Hmm, if both pan out as hoped, do you then we would be able to keep both once their 2nd contract comes around?
See I dont think Coples was drafted for the 3-4, I think Coples was drafted because he can run a 3-4 and 4-3. Coples is a little smaller than your prototypical 3-4, and many people found the pick to be pretty bizarre. Hell most people on this board and other boards thought I was completely out of my mind when I said Coples was my dream pick for this team in the draft. I love the move without question, I just think that Coples is gonna thrive alot more when we run the 4-3, than the 3-4, even if he can be a premier run defender. Not to mention Wilkerson had alot more experience in a 3-4 in college, where Coples was primarily playing defensive tackle in a 4-3. I dont think Coples is going to be bad in the 3-4 by any means, but I think in the 4-3 he has the opportunity to be truly special
Well fortunately for us around the time theyre both ready for their second contracts Revis, Cromartie, Holmes will no longer be eating up our books . So it should definitley be doable. After all look what the Vikings did with their defensive line for so long. They had some uber talent for quite a while
Coples physically is everything a team would want in a 34 end. He might not be 300 lbs, but that really doesn't mean anything if he's got the strength and ability to move people, which he does. On the other hand, he's not an explosive edge guy, and put in a 43 would be far more suited as a Shaun Ellis than a John Abraham. To reach his best potential in a 43 he'd pretty much have to be a Justin Tuck type and move all over the place, because he's not an edge guy. Also, his role at UNC wasn't much different than what he'd do in an NFL 34, be the focus, stop the run, and allow other guys to make plays.
Coples was drafted, the 2nd defensive lineman in a row in the 1st round, because the Jets just haven't gotten any pressure from the linemen recently except from Ellis and Jenkins and both of them are gone. He's a much better fit in a 4-3 than a 3-4 and the odds are excellent that the Jets will have 4 down linemen on more than 50% of the defensive snaps next season. In fact they're likely to have 4 down linemen more often than they have 3 linebackers or 4 linebackers because they'll be playing a lot of 4-2-5.
On potential alone, Coples has the higher upside. So if things pan out for the kid in 5 years he could be a top end DL for us. Wilkerson will be a hell of a player, but I get the feeling he'll be our next Shaun Ellis, the fan base will mostly not appriciate his talent untill he's gone.
I think if you HAVE to pick one, Coples has more raw talent. However, Mo is known as the hardest worker there is, and also I feel like these two can be a situation where the product is more than just the sum of the parts. I'm hoping that O-lines eventually have trouble planning out schemes to stop both of them. That may be lofty thoughts, but if we're gonna win they're goals that have to be met. I would say I LIKE Mo more, but I think Coples is better.
The better question I should of asked is, what the hell is Rex gonna do if our front 4 can get serious pressure WITHOUT him having to Blitz. I mean do you still blitz like a mad man, if the QB is already running for his life most of the time when youre not blitzing ?
You should know the answer to that yourself. Why would you send more men when you are already accomplishing your goal, when you can have them in coverage instead? Im not sure if our passrush has advanced that much though.
Well its definitely not going to be THAT much advanced this year. But I mean 2, maybe 3 years who knows. And again because its Rex Ryan. Obviously sending more guys will still lead to even more pressure, and he wants to scare the shit out of opposing quarterbacks. I dont know if it would be that clear cut
The front 4 creating its own pressure maks the blitz more effictive. If the Oline/Backs are worried about being able to handle those guys they are looking to double team and will be more likely to miss a late blitzer, causing even more havoc. I love the potential of our defense right now.
To paraphrase a quote from Rex during or right after the draft, creating pressure up the middle prevents the QB from stepping up to avoid the outside rush. The key to that is you need both the inside pressure (Coples and Wilk) along with outside pressure (Mayhem and/or blitzers). Giddyup!
