The Great OLB Debate

I've noticed that after a surge of initial thinking that adding a top quality passrusher was one of the Jets greatest needs, a lot of people are starting to turn away from that feeling after the Bowens signing (and to a lesser extent Wadsworth). While I see the signing as a definite improvement, what it really is to me is depth, adding a quality backup linebacker that can be thrown in when needed. Bowens' value will come in his experience both in a 3-4 and playing Linebacker, not as a potential starter.

It's important to have players like that, as we've seen the Patriots look for similar players in Free Agency over the years, guys that get a few spot starts, but usually just come in for certain plays and have sporatic impact (usually that impact coming against the Jets...). However, it's also very important to have that one, impact passrusher that can play every down. When I teams with the best 3-4 defenses, the constant is normally a guy regarded as true pass rushing force, guys like Merriman (or Phillips really), Ware, even Joey Porter a few years back.

One of the biggest weaknesses on the Jets last year (as whenever Abraham was injured in years previous) was a dynamic player coming off of the edge. In Hobson and Thomas the Jets have two very important cogs in what can be a great linebacking corps, but it could still be improved. More likely than not the Jets would be hesitant to add another ILB, with Kassell, Chatham, and Schlegal all brought in just a year ago, even if Barton is released. And, even if an upgrade was made, there would still be a problem of finding a consistent passrush.

And when you really think about it, what does the addition of Bowens as a pass rush specialist really mean? When he comes in the game, either BT or Hobson is coming out. That means we lose either our best run defending LB in Hobson or a steadily, and vastly improving Thomas, not to mention he's shown himself to be pretty solid in coverage and space in general. Or, Hobson might slide inside, where he might be even more important, and Bowens would come in; but if that were the case, why not find a passrushing starter, and stick with that as the starting group?

I know it's a bit optimistic to assume that Hobson would be able to slide inside and BT could play strong side the majority of the time, but the reason this defense is there is because it's Mangini's specialty. When I see Hobson, I see a player that could make that move without any problems, and if I could even be a bit optimistic, he might even help to free up Vilma a bit, because when it comes to run plays OLinemen would be smart to get to Hobson first. As for Thomas, like I said, he's got tremendous athletic ability, knows how to make plays out in space, and I think would only get better on the strong side.

If you agree with those two things, then that leaves us in terms of the Jets biggest needs, and where such a passrushing OLB might stack up. DE is just about in the same boat, though I think the front office thinks very highly of Kenyon Coleman's ability to start. CB is a need, then again, it has been since Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman were dominating back around 2000. With the staff in place, I don?t believe a first rounder is necessary to find a starter, but I?d trust Mangini wherever he decided to place the need. OG no doubt must be addressed day one, it?s just a matter of Blalock or waiting to see who?s there in the 2nd. They can use another Wide Receiver, but unless they get a gift in Rd 1, then I could easily see them waiting to see how the cards fall late in the draft. Then you have the Linebacker, talking about the first two rounds of this draft, the value?s going to be there, arguably better than any of the other spots. If the Jets have Anthony Spencer staring at them in Rd 1, I couldn?t imagine that the staff would look elsewhere, not when he fits the bill so nicely about what we think Mangini?s looking for in a player.


Ok, that?s it, I look forward to debating this, just consider that an opening statement.