Did anybody watch Jets football last year? Alan Faneca should be at the tip top of this list. The success of our center, our left tackle, our running backs, our quarterback (and by extrapolation, our receivers) are on his shoulders. After that, it's got to be Kris Jenkins. We have one nose tackle, period. Is he the best player on our defense? No. But his job is the most important to the success of the 3-4 defense. Quite frankly, I don't think ANYBODY on this team is expendable right now. I hate Bryan Thomas, but he's going to play an important role in the development of Vernon Gholston. Chad isn't expendable, David Barrett isn't expendable, Elam and Smith aren't expendable, WE NEED EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW.
Did I miss something or did we mysteriously become a Sb contender since last season ended? Elam and SMith are not expendable? We need good players right now. Everybody is expendable if the price is right.
#1 -- with the exception of the OLB position, we really have zero depth at every position. #2 ---every position on the football field is important. When you look back at the teams with winning seasons, you see minimal injuries (if any at all) on their rosters during the year. However, there are very critical positions such as LT, NT, C where if our guy goes down for the entire season, then the team is REALLY doomed. It is a team game, but IMO there are a few very critical positions in which 1 guy's injury could lead a gaping hole. I would rather have Coles playing a full season, but if he goes down, the impact of that wouldnt be as bad as if say D'Brick was lost for the season. If he goes, then Clemens will spend the rest of the year running for his life. If Jenkins goes down, then its no JETS run defense at all for another season. Regarding the QB positon, I hate to be a cynic here, but we really do not have a T. Brady type superstar player at that position. Nothing would make me more happy to see Clemens play the entire season, but if he got hurt, the dropoff to the next level might not have such a dramatic impact. Especially considering that the JETS appear to be focusing on being a running back by committee team -- i.e., not going to be really throwing the ball this year.
Sorry -------- double post. #1 -- with the exception of the OLB position, we really have zero depth at every position. #2 ---every position on the football field is important. When you look back at the teams with winning seasons, you see minimal injuries (if any at all) on their rosters during the year. However, there are very critical positions such as LT, NT, C where if our guy goes down for the entire season, then the team is REALLY doomed. It is a team game, but IMO there are a few very critical positions in which 1 guy's injury could lead a gaping hole. I would rather have Coles playing a full season, but if he goes down, the impact of that wouldnt be as bad as if say D'Brick was lost for the season. If he goes, then Clemens will spend the rest of the year running for his life. If Jenkins goes down, then its no JETS run defense at all for another season. Regarding the QB positon, I hate to be a cynic here, but we really do not have a T. Brady type superstar player at that position. Nothing would make me more happy to see Clemens play the entire season, but if he got hurt, the dropoff to the next level might not have such a dramatic impact. Especially considering that the JETS appear to be focusing on being a running back by committee team -- i.e., not going to be really throwing the ball this year.
Any player that makes the team and is projected to either start or get significant playing time in position rotations cannot be considered expendable unless they are of such a low caliber that they can easily and effectively be replaced by free agents dropped from other teams. The players who are expendable are those who don't make the final roster this Summer. Least expendable: Faneca Mangold Ferguson Jenkins Harris
I don't know what you mean by "people like" me, but my point is that a QB plays better when he has a team around him than when he doesn't and the Jets were horrible last year. As for the rest of your post, you must have been drinking. Pennington has played his entire career with the Jets and was never on the Cleveland Browns and the Browns have never won a SB. Were you trying to refer to Trent Dilfer and the Ravens???? I don't know how you can evaluate either Clemens or Pennington based on last year with a swiss cheese offensive line and defense that was a sieve. How about we let the season play out and see what we have at QB with an improved team before we go out and cut all the QBs and bring in Kyle Mackey.
Dear Joe Willie, QBs always get too much of the blame, just like they get too much of the credit. I believe the issue is one of instant gratification bred by these video games and Fantasy Football rave parties that are today in vogue. Virtual reality is something my son is trying to sell me. But it is the real thing, and the problems of trying to effect that process, that are endlessly fascinating. Once you figure out the programming gimmics, each game is relegated back to its dusty place on the rack. My son has amassed a pretty tall rack (about 5 feet and growing), all at his own expense I might add, of which most of those slots are rarely vacant. Each year the real game changes as muscle twitch atrophies while the brain gets smarter, and the will buckles down to get tougher. The player pits his more advanced understanding and higher mental toughness against his muscle memory, and fading youth. A fascinating problem in every player. A fascinating problem in every unit. Football is not just three dimensional chess, it operates over time (not just IN time) and thus must deal with the reality of that fourth dimension. Too many variables for that algorithm, did you say...?
The 4th demension could be dementia which is probably effecting your fantasy that the Jets are going to a SB with Chad Pennington at the helm. Real football is played in the trenches and won by great players making great plays with loads of real talent. Throwing the football is a real football skill, being able to do it improves production.
