Moving Forward

Considering this is the worst I've ever felt as a Jets fan, I'll take that as a good sign.

 

The problem with our LB is that they are horrible compliments for each other. Having two slow, downhill ILB and 2 pretty slow OLB is bad news bears.

 

Nice post.

 

Pretty good assessment, the only thing I have an issue with is your comment on Revis. There has been nothing to suggest he has or has not tried to tutor guys. Your just assuming he has not because it hasn't been printed.

I don't think this is a fair criticism. I can only guess you think he should have been helping Wilson develop. We do not know if he did, but I would think that everyone was trying to help each other when they could.

I like to think Rex has put together a true team and not a collection of athletes who happen to play together. He is able to instill the type of camaraderie that you get after playing with the same people for years.

 

I am really looking forward to our year that lies ahead, Sanchez is only going to keep getting better and better as the years go on. He's got a awesome coach a amazing team and all of us backing him up. I really couldn't see Sanchez playing on any other team.

 

First, good post and thread, Coach K.

Haz, this is a good post as well. I've been amazed that the D has performed at the level at which it has these 2 seasons with the lack of speed and youth. It has to be upgraded. I don't think Pryce will be back in 2011, but expect that Ellis will be. He can still play and was one of the Jets' best defenders this season. I think it will be his last, however. Hopefully, Taylor won't be back. I never wanted him anyway (stinking Fish!). Whether BLT is back for me would depend if the Jets can sign a Kamerion Wimbley and still afford to keep BLT. It will be hard for the Jets to find a real pass-rushing OLB in the draft, and may be even harder to sign a FA like Wimbley, so BLT will probably be back, at least as a rotational guy in 2011, but should be gone by 2012. It would be great to have Jenkins back in 2011 and for him to stay healthy, but I'm not gonna count on the latter. Scott makes too much money. I can't see him going anywhere this year, but unless he takes a pay cut next season, I think there's a good chance he'll be gone in 2012, even with Rex loving the guy. I think Pace should also be gone by 2012. Right now, he's the best OLB we have, but that's not saying much.

There's no question that the front 7 needs an infusion of youth, talent and speed, at least the latter in our OLBs. I'm hopeful that at the very least that among Gilbert, Pitoitua and Dixon the Jets will find at least 2 solid rotational players for the DL. It would be great if one or more turned out to be a very solid starting caliber DE. Where I think the DL needs shoring up is at the NT position. It is arguably the most important position in a 3-4 alignment (that and the pass-rushing OLB spot). Pouha has done well, but aside from Jenkins, there's no depth (I'm not counting on Tevaseau) and I think the position could be upgraded. With regards to the draft, I think the odds are that there may be an excellent NT prospect available at #30, but neither a prime pass-rushing OLB or DE prospect. Even if there is a good DE prospect, if the Jets have both rated pretty equally, I think they should take the NT.

The Jets have to find some LBers that can cover TEs and RBs over the middle and who have the speed to get to the QB when they rush.

I'm in the camp that Harris isn't as good as he is made out to be. He's slow, and he was either injured or worn down by season's end. His worst games of the year were his last 4-5 games.

 

Great post, Kleck. I agree with everything you said. I also predict Ellis will be back. The Jets need to add to their DL rotation and will be fine there.

 

That's enorumous

 

Can we face the reality about our front? Pouha, Ellis, and Devito can push the pile but they move around like they are in fucking quicksand. Mendenhall ran circles around them. We need a a strong but athletic lineman in the draft.

 

They may be slow but if you think Mendenhall "ran circles around them" you are blind. The Jets on almost every single run had at least one player in position to make a play for little or no gain.

I don't think there was one run in the first half where the initial player at the point of attack brought him down first. It was poor technique not lack of speed that lost that game in the first half.

 

A couple of things. The Jets do need more speed/youth into the front 7. They had some dinosaurs this year that Rex/Tanny etc. thought would make the difference, I guess they didn't.

I am trying to work out the most important aspect the D is lacking because I think Rex is going to change to a shitload more of that hybrid D we saw in the Playoffs. The more I have been reading, I think that teams are going to the coverage and disruption (at the line) scheme the Jets used, at least the successful defenses are going to.

So really not being a dratnik and not knowing how the board will play out, my best guess is the Jets would go OLB>>>DE.

