What do you consider to be a 'great' first round pick? I would hate to have a pick in the top 10. HATE. Not just because of the terrible record you end up with to get one of those picks, but also because of the money you have to shell out and the pressure of finding the 'sure thing' versus finding your guy, a player that compliments the team well. 11-20 are rounds that I love to pick in. Assuming we suck, anyway.
I would say something between 10 & 20 would do.. Hopefully, not a top 10 pick as we usually don't do well with those (Sanchez? we don't know yet..) and like you said, it would be too costly unless a true second coming of Superman were available. Tanny would also have the option of trading down and stockpiling although as far as I can remember, that's not how Tanny rolls. Either way, we really need to draft for need instead of taking the BPA route this time around and if we take a year and analyze what we have and what we need, we'll be that much better for it come draft day, April 2010.
Unfortunately our "need" is o-line depth which requires multiple picks. With the supposed strength of next year's draft class, next year might be the perfect year to trade down.
Really, I have to disagree. The 1998 Jets were one of the best teams in Jet's history and we were a half away from defeating the Falcons in the Super Bowl. Granted, this Jet's team has some very good players....Jenkins, Revis, Mangold, Scott, Harris, Washington............we aren't nearly the best team, unless you just began following the Jets the last few years. The Jets sorely lack depth in most positions except RB. We were very,very lucky in 2008 to have hardly any significant injuries. If a few of our key starters go down, it will be a long season. As Cman said.....a 7-9 season is about all I expect. The Jet's are primed to have a very good 2010 season with Sanchez having a year of experience and adjusting to Rex's defensive system.
If the Jets pick in the Mid teens, which I expect...look for Damian Williams, WR, USC to team up with Sanchez.
When I compare the talent the Jets have now to what the Jets had in 1998, and combine that with the coaching competency vs. last year (the most recent sample of what we actually have), I see a team that can achieve anything as long as the o-line stays healthy. Our passing game is nothing compared to 1998, but our running game is possibly better, our oline is possibly better, and our defense is possibly better. On the defensive side, we have multiple great to elite players - something the Jets haven't seen in a long time. Under Parcells, the D was very good, very tough, and very scrappy - but it wasn't loaded with rising stars the way our D is now. I don't think we're a Super Bowl contender this year, but I definitely expect the Jets to kick a lot of ass and exceed just about everyone's expectations. A strong season and a tough fought playoff exit is what I'm expecting, and honestly I'd be disappointed if we got any less. The future of this team is very very bright.
Agreed,...the future is very bright, I'm just not too optimistic that 2009 is a 12-4 season, like some have predicted. I still believe 1998 Jets had seasoned vets and outstanding coaching that made 1998 a special year. Running game 1998...CURTIS MARTIN....nuff said.
Thomas Jones scored more touchdowns last year than Curtis did in a single season with the Jets... does that make him better? Absolutely f'in not. The running game involves the backs and the o-line. I'll never disagree with anyone who claims that Curtis Martin is the best Jets running back in my lifetime... there's not even a question there... What I am saying is that the combination of our current oline and platoon of running backs could possibly be better than what we had in 1998.
Edge....we agree to disagree. If 2009 turns out to be a 12-4 year as you predicted.....I'll recant. Most Jet fans would agree the talent/coaching on 1998's team was much better. Remember, 1998 the Jets already proved they were a great team...nothing has been proven for 2009. The Jets have alot of pieces in place to become a top tier NFL team, we are close, just not there yet.....2010, 2011..lookout!! Also....there's a team in the Commonwealth of Mass.....we need to beat consistently to become a Championship team.
What I think we can all agree on is that the future is NOT now. What we do have is the kernel of a very dangerous team and CS. We're not ready for prime time on several levels but we will be soon. What this team, its leadership, and its fanbase needs more than anything else right now is Patience and more importantly, Vision..
Totally agree. Sadly, most Jet Fans have no patience. The new coaching staff and rookie QB should give Jet fans some patience.
WW, I think Jet fans just might finally get it. We have to think strategically. Play chess instead of checkers. Plan several years in advance instead of planning for next week as far as the overall direction of the team goes. This season really isn't about 2009, but more so about 2010, 2011 and 2012. PR just might help Woody and his PSL issues as you want to sell the future of the team instead of the present. Showing improvement will go along ways towards Woody's bottom line. Flashes will only deepen cynicism.
I agree that any pick in the top 10 needs to be dumped for max value, there's nothing in Tanny's personnel file that indicates he'll take that route. That being said, if we're there, he has to take a WR and then finagle whatever talent he can with the dp's he has left.. BTW, what did Sheppard cost us??
Some people start talking draft picks immediately after the draft. Its thier hobby and its not a bad thing to have an eye on the future.
Because if the goal is going deep into January, we lack all the personnel required to do it at this juncture. We also lack the infrastructure (System & Personnel) to support a deep playoff run. If the future is to prepare, then it could be said that the future is now but the scary thing is, what exactly is "the plan" Edge? We're gonna build an elite 53 man roster one player at a time? Ryan, even though he's been an assistant coach since he was born, is a rookie HC and he's got some learning to do as well. Schotts still has some of his daddy's bad habits on offense as well. We still have guys we have to decide what the hell we're gonna do with. Once we clear out all the dead weight and our CS finds it's mojo, then we can start to develop a plan for the future. For right now, I see this year as being purely for fact finding so to speak. That's why I don't think the future is now, but just around the corner. Hopefully, the future won't be another 40 years away cause if it is, I'll miss it..
Actually, we don't lack anything. We would just need to get lucky. NE won with a rookie QB, so did Pittsburgh, it can be done. Have to assume both the offense and defense will get better as the season goes on. If we sneak into the playoffs then anything can happen.