Most expendable: Justin Miller- aint much of a corner was good for kickoffs but Leon can fill in that roll and suprising fact he is actually ok at his possition Bubba Franks- Yes I know he was just brought in but we are so stacked with TE and I think we simply dont need him Elam- I know people thought he was ok but I mean I think the Jet FS battle is heavily overshadowed by qb. Chansi Stucky- I just think he is worthless, I think that Henry fills that roll for him Bryan Thomas- I just see him as an overpaid guy plus I like David Bowens Least expendable Revis- pro bowler corner vastly underrated in the NFL Harris- he is a BEAST, realizing his potential half way through the season probably would have lead in tackles over willis Faneca- expirence, leadership, LSU alum, hall of fame Guard, nough said Jones- If Jones dont work dont matter the qb the offense wont work Jenkins- a first time nose tackle who I think fills in the fiery roll of Vilma, not always positive but still fiery
Can someone explain to me...given more than average league salary at the moment in time because its quite clear that shit is going to (and probably already has) shoot up....how is Bryan Thomas overpaid? I mean given the year he was given the contract, what he did that year, where the cap is heading anyway, the way FAs like him hitting the market are getting paid (Kelsay for like 27 million), and so on...how is he overpaid? Not saying he's good or anything like that...but he's just not overpaid by the NFL standards the past couple seasons. Have you guys seen the contracts handed out to mediocre players the past 2 offseasons? Kelsay...Langston Walker...Antwan Odom...Tully Banta Cain...and I'm pretty sure Thomas got less guaranteed than all of them. If Thomas has a season like '06 again that contracts a bargain. Like...theres so many reasons this guy (or most of the guys listed in this thread) should even be in the top friggin 5 most expendable Jets...especially before training camp even opens: - The 3-4 is rotation heavy. - Thomas plays the run well. - The DE/OLB is a little bit more than just rushing the passer. - Even then, it's not like he's incapable of being a threat as a pass rusher. - He knows the system. - He's in the doghouse and I'd hope he's trying to get out of it. Seriously...like think about this for 2 seconds...is Etienne Boulay less expendable than Thomas? Seriously? If we're all going to armchair GM it over the internetz...at least put more thought than "not a great player, drafted in the first round, just got a "big contract," and I never really liked him" into it. I mean come on...Matt Chatam? One of the billion RBs we have? And for the people with Brandon Moore on their lists....whoa...
Stuckey worthless? How can you say he's more expendable than Brad Smith or Wallace Wright who are nothing more than warm bodies filling roster spots.. neither he or Henry have played a single game yet. Bubba Franks isn't that old yet and he's better than our other TE's, not counting Keller or Baker.. obviously the cs are aware of how many TE we have and brought him in for a reason. I can't agree with Miller or Elam either, it's possible that they're got some potential.. I wouldn't discount them yet.
I think most of us forewent the easy option of choosing 5 guys who are going to be training-camp fodder... Instead we chose 5 guys who are going to see significant time on the field this season, but are not going to contribute much to the team (some may actually hurt the team), and should be replaced/upgraded sooner rather than later.... What fun would this thread be if everyone chose 5 no-name guys who won't make it out of TC as our most expendable?
Yea I think that this thread needs the footnote that the 5 "expendable" have to be starter or spot starter.
I don't disagree with this point, although I do think OG, meaning Faneca, will be hugely important, too. That's why they got him. But yes, given a poor bench, losing your starter will be worse at some positions than others. LT, NT and C are if not the top three all in the top five. I would also add Revis, though, at least on this team, since all the other corners are mediocre at best. As long as he's out there, they can shade a safety to the other side and hope he can cover his man. Without him, Jets are in big trouble.
The Jets are in big trouble at that position even with Revis. If you have a weak linc at CB most Nfl starting Qb;s can exploit it. Especially the good teams.
I was with you until i read this paragraph. I DID watch the Jets last year, and anybody with a brain would understand that when your QB throws a football like a shotput, strikes absolutely no fear in opposing CB/S's, and is a severe injury-proned player....to me, that's the most expendable guy on your roster. Strictly based on ability/talent. One thing that isn't expendable is Penny's football knowledge and leadership....that's why he would serve the team better as a Quarterbacks coach.
Yea but you'd have to buy that those guys won't be contributing and that their contributions will be insignificant wouldn't you? People way oversimplify pro football it seems...I'm not a Chad fan but I still he could be a successful QB in this league...Bryan Thomas had a very good initial season in this system and it's not like he doesn't have the physical skills to succeed...Brandon Moore is the only guy we have left from our very good '04 line and has been a solid player for a while...Justin Miller is a damn good kick returner and still young enough to learn *some* position on D...Chansi Stuckey? Abram Elam and Eric Smith when our S depth is meh and both haven't been terrible when on the field? Are we that loaded to be considering these guys expendable?
Well I didn't list Moore (I think he's our 2nd best lineman... Mangold is on his way to being #2, but he took a minor step back last year due to the absence of ANYTHING at LG, and needs to regain his form from his rookie year before I consider him more than average).... I also didn't list Miller, Stuckey or Smith... However, so long as Chad is on the roster, he will be actively campaigning for the starting job... And as we can all agree he is NOT the QB of the future, I believe the negatives of having Chad on the roster, and as a potential starter, outweigh the positive impact that he can have as a mentor... From watching Elam last year, I can honestly say that more often than not his presence on the field was a net negative for the Jets.... I'd be thrilled if I never saw him in a Jets uniform again.... Thomas isn't paid as highly as everyone seems to believe, but he is paid like a starter, and, if all goes according to plan, he will not be a starter as soon as Gholston is ready to step up.... If I'm going to have a mediocre player come into the game here and there as part of my LB rotation, I want him to be a high-motor guy who can contribute based purely on effort for the plays where he is in the game (think James Reed in our old DT rotation in the 4-3, or David Bowens at both DE and LB last season)... I'm not looking for the 3rd OLB to be lackadaisical and complacent, as Thomas has always seemed (even in his one decent season).... Regardless of your opinion on his ability level, we can all agree Thomas is far from a high-motor, or spark-plug type of player.... Every player I listed (Pennington, Baker, Elam, Thomas and Coleman) I believe could be cut outright without the team suffering... I believe the benefits of getting rid of these players all-together (or at the very least, sitting them side-by-side permanently on the bench) would significantly outweigh the consequences of having to find someone to fill their roles....
