Asante Samuel, if signed cut Dyson or Barrett. Clark Haggans, to be a stop gap OLB. I would love to have back Hobson for depth, but too much money. Ben Troupe, nice 2 TE passing attack, but I don't know about his blocking. Tommy Kelly, nice depth - Keep Vilma, keep D-rob. I don't think unless we get Fanaca or Long that our OL is that fixable. That's just my own personal opinion.
Why sign J. Long? What would we do with him? We wouldn't give him a huge contract to play RT, and Brick is basically designed as a LT. His size and speed would be a terrible fit at RT
Stick him at RT obviously, what else would we do with him? If he is that good of a prospect moving him to RT should not be a problem.
I think Jake Long could be a very good RT, however I would have a hard time paying him #6 overall money. Cherilus, like most BC lineman, will probably settle in nicely at RT after a few games and start for a decade. As for signing Andrews he and Shuenning will fill the other two guard spots (after Cherilus starts at RT) and be definite upgrades over montgomery and Moore. Though Moore will provide nice depth at the guard spots.
I like this mock's projectability, as it takes into account the possible combines of a few of the players drafted rather than taking their current value (I remember a ton of early mocks last season had us taking Woodley in the end of the first and he ended up going in the mid-second). I like Harvey and would like to see how his stock changes as we approach the draft. Right now he seems to be in the 15-25 range as far as value goes but a good combine and workout could easily bring him into the top 10. As far as him vs. Gholston goes, measurables aren't everything and I could see him potentially leapfrogging Gholston if he does all the right things. Everything after that is a dream and seems realistic at this point. Bowman seems like he could go as early as the end of the first and as late as the mid second day so who the hell knows with him. We might get lucky there. Sheunning and Cherilus fill immediate needs and I really like both of them. FA seems very realistic if anything. no huge splash FA's but a bunch of modest moves that will no doubt plus holes for us as well as increase depth. As with PA though, I don't like the Rogers trade. I'd rather sign Issac Sopoaga from the 49ers and have him rotate with Pouha and retain Vilma. I still think with more size in front of him as well as Harris next to him that Vilma will do well in the 3-4. He's still great in coverage and if we get bigger D-linemen (adding Sopoaga and moving D-Rob to DE helps a lot, and Kelly could contibute too) to occupy more o-lineman, he'll also be a force to speed rush the passer and stop rushers in the backfield like he used to.
