Saw this today on ESPN Insider today. A look at New York's philosophy, team needs and a key free-agent move Team philosophies Offense -- This will be an interesting offense to watch as the season unfolds. We know that Rex Ryan wanted to have a run-oriented offense a year ago to complement his aggressive defense, but he did not have the personnel to get it done. Under former coordinator Tony Sparano this offense seemed to have little creativity and there was no flow to it. Ryan replaced Sparano with ex-Eagles coach Marty Mornhinweg -- which is an interesting choice because he is a West Coast proponent and Philadelphia's offense was probably 60-40 in the pass-run ratio. However, what a lot of people don't realize is that Mornhinweg likes to run the ball a lot more than most West Coast offenses, so the Jets will likely have more balance than expected. He will throw a lot of underneath and crossing routes with occasional deep shots off play-action and misdirection -- and screen plays will have a role in this offense. But most importantly this will be a smarter, assignment-oriented offense. Defense -- Dennis Thurman is the new coordinator, but this is still Ryan's defense and the scheme will be the same. It will be a basic 3-4 package with some 4-3 looks to occasionally fit better with the personnel. As much as Ryan has a reputation as a blitz-happy coach, the Jets do not attack as much as you might think; when they can drop seven defenders into coverage they are better off. They will play games up front, will line up in a lot of tight man schemes on the back end and they even have a 4-2-5 look that they can use as their base package at times. We might even see some of Buddy Ryan's old 4-6 schemes with some overload looks. They will confuse offenses with different alignments before the snap. Team needs 1. Outside linebacker -- In this 3-4 scheme the pressure is expected to come from the outside linebackers, but to Ryan's credit he has done it for years with smoke and mirrors. Can you imagine how much more productive this defense would be with edge pressure to complement its solid cover corners? The only real quality player across this entire front is defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. With so many needs on both sides of the ball and limited money to spend, the Jets should stay with their only recent recipe for success, which is to continue to build their defense and bring along the offense as fast as possible, which won't be easy. They Jets have almost nothing at this position right now and they need at least one, and possibly two, impact starters. 2. Quarterback -- This position has disaster written all over it and it doesn't look as though there are a lot of easy answers to fix it. Can the Jets live with Mark Sanchez for another year while they fix other areas of this team, or do they bite the bullet now and try a quarterback makeover in 2013? With a sputtering run game and limited passing weapons, the challenge for a productive quarterback position is huge. You would think that the Jets would much prefer finding a quality unrestricted veteran to either compete with Sanchez or replace him, but the financial restraints will make that tough to do. 3. Safety -- The back end of this defense will require some serious attention in free agency and the draft, especially with the Jets now actively shopping Darrelle Revis. The coaches got everything they expected out of veteran starters free safety LaRon Landry and strong safety Yeremiah Bell, but both guys are unrestricted free agents and both could be gone. Bell is 35 years old and near the end of his career and Landry will likely leave for a more lucrative deal than the contract the Jets can offer him. 4. Wide receiver -- This offense has virtually no playmakers for whoever is at quarterback, and the vertical passing game is almost nonexistent. There are names in this unit, but the Jets need a No. 1 speed receiver and none of their current receivers on the outside can create separation. 5. Offensive line -- Two-fifths of the line, center Nick Mangold and left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, is solid, but after that the Jets need youth and depth at either guard or right tackle. This unit is closer to needing a makeover than most people realize. 6. Nose tackle -- Age and injuries have caught up to starter Sione Pouha, and backup Kenrick Ellis failed to impress when he replaced him. This is a key position in this defense and right now the coaches can't count on either player. -- Gary Horton Key free-agent move Victor Butler, LB, UFA The Jets are in the midst of overhauling their roster and are constricted by a number of poorly constructed contracts that leave them limited in what they can spend this offseason. Butler isn't a high-profile name, but he's a player ready to make starting contributions after playing behind DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer in Dallas for Rex Ryan's twin brother, Rob. Butler has good quickness off the edge and was productive in a rotational role down the stretch in 2012, finishing with three sacks and three forced fumbles in the final nine games of the season. He's just 25 years old and would give the Jets a natural rush player to help build their defense around. Quinton Coples should be improved in his second year, and the Jets will count on the continued development of other youngsters along the defensive front. There's no shortage of offensive needs for the Jets, but landing a player in Butler who can help bolster a defense that slipped to 20th in points allowed in 2012 would be a feather in the cap of new GM John Idzik.
