Haynesworth cont'd He isn't a sure thing to get something out of him, but after seeing Maybin's turnaround I think it's worth considering. I think an incentive laden 1 year deal as you said is worth a shot.
Actually we needed to win 2 out 3 to make the playoffs and Sanchez was playing hurt during that stretch. Schotty being his usual dumb self called majority pass plays vs the eagle and giants.
Nice switch up there. Sure, he sucked down the stretch in '11, no one will argue that. But you were claiming Sanchez had nothing to do with the Jets playoff wins, which obviously is not true. Funny how you changed the argument so quickly.
OK, more time now. After having clarified I didn't meant to suggest that list was in order of importance, I will next pass on speculating at least too much what the Jet organization really feels about what happened this past season. As I separately said yesterday, too much of that is unknowable. Having said that and getting in a separate post to the related subject of strategy going forward, I do think it unlikely that they take either a highly active approach or a minimalist one. The former seems unlikely due to cost contraints and a very unlikely possibility they will slash and burn the current roster to free up cap space, the latter since it is not in their nature to take a when in doubt do nothing approach, expecting younger players all to blossom simultaneously. Having said that, I have to note your comment that they might well expect Hunter to bounce back and Ducasse to step up. I know you prefaced that with a big if, but imo if they take that approach, well, I expect you will see mucho grumbling around here, and not just by the Sanchez Fans. Other comments: OLB. I agree Pace stays this year and is gone next, but that take is based on his contract situation, as I understand it. I frankly thought he did not get enough credit around here for solid play this past year, mostly becuase people wanted more from him in the pass rush. but once Thomas went down, my understanding was he had to alter his assignments to cover more in the run D. But, I think we both agree that the Jets need an upgrade in speed on the linebacker unit. Given the likelihood Pace is not back in 2013, it makes little sense here to not make any move this off season at OLB. As I said yesterday, they might well end up with two starting OLB's not presently on the roster in 2013. An alternative is perhaps Maybin rounds into an all around player, and a dependable starter. I only see the Jets in effect counting on that heading into next season, making no moves at all in effect at OLB, if they simply fill they have to make all their moves elsewhere to address more urgent needs. My own view on OLB is they should go a high pick in the draft here, since cap space considerations preclude spending tons of money on a starting quality effective pass rusher. But they need to go high enough to get someone who might be starting at some point this coming season. Safety. Like for Pace I do not share the general and in some cases deep disdain for Eric Smith. But I will not digress here with a defense of him, since I am reasonably certain the CS likes him, and he will be back. Leonhard is a real question mark given his two successive injuries, and I am not a fan of Pool. If the Jets feel they can bring Leonhard back as a starter, despite his injuries, they might go high draft pick again to get a safety who might be called upon to start. If Leonhard is cut, they will literally need two safeties, and one will then have to come from FA - I can't see them counting on developing two quality safeties off draft picks at the same time. On balance, my guess is they want to bring in two, and whether they do or not will depend, as on OLB, on how well they can balance that need with the need to fill other holes. RT and backup OL. As noted, I am skeptical to say the least that the Jets should stand pat here. I see VD as a complete bust, and Hunter as better suited to backup tackle. I do have medium term concerns as I mentioned about both guard positions, and can see the Jets going middle round draft pick to groom someone there, although I also expect R Turner to come back. I don't disagree he is not perfect, but he knows the team, can back up Mangold, and will probably sign cheap. This leaves going FA to get a starting RT as a significant need. Trying to find a starter in the draft begins to place too many demands on high round picks, given what I previously said about OLB and safety, but... something's gotta give, and imo one of the two or three worst things the Jets could do this off season is fail to address RT. (In other words if they CAN fill another of their pressing needs in FA, perhaps they will go high draft pick at tackle.) Backup Qb. This is no place to argue with you about Orton, who I feel would be a great pickup for the Jets, immediately making them a solid contender again. But... I would not be the least bit surprised if they did nothing here, and hoped McElroy can fill the #2 spot. The reason I say that is not because we have seen enough of him to have that level of confidence in him. It's more that if the FO looks as 2012 as the make or break season for Sanchez, the logic is to go in for a penny, in for a pound, and not waste high picks or big FA money to merely back him up. If so they might pick up some borderline vet as insurance, or perhaps even leave O'Connell at #3. Other than your take on Orton, I am in agreement with you here. Punter. Conley was a disappointment. The Jets will almost certainly have a new punter this coming season, from whatever source. TE. What the Jets do or don't do at TE will probably be the most interesting thing this off season (barring some unlikely major move at Qb). The cynic in me expects them to stand pat, maybe even extend Keller a year or so. They can tell themselves Cumberland's return will upgrade their options here. But that's not what I would do. I would see if I could get value for Keller, assuming Cumberland looks healthy to come back, and see if any better combo blocker and pass catcher turns up in the draft. RB. I guess I am just not a big Greene fan. He's not durable enough, and doesn't have good hands in the passing game. I still fear his tendency to fumble, especially if they overuse him. McKnight is a huge question mark. But... with other problems, perhaps the Jets wait as you suggest. Unlikely is they go mid to low draft pick - they already have one of those in Powell on the roster. I will address wideout, ranking needs and strategy in my next post.
