In an effort to kind of pare down the available crop of players into "Jets types" I think it might be useful to identify what things we think the Jets will look for. Obviously, every team looks at different things when evaluating players, so what are some things we know the jets will look for? Across the board: they love football - that's Rex, he wants guys that would play for free toughness - some teams like athletes, we like tough guys intelligence - Tanny loves former QBs anti-potential - they really seem to like guys who ahve produced in college and I can't think of an example of reaching for triangle numbers OL: athletic, durable and big. No road-graders. Must be light on feet for zone scheme. Tanny also likes them to play multiple positions, which is kind of a corollary to the zone scheme. See Slauson, Hunter, Turner, Faneca, Woody. WRs: not so sure. Tanny brought in Keller, but also Clowney. I'm really not sure how he values the position, but I think those two - and Braylon - suggest WR is one position where we do like pure athletes. RBs: well, Greene a one-cut back, big and tough and perfect for our O, so I think we should consider that the prototype, but I also think we'll need a back who can play third down, both in terms of passblocking (though Greene didn't do too badly on that) and coming out of the backfield (Greene... not so much). Vision is key, size is nice, speed and wiggle not so necessary QBs: let's no bother with this, cuz we set. DL: no recent draft picks, but from the vets Rex brought in, he wants guys who can stack and shed, stoutness over athleticism. I know we're a bit thin and have no young stud, but we did so well with no-names last year that I don't reallllly anticipate an early pick here. ILBs: Bart shows toughness and a team focus, as does Harris. No slipping fullbacks or guards here, must be willign to give it up so someone else can make the play. OLBs - again, he clearly wants aggression, which kept Ghost off the field, but I think versatility is just as key here. I don't really think he's looking for a pure pass rusher, but rather someone who can set the edge against backs AND tackles, rush, AND drop. So agility and an ability to handle multiple assignments are key. We've all recognized the need for a better pass rush, but I kind of feel that we won't get it though the LBs so much as the DBs - Rex likes the little guys. DBs - press man, obvs. So strong punch, good hips. But Rex does so much of his scheming on the back end, that I think he needs intelligence across the board as well. I think he'd field four corners in base if he could. He clearly likes to have at least one thumper he can bring down, but I don't think a safety that can lay the wood is a huge priority as long as they aren't afraid to hit. Rex has said repeatedly that you don't ahve to blow them up, but you ahve to get them down. What am I missing? what did I get wrong?
I like it, but one thing I would add is versatility across the board on defense, or at least in the front seven as a whole. With the way the defense switches up front and uses different personnel is different situations, the players the Jets bring in should have the ability to play a few downs anywhere. With the amount of time that Calvin spends with his hands down OLB versatility is key, but I really see it as being universal.