Butler is one of the players I would really like us to sign. He can most likely fill in one of the positions and provide a young player with some upside. He shouldnt command a ton of money and should be in our price range. You sign him and draft an OLB and we should be much better at that position. I would also like James Casey as a TE/FB and Geoff Schwartz at G. All 3 together would come very cheap and would fill starting roles as quality players. These are the type of players this team has to be targeting. If we could somehow manage to sign these 3 and Landry I would be very happy heading into the draft.
RB was bad last year because the Jets went from a zone blocking scheme, to a power blocking scheme with both, Austin Howard, and an unimaginative OC. They'll go back to Zone this year RB is not a need.
Austin Howard was the 3rd best run blocking tackle in the league last year. He was a plus in terms of running the ball... Pass protection is a different story though. Our RBs were bad last year because Shonn Greene was our starter. He was one of the worst in the league, and definitely doesnt fit in a WCO. Unless Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight turn into Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, RB is most definitely a need. Its funny how you say that Sanchez can succeed if surrounded by the right talent, yet say one of their biggest needs on offense and least talented positions is not a need. Honestly, if they somehow drafted Doug Martin last year, Sanchez's season might look a whole lot different. If you want to help your boy, a RB early is definitely a good idea.
Our running game was bad because they used an ill suited blocking scheme. I'm not saying Greene is the second coming of A0, only that given the right blocking, he's more than serviceable,
I say we take a flyer on Josh Cribbs, he has the speed we need and wont be that expensive. He could be the playmaker we are looking for. I dont wanna see Braylon Edwards in a green in white uniform unless i bump in to him at the St Patricks day parade. We need fresh faces, Cribbs can be explosive and he returns kicks. I would also take a flyer on Amendola he has the potental to be better then Wes Welker but he always gets injured, he will also be kinda cheap. We need one of them
Being that Im almost positive Greene will not be back, its a moot point. Im not going to even begin to start with the amount of yards Greene left on the field. His problem sure as hell wasn't the blocking scheme- the man blocking scheme was actually probably better suited for him anyway. Its funny how every time something changes, its always going to be for the better. Everyone last year thought switching to man was going to be so beneficial for the OL and the offense (including the run game). Now you are saying that the run blocking scheme, not the lack of talent at the guard position, or the lack of a blocking TE, or even a #1 RB was the downfall of the run game? Cmon, that may be even more ridiculous than your Sanchez view. How is it a guarantee that switching to a zone will benefit everyone? We dont have a RB that fits MM offense, so how is the switch supposed to turn Powell or Greene into an elusive, twitching RB that has great vision and ability in the passing game? Sometimes change means people dont fit- in this case, Shonn Greene definitely does not fit the scheme. Id even argue that the change doesnt play to Sanchez's "strengths", but thats a whole different ballgame as we know.
We do have that back. Joe McNot. He can play on every down, and consequently between Powell and JM, you aren't tipping your hand by playing one or the other, though McKnight is the more dynamic player. McKnight has shown the ability to play the screen game, or run down the field in regular patterns...as well as find holes inside. We, OTOH, have not adapted to running 11 or 10 personnel enough. That is about to change. As far as last year, we all thought it would be better because, it was inconceivable that someone cou,d suck more than Schotty. Mistake. But MM has a record to run on. McKnight will not be Westbrook, but he can be Westbrook lite. And the screen game, and the quick slant (the lack of) have been holding this offense back for 7 long years.
Jets need to find a way to draft WR/RB Tavon Austin. He solves WR/RB/PR/KR.He's a suped dynamic player. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3_UNFZHSQU
I also like Austin. He wasn't all that bad. Every player gets beat at times & I also believe that Brandon Moore has really slipped alot {he was coming off hip surgery}. They weren't always in sync. In fact, O-line wan't in sync.
Most importantly, I think the organization is high on Austin. One thing is for sure, we are going to have to figure the guard situation out though. Hopefully Vlad can actually prove his draft slot...
Serious? Why do I even need to explaine why this is a bad idea? Cribbs is not a polished reciever who is looking for a decent sized deal again. Danny A. is a slot guy who would be 1) expensieve and 2) we have JK in the slot at a cheaper salary....some posters amaze me
Expect Jets to hold onto Slauson to say the very least. Vlad is a dumbass. WCO prefers athletic OLs that can move. They need OL to be nimble on their feet. Anything but whatever Vlad is. And he is a dumbass. He's a fantastic draft waste. He is not getting bust tag simply because he is a second rounder. Still it is a draft blunder.