Chad Henne...coming out of the draft Rex thought Chad was the best qb coming out and everyone knows the history between him and Tony..I think its a done deal that he ends up in NY, and it will be interesting to see if he beats out Sanchez as a starter.
Spot on. Sanchez has what it takes, and steps up in big games. And he's tough as nails, which was proved with the pounding he took this year.
On wideouts and general strategy... Wideout. Imo there is no question but that Burress will depart, leaving a hole in the starting lineup. I liked Kerley very much, but he seems MUCH more likely to be put in at #3 in the slot, with little chance of starting at #2. The problem with going to the draft here is twofold. One is to get a quality player worthy of being a starter, he would have to be a very high draft pick, and we have already talked about using a high pick possibly at OLB, safety and RT. I have no doubt the Jets are hoping this year to get starters out of their two top picks, but that in itself can be a stretch. Beyond that, I wonder how they feel a rookie would work with Sanchez given all else is going on. I still think bringing back Edwards, for all the hair on that, would be reasonably cheap, would provide Sanchez with a comfort level, and would allow use of those high picks elsewhere. Garcon has also been mentioned as a solid but hopefully not very expensive FA signing. Rating the needs and Strategy. For me, wideout goes straight to the top for the obvious reason that it is a starting position that the Jets have no real options to use to fill on the roster. From there you could make the argument that the next level down is really one filled equally by safety, OLB and RT. Splitting hairs on grading among those three to some extent would require knowledge we don't presently have, such as Leonhard's condition, whether the Jets feel Maybin can step up, even bring back Thomas, and as you mentioned for RT a feeling however shaky that Hunter can bounce back. Below those four, another safety is probably next. punter will fit in there somewhere. Backup Qb may well end up getting the end of the line treatment, relying on McElroy for the most part. That's a gamble, but not a totally unreasonable one given all else (and ftr if I were in charge I would get Orton and change direction, but I am not. Heh.). Then you get to TE, backup RB and perhaps a new kicker. On TE, I certainly hope the Jets do not let it slide with Keller's situation, but just watch - they very well might. What they do and don't do at TE and RB will tell you much about how much influence they want to let Sparano have. My guess right now is not very much. Still I see a move at RB as somewhat more likely than at TE just because Cumberland is coming back anyway. Even further down the line is a prospect for interior OL, and perhaps at OLB. The two areas I don't see getting attention are CB and the DL, assuming that includes bringing Pouha back, which is no sure thing, and could really upset the strategy. How to address the foregoing? Again, I prefer FA for the wideout need. If Leonhard can come back, they can go high draft pick for safety, but really one of RT, OLB and safety needs to be filled with another FA signing. This will free up the remaining two to be filled with a high draft pick. I know this goes against a BPA strategy, and it is possible the Jets can fill two of these needs in addition to wideout in FA, allowing for draft day flexibility. That is the key, and given taht we are talking around ten players here, this is a relatively tall order. It is one the FO is going to have to succeed at,given the question marks at Qb, the lack of a dominating RB, aging interior linebackers along with Pace and the need for a bounce back year for Ferguson. The disparity between the DL's run stopping ability and its lack of a pass rush is another issue. If the Jets fail to address too many needs for roster changes, I fear the existing weaknesses on the team will likely mean a rather average roster on the whole. In other words whether the Jets can get back in the playoffs will depend on roster moves to be made this off season even more so than usual.
I disagree. I don't think he will be that cheap. Besides, I don't think we should be looking at ANY FA OLBs. They will cost more than the Jets can afford. The most important positions for the Jets to address in FA imo are S and RT, and/or backup QB. At OLB, the Jets need youth and speed. Williams is waaaay too expensive. Avril likely would be too, and he would be a bit of a conversion project, so even though he's been good as a DE, we don't know how he would perform as an OLB. You don't pay the kind of money that Avril will command for him to be a conversion project. You do that with a rookie that won't cost very much. This draft is deep and strong with OLB prospects. The Jets should come out of it with 2 very good OLB prospects to be their starters beginning in 2013, and one of them will likely start in 2012.
Are you high? Haynesworth?? He's a headcase, and has caused problems everywhere he's been. The Jets don't need any more jerks, distractions, or cancers in the locker room. He's also expensive and not that good any more. Have you been paying any attention to the Jets' cap situation? You talk about Henne being terrible, but what in the world do you think Quinn and Garrard are? OMG. They're worse, and Garrard will want way too much money.
I'd like to see the Jets go after Jarret Johnson at OLB as a stop gap type player to replace Thomas if Thomas can't go. It's best to at least have a stop gap in place before the draft so you aren't handcuffed to a position.
No. Johnson is over 30, would be a marginal upgrade over Thomas, would want too much money, and would take away snaps from the young OLB the Jets draft. The Jets cannot afford to sign an OLB in FA period. Their best use of cap $s is on the S and RT positions. Signing Johnson would probably preclude their being able to sign anyone else, and we'd be right back where we were last year with two slow starting OLBs. Terrible idea imo.