I am certain they are going to have to get a more athletic safety. Smith, like him or not, played better as the starter but he still can't cover well. Pool improved as the season went on, he had a killer game against Peyton. However, he is a vet and I am of the opinion that what you see is what you get.

Leonhard is a wildcard as his injury is similar to Leon's (not as severe) and I suspect it is going to take him sometime to get back up to speed. As injuries go, it does take more than a year to get fully recovered from a catastrophic leg injury. A broken leg bone is every bit as serious as an ACL tear, if not more so. Again, I am hoping for the best with JL but my pragmatic side says maybe he rounds into form later on next season.

LB-s

Scott- I don't get the Scott hate. Well I get it from the legions of retards but some of the better posters too. Time and again, Bart is among the better, if not best, ILB's playing the run in the entire NFL. He was #1 in 08, #3 in 09' and #1 this year. He doesn't have the shiny stats but he has the big contract. So what, he is one of the best if not the best TED LB's in the NFL. It is a dirty job and someone has to do it.

Harris- I can not honestly say what is going to happen with him. It completely depends on FA/draft. If the Jets keep Cromartie and upgrade the OLB's and DL, is there enough money to keep Harris. If the Jets upgrade the pass rush do they need him for that coverage D they are going to play against the top QB's? That is a tough call that I do not think can be answered at this point.

The OLB's are statuesque. Thomas and Pace need to be upgraded. Well at least 1 does this year. The obvious is BT. If the Jets can bring in a younger faster OLB via the draft a platoon can work well. I don't think JT is coming back. Honestly, he was a good stop gap for when Pace got hurt. He is going to be 37, it is time for him to take up golfing permanently. Westerman? I don't expect much there.

DL-

Ellis- 1 more year should be a rotational guy.
Devito- Going to be a starter not much to say. He has played well.
Pouha- Played well but needs help. He isn't a game changer but is a very good NT.
Jenkins- Will have to take a significant pay cut. If he stays, can he keep healthy? Will he take a reduced role. Probably gone......
Pitoitua- Coming off a significant injury, shouldn't be counted on.
Tevaseu- Don't know what to expect.
Pryce- Probably Gone but he is a Rex guy.
Gholston-Flushed faster than a Taco Bell Dump.

I don't see the Jets doing anything radical with the DE's. I think they are going to have more of the same unless of course that a guy they must have falls to them in the draft.

NT- They desperately need some depth behind Pouha. I would love Jenkins back there but he is expensive and fragile. That sounds like a porcelain dinner plate not an NT. Tevaseu is a complete unknown quantity, good luck predicting his future.

As far as the remaining DB's/CB's........

Cromartie- I am thinking the Jets will try and keep them if they go to a more coverage scheme. There are things I like about him, such as going to Westhoff and asking to be kickoff returner in the playoffs. However, then there is the polar opposite of watching this guy tackle. His drawbacks are well known here, his inability to change directions and poor tackling. He can be more than adequate in the new scheme on the outside. Just how much is he going to demand though?

Coleman- Lots of hate for him because he can't cover for shit. He is a very good tackler though, he took out Faulk on a very good open field tackle this year. He was also quite good rushing the QB. He played the role this defense needed from Strickland, only he doesn't cover as well but doesn't get injured either. He probably is a cheap FA that returns.

Wilson- I suppose Rex/Pettine/Thurman lost patience with him. He looked ok in coverage early, he just couldn't turn his head around. The end result being a penalty or a completion. Then he basically disappeared when the Jets made the move to more Coleman. Obviously, he is on the team next year, the hope being he improves significantly to contribute.

I am probably missing a few things. I think on Defense against the Manning's and Brady the Jets are going to move away from the bombs away blitz approach. They are going to a more coverage based scheme. So my guess is they keep Cro, shore up the OLB' and DL/NT.

Unfortunately, that may signal the end of Harris, I don't think the Jets can keep them all, unless of course they sacrifice a WR or 2. Why would you do that with a young QB that should start coming into his own in year 3.

This should really be the most interesting offseason by far since Rex got here. Of course, no CBA could freeze everything.

Edit: Sorry it is a little bit of rambling. If you find that to be so, GFY, I am tired from looking at a computer screen all day.