Now that the draft is over, I applaud the FO for taking giant steps in rebuilding the OL, which has been ignored for years and caught up with the team in a big way last year. However, as I look towards the 2006 season, I see one huge gaping hole in this team, and that is the complete lack of a pass rush. Abraham, the only defensive player who consistently put pressure on the QB the past 5 years gone, has not been replaced. So now we have a defense that with Abraham had a mediocre pass rush and without him has . . .. . . .. what? Where is the pressure coming from? The only player capable of double digit sacks is Ellis. But he will now draw the double teams that Abraham drew and does not have the speed or talent to beat the double teams. Who else is there? Thomas? The man who has 4 sacks in his 4 year career? Robertson? No Is there an edge rusher among the LBs? It doesn't appear so. Barton and Vilma are fast, but not pass rushers. Hobson isn't either. Will the Jets blitz like crazy? I sit here right now and think that this is going to be a very tough and long year for the Jets' pass defense.
Who cares about high priced pass rushers- you win with TEAM PLAYERS. Guys who bring their lunch pail to work every day. Why would I want a pass rushing LB like Manny Lawson who runs a 4.4 when I can have Anthony Schlegal, who ran a 4.9, but is a very HIGH CHARACTER GUY. He just puts on his hard hat and goes to work... Lawson will be in jail in a year.
The Jets could not have drafted Lawson. He went after #4 and before # 29. What is your point on Lawson?
I actually have high hopes for Bryan Thomas. He will be playing the OLB position this year and I think he could benefit from the change of position and scheme. Hopefully Mangini sees him as a Willie McGinest type of guy.
lawson isn't a Character guy-- Schlegal is-- he is so meat and potatoes-- he is such a Manging guy. He is hard nosed, and he is a real football player. lawson is all glitz and glamor. He's going to be a locker room cancer.
To answer your question, they will do it the same way as the 1998 Jets. They will vary their fronts to create mismatches and confusion. It was effective enough in '98 with Anthony Pleasant,Rick Lyle,Bobby hamilton with blitzes from Bryan Cox, Mo Lewis and Chad Cascadden. None were pure pass rushers, but they got the job done.
It's great to get high character guys, but you need guys who can get the passer too. Hobson, Schlegal, Vilma, Barton, and Thomas are great linebackers, but lets face it at least Hobson and Schlegal r good run stuffers but not rushers, unless they move Vilma to OLB we will need to find a pass rusher or a playmaker
If the CS is banking on Thomas to finally emerge in his fifth season, I think they and Jet fans will be sorely disappointed. I have more confidence that Pennington will be his old self then a "never was" player like Thomas becomes something else after four years. After four years, you are what you are and Thomas is a below average DE who plays the run OK and averages 1 sack a season.
I am being so sarcastic it is not even funny. Sorry man- I am very upset that with this great class of LB's we didn't add one pass rusher.
Im also severly dissapointed we decided to neglect the pass rush. I think Thomas is a marginal starter, but having to deal with the idea of a pass rush coming from Hobson or Chatham is just unbearable
Thanks for the clip--- I may just like this guy. That was a really nice throw. Certainly 63 yards-- not too much loft. That and the speed he showed certainly answers any questions about him from a physical standpoint. Still mad about the 2 third, and the 5th round picks though!
TOTALLY JOKING!! I think we are all putting WAY too much emphasis on character-- I don't want Marcus Vick or TO, but not everyone has to save cats from burning buildings either-- the average NFL player who doesn't get into major trouble will be more than fine in regards to character. Assuming a player is not a drug user, or wife beater, I would not want to sacrafice athleticism for character.
Yeah Eric Smith seems like a funky pick, but I just got done watching a Anthony Schlegel video and he is the spittin image of Tedy Bruschi...he really looked like a player. By the way thanks for the props on the find...
We didn't pick up a guy to replace Abe's presense. That's something I have been going on and on about all day. Fortunately, we picked up a guy to spell DRob at NT. It's not going to be pretty, but it's all we have right now. Shlereth is getting people a bit too excited. Yeah, a meat and potatoes guy. Problem is, he is a north/south guy. Vilma is the only LB we have that can go coast to coast. Hobson and Barton will help, and hopefully have enough athleticism to create pressure. We can only hope Cox helps that corps develop in the 3-4. Our front 3 aren't going to create a lot of pressure in the backfield. Hopefully they are athletic enough to garner the double teams we need them to take so that the LBs can do their jobs.
Mo Lewis was a very talented pass rusher and Cox had some skills as well. In the current scheme, I think Thomas might have a chance to do some things in a 3-4 and Vilma might move outside as well. I think it will be: Barton/Vilma outside and Hobson/Kassell inside.
Well, help me out brother!! I didn't really like the Clemons pick to much until I saw your video... can you point me in the right direction on the Schlegal video please? I watched him play a few times as a PSU grad- but I certainly wasn't focusing on him. Any more info will hopefully help me understand that horrible reach!
Sorry didn't catch that, but i agree we do need some playmakers, but face it we're rebuilding and we just made our o-line very near elite, those guys will be great, look at the pats they didn't have one great player and i think they did fine, things work out, don't worry
I feel better after watching that Clemons film.... he actually looked pretty nice. Watch it if you haven't already. I now have no probs with the first 3 picks, and look forward to the Skins second rounder next year.
This thread gets an A++ just for the use of the word "Whee". My only gripe is that it's, "WEEEEEE!" Get it right next time, JWWS. Hehehe.