Exactly the board wants big names but he's a cheap guy who can help us. He was an elite pass rusher for us we were lucky we scored so big on the Mangold pick for him. he's aged a bit and yeah it might not work for sure but at least we can afford him.
I doubt Johnson commands big bucks. There's no guarantee the Jets draft a young OLB and they shouldn't go into the draft thinking they have to get one. I mean what if Richardson falls to #16 and Floyd falls to #48 because of a slow 40 time at the combine?
I'd also be shocked if the Jets went out and got a RT in FA after guaranteeing Hunters $2.5 million this year. I think they have something else in mind.
Big Blocker, Thanks for your thoughtful response. I'm enjoying the dialogue. I agree that they will probably take the middle ground, but I think it will kill Tanny to have to do so. As you stated, his psychological tendencies are to make that big splash. I am in total agreement with you that they're asking for trouble if they decide to stand pat with Hunter and Ducasse, and that Jets fans will freak (rightfully so, I might add), but it wouldn't shock me at all. With regard to the OLB position, they absolutely HAVE to do some major in this regard this offseason. I don't think FA is the way to go for obvious cap reasons, but also for age and other reasons. This is a strong and deep draft for OLBs. Sometimes they can take a while to develop, so with Pace probably gone next season, they need to go ahead and get both prospective starters on the team this year to give them a chance to develop with Pace's help in mentoring them. He's a solid pro, although way overpaid. He's paid like he's an elite pass rusher, and he has never been that. If the Jets make zero moves at OLB except re-signing Thomas to a one or two-year deal, then I think Woody should clean house. Rex, Tanny, the Scouting Dept., the whole Pro Personnel Dept. , and FO should be fired. The Jets haven't had many chances over the years to draft an elite pass rusher. They have it now in this draft to get two excellent pass rushers to insure that one of them will be elite and as it happens, they need two. They'd better not pass on that opportunity to take an OG or OT or trade up for a RB or WR. I'd love it if Maybin could develop into a 3-down player, but I just don't see that happening. Maybe I'm too cynical in that regard. I guess I'm one of the few Jets fans who agrees with you regarding E. Smith. He led the team in tackles last year. That's not too shabby. Yes, he sucks in coverage, but as an in the box SS, he is good. If the Jets can add a FS with speed and excellent coverage ability, along with getting an elite pass rushing prospect or two, then Smith will function quite well to help vs the run. I'm in agreement with everything you say regarding the S position. There are a number of pretty good safeties available in FA. The Jets need to be sure that they sign at least one of them. I totally agree with you regarding Pool. I just don't understand why so many Jets fans like him and want him to start. I think he's shown little or nothing. He's lazy, and simply not that good. I wish the Jets would bring back Lowery, even if it's just as a nickel CB and backup FS, but I doubt he'd want to come back even he was guaranteed the starting FS job. There are a number of decent RT prospects in FA. Some are older and towards the end of their careers. I don't know if they'll be too expensive or not. Anthony Collins is a younger player I like and he probably won't be that expensive. I hope they target him and also draft one somewhere in the middle rounds. It wouldn't surprise me either if the Jets did nothing regarding the backup QB position and just penciled in McElroy as the backup. Some Jets fans think he should be cut because of his comments at the end of the season about the locker room, but I think that's just stupid. O'Connell is awful, and he should be replaced, even if it's with a 6th or 7th round draft pick or a UDFA. The only reason he was brought back last season was because he knew the offense and McElroy went down with the season-ending injury. I'll be shocked if the Jets do nothing at TE. Keller doesn't seem to be a fit in the new offensive scheme, and they need a better blocker who can also catch the ball. The penalty machine (Mulligan) should be gone. They may look to take a TE in the 6th round or may wait and just sign a camp cut, but again, I'll be totally shocked if they make no changes at all at TE. I think that would be a mistake. Regarding Greene, I understand where you're coming from. His hands improved some last year as a receiver, but he's still not ideal. Still, when you consider how bad the offense was last year, and how bad the OL was, his rushing for 1,000 yards is nothing to sneeze at. Also, I think he only fumbled once, and I think his fumbling problems have always been greatly exaggerated/fabricated. He never had a problem with that in college. They drafted McKnight to play RB. They need to see what he can do. They also added Powell in the same round a year later. I think I read somewhere that they've drafted a RB every year since Tanny became GM, or maybe it was since Rex became HC. Either way, I don't think they really need to add another RB this season. If they can, great, but imo that's more of a luxury than a need. I think they need to give McKnight and Powell every chance they can to produce. If one or both can't, then they can add a camp cut and look to draft one or sign a FA next season.
Haynesworth has been cut by 2 teams in a row, I doubt he'll be expensive. I look at Haynesworth and see a guy who could be great but doesn't try. I think it's worth giving him a shot at camp to see if Rex can get anything out of him. As for the QB situation, maybe Garrard and Quinn aren't good options either. I'm just trying to put an end to the Henne talk. I'd rather bring back Vinny.
