2011 Players the Jets have met with/visited.

westy will be there with all eyes on Cobb. to me the guy is literally the next brad smith. somebody will over draft him, but i wouldnt be surprised to see cobb be better than Smith is...

 

He'll be the better WR, that's for sure.

Then again, watch Brad Smith leave for another team and become the next Terance Mathis...

 

honestly I don't think anybody knows how good Brad could have been as a WR, he was never really given a shot there to develop. Year 1 he was learning the ST ropes. Year 2 we tried to make him a QB. Year 3 we turned him into a KR mid year. Year 4 we made him the wildcat weapon that no one could really stop. So we never really said to him, Brad go learn how to be an NFL WR. he spent all of his time learning a new position every year, and as a result the man has become a hell of a utility weapon that every team wishes they had their own version of, but unfortunately for him, he never got a chance to develop into a WR.

 

They also had him playing DB his first or second year in TC. I remember both Mangini talking how versatile Smith was, and Smith talking how much he was enjoying the challenge of learning all those different positions. Pretty typical stupidity from Jets CSs in days of yore. Hopefully, those days are long behind us and never will be repeated.

 

I wasn't really calling out Brad Smith when I said that FWIW, it was more towards Cobb's experience collegiate at WR. Although I don't think Brad Smith was ever gonna be more than a #3 WR at best, but what he has evolved into is better for the team anyway.

Cobb is more of a Harvin type player IMO, he's an accomplished WR who can also line up almost anywhere and offer return value...

 

I mentioned earlier in this thread that on NFLN during Cobb's combine workout, you could see Schotty about 3 feet away from him at all times watching his every move like a hawk.

I'd say the Jets interest in Cobb is legit.

 

As a rookie, Randall Cobb will be so far ahead of what Brad Smith was as a rookie.

Just because he lined up in the Wildcat and returned some kicks/punts, doesn't mean they should be compared as wideouts. They're definitely both incredibly versatile, but they're style of play is different.

 

The Jets' interest in Bilal Powell seems real too. How much time has the coaching staff spent with this kid? ...seems like a lot.

I wouldn't mind using a very late pick (6th or 7th) on another power runner.

 

Just an atricle on the players visiting the Jets today:

http://blog.newyorkjets.com/2011/04/13/ayers-carimi-others-visiting-jets-today/

 

Josh Thomas is a UDFA candidate. He's got special teamer written all over him.

I don't know how I'd feel about drafting Gabe Carimi. He's the perfect right tackle for our offense - strong as hell and a beastly run blocker. If our front office decided to draft a tackle high, that means Ducasse doesn't have what it takes to play tackle. He'd probably be groomed behind Brandon Moore.

Drafting a tackle high could set us back a bit though. We need help on the defensive front seven. If that Vladimir Ducasse pick turns out to be a miss, it will hurt.

 

I'm confident Ducasse has what it takes. I think they are high on him, he has a lot of talent, and a year with Callahan should only make him better. I think he starts this year at RT.

Carimi would be awesome on our line, I agree. I just think defense is way more important. We surely would be in prime position to move back if Carimi and a couple other 2nd tier QB's were still on the board.

 

I just wish this lockout wasn't going on right now, I'm sure we would have a good idea by now on what direction they are going to go with, Ducasse.

 

At this point regardless of what they think or have planned for Ducasse, O-line depth is still a need. Turner is likely a goner and although Hunter may get resigned,I truthfully like him better as a back-up swing tackle. Yes he played decent in the playoffs but he doesn't have the greatest technique which I think could be exposed over a 16 game stretch. He's always looked more comfortable at LT in TC and the preseason.

I'm sure the team would much rather draft a project O-linemen or 2 in the later rounds, but if the board falls a specific way, we could be staring at a guy like Carimi and no one else at a need position. His selection would present great value,an ideal long term RT who fits Callahan's system perfectly and would solidify depth. When you get value,fill a need (even if it's not your biggest), and get someone who is a great fit for your schemes..that's a slam dunk.

What do I think this would mean for Ducasse? Over this coming season very little. He still would compete for the starting RT position, as originally planned. If he wins he likely spends a year on the outside before taking over for Moore at RG in 2012. If he loses, he's the team's primary back-up at both guard and tackle,the 6th linemen in jumbo packages and he concentrates on taking over for Moore in a year or 2.

Barring injury or a complete meltdown, I have little doubt that Ducasse will be a starter one way or another long term. He's immensely talented and is a great fit for our blocking scheme. His versatility and need for development make his long term projections alittle cloudy, but make no mistake he has solid to elite level starting potential.

A right side of Ducasse and Carimi under Callahan could be downright dominant.

 

per Manish

 

If we put Ducasse out at his natural position at tackle, why in the world would we try to force him in at RG later?

 

Ducasse was a natural tackle in COLLEGE. He was drafted under the presumption that he had the versatility to play multiple positions on the line. With injuries, free agency and Rex's "Ground and pound" philosophy, chances are his role will be juggled a bit during his career in New York.

Furthermore, I would argue that at the NFL level, his best chance to become an elite player is at guard. Why? Although he's strong,athletic and powerful, he does lack top end footwork and has short arms. Strong side pass rushers w/ quick first steps and counter moves will be able to get into his chest and flip their hips to create seperation. Now this can be schemed around..but ideally, you like to keep these types on the inside where you can get away w/ less seperation as well as sloppy footwork. Additionally, Ducasse displays outstanding ability to pull in the running game. Typically, guards pull alot more often than tackles do and it just makes sense to have Ducasse play a position where he can utilize his strengths consistently.

Although I believe that Carimi projects as a better long term right tackle, my scenario assumes that Carimi needs a year in the weight room/film room before he's ready to start. Ducasse wins the job at RT, uses the season to get start experience under his belt before moving inside to replace Moore in 2012.

 

Moore is easily a top 10 Guard in this league, and i believe should have earned a Pro Bowl ticket last year.
He was resigned to a 4 year deal last year, with 10mil in guarantees.
Why would they phase him out in 2012? Makes no sense.

If they picked Carimi in Round 1 (which i don't think they will), it means they don't believe Ducasse is ready to start, and he'll resume a bench role for immediate future.
That said, i believe they will re-sign Hunter, and let the 2 compete.