Feb. 4, 2008 Home > The Way We Hear It ~ ~ ~ NY Jets Feb. 1, 2008 Jets in the market for a good blocking tight end It seems as though every team is looking for a fast, stretch-the-seam tight end these days. But while guys like Antonio Gates and Kellen Winslow Jr. are at a premium, finding solid blockers among the NFL?s TE crop are easier to come by, and subsequently come with a reduced price tag. Word out of New York is that the Jets will look to beef up their TE corps this offseason without sacrificing too much of their salary-cap maneuverability. Free-agent TE Sean Ryan doesn?t offer much as a blocker or as a receiver, and the chances of him getting re-signed aren?t good. By adding another solid blocking tight end to line up opposite Chris Baker, the Jets will be able to utilize more twin TE-alignments than they were able to last season, with the hope of getting more production out of a running game that was listless for much of 2007. Solid offensive tackles come at a steeper price than blocking tight ends, so if the Jets are unable to bring in a substantial upgrade for uninspiring ORT Anthony Clement, a physical TE addition becomes even more important. > http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/default.htm
its amazing how the jets are always looking for a good, blocking tightend.. why we don't use baker more is beyond me. this team is obsessed with TEs but we do NOTHING with them. we need a good blocking line and that is where our focus should be.
I still like our own #40 Joe Kowalewski, the kielbasi-ingesting Polock from upstate New York. I liked him in TC and I still liked him in the games in which he was inserted this season. Tough kid, good motor, good hands, smart guy and a lot of heart. Let's try to fix our lines before we look at the jewelry to enhance it with.
What about the kid from Tennessee? He didn't make a lot of catches in college, but he has near tackle size and good hands. Cottam. He would be a decent fit. The benefit of having a guy like Brandon Manumaleuna is incredible. Ask San Diego. -X-
Let me just say that after analyzing all of the film, if all our brain trust could come up with is that we need a blocking tight end than it really is time to start looking for a new coach and GM. If Clement and/or Clarke are still being utilized and are on this team next year we will win no more than 8 games at the very best and more likely 6 wins is even a better reality. Clarke and Clement flat out suck..................
When he got his TD and went nuts.. that was great :lol: Definitely think he earned another shot next year.
dare i say tony becht? was a great blocked here and wouldnt mind him in a backup role. also entertaining with his bad td dances like in the sd game.
So just because it's reported that the Jets will be looking to add a blocking TE, it's safe to assume that's the ONLY hole they plan on filling this off-season? Come on, guys. It's getting insane around here. Believe it or not, it IS possible to address more than one area of need in one off-season. Incase people don't realize, if we sign a blocking TE we will have about $30M+ in cap room left AND an entire draft left to improve the team.
GH, that sounds like disappointment there. I'm not sure I don't disagree with the sentiment. Our rushing game certainly suffered due to the lack of initial blocks, so I'm not much sure I disagree with the aim of the article; they should have protected an investment like Thomas Jones from the beginning, so I think the idea that they are feeding us a 'search' for blocking talent into media articles is pandering and I think that's what angers the fan in me for this particular article.
Fair enough......and BTW, you seem very calm...why? A blocking TE will help; it can not be argued. My only point is after watching our offensive line all year, a blocking TE can't hurt , but clearly it is very far from the cure-all.
I agree that people are going WAY overboard and actually getting ANGRYabout the FO WANTING to improve the team through FA. I think people fear that we will again be shunning the OL/DL position, like we have many times in the past. And w/ the great # of young O-linemen available...not hearing any rumors is concerning...
This team has a ton of needs, we also have a ton of cap run and some huge contracts that can be off loaded to create more cap room. There is no reason at all we can't go after another good CB and add OL help and make a move for a speed rusher all in FA prior to filling additional needs in the draft. Guys like McCariens, Pennington, DRob, Barton all have to be dealt with and we still need to try and tie up Rhodes to a long term deal this off season. Lot's of work for this team and we also need a New OC, DC and Special teams coach. This should be a very interesting off season. The Bills and the Pats are already way ahead of us and the Dolphins will be making moves very soon. The Jets are going to have to bring it up a notch in terms of a sense of urgency in order to get off the matt and stop being a second tier team.
^^Have the OC and DC been canned yet? The longer this gets drawn out; I would say another 10 days - max - our OC and DC will be coming back next year. We clearly have reached put up or shut up time.
Then let it be put up or shut up time. I agree that Sutton is on very thin ice..but we have been implementing a defense that doesnt suit the current personell...that may change by the end of this offseason. If that is the case...there's no reason for turnover, and signing an new DC who may or may not be an upgrade. As for OC, Schotty had a rough year, but in 06, he was fantastic..again..like Sutton, lets see what he can do w/ improved personell, specifically at the OL spot. Constant turnover is what has plagued this team for so long. It's one thing if there's a clear upgrade available..but there isnt.
Tackles are expensive so the Jets are looking for a blocking TE? Jesus I hope Woody is not really a cheap SOB who won't spend cash in free agency or to hire a high profile coach and management team. If he is we're screwed on a Hess-like scale. That'd make me give up the Jets if it turned out to be the case.
I agree. An OC/DC can only do so much and then execution takes over, which ultimately determines success or failure. I seriously doubt we make any major coaching changes this year because the Jets right now are of the mindset that Mangini and Company deserve at least one more season to see where we're going. These are supposedly smart guys. Hopefully they've learned a few things last season and are ready to eliminate their errors while expanding on team strengths. If we can bump up the grade of players and significantly improve our roster, I'd like to see what the current CS can do with that.
This thread reminds me of the article which we'll see hit all of the NY papers in a few months: "Jets seek to get Baker more involved in passing game." It's really laughable at this point...
Or maybe you need to go back and watch more film. When you only have one TE that can block, It's like painting a target on the RB. Go back, and watch tapes of Jones runs. Wherever Baker is, There is a concentration of defenders. Most often Baker beats his guy, but the Bodies poring over the outside and underneath, make that point mostly academic. And in addition, if you are gong to play action, you cant release Baker into a pattern, until the fake, which pretty much eliminates him from forcing someone to run down the field, so you are in effect, wasting Bakers Hands, and a good protion of Jones ability by being predictable.
