When I think of positions of need, I think of positions that it would be wise to spend a top pick on. In the case of this upcoming offseason... looking at what positions the Jets need real help in in order to make the next step next year... I don't think CB is one of them. All year our secondary has been mostly solid. We've gotten burned at times, but even the best secondaries get beat occassionally. With four picks on day one next year, I'd say the top needs of this team are: DL, OL, HB, FB. The Patriot game showed that above all else, this team needs size, strength, and toughness. A HB by committee approach would work on this team, and 1/2 of that bill has already been fit by Leon Washington... he provides the burst of speed and the third down scat back type of RB. We also need a guy who runs similar to Brandon Jacobs or Larry Johnson... just a pure nasty streak who makes the linebackers pay for even thinking about trying to tackle him. For FB, we saw that BJ Askew didn't work this year... and Hodgins isn't really that good... still, our running game seemed to do better with Hodgins in there because of the extra blocker. If we can get a pure blocking fullback, that would be of great benefit to our HBs AND to Chad Pennington. We need all the extra blocking we can get, and we saw this year that FB really doesn't factor into the attack plan all that much, so why not get some huge FB who can truck people and hold the fort when an OL misses an assignment? We made a nice start on the OL by drafting Ferguson and Mangold, but it's not enough. The only other solid lineman we have is Kendall, but he's getting old fast, and we need to groom a replacement for him and not get caught with our pants down when his body finally wears down. We don't want Kendall turning into another Jason Fabini. Moore sucks... he's ok because of his low salary cap number... but if we ever want a dominant OL, he won't be a part of it. Anthony Clement did a nice job this year when Adrian Jones couldn't step up to the plate, but he is the offensive version of Kimo... quite simply a hold the fort player. Finally on the DL, Robertson and Ellis are a good start to a 3-4 DL, but we need some massive tank in there. Robertson may weigh 330 lbs, but he doesn't play like it. He is more like an oversized DE in my head than a pure NT. If we could get some massive space eating NT and move Robertson to Kimo's spot, I think our defense would improve greatly. Robertson had a pretty solid year, and I think it would be even more beneficial to move him outside. Too often he gets blown off the line at the point of attack on running plays. He would be a load at DE for Gs and Ts to cover. It seems that Mangini gets the best out of his CBs regardless of their talent level... the fact that we did so well this year with Drew Coleman and Hank Poteat getting significant playing time this year is impressive. This is how New England has been too, and we all know about their influence on our defensive system. It wouldn't hurt to add another CB to the group, but it really isn't a position of need. This is something we can wait until day two before making a selection on, or even bringing in a guy from FA. If we could acquire Asante Samuel, then awesome, if not, no big deal. Our DBs will be fine no matter what we go into next season with.
well if Barrett goes then we obviously need to bring someone in. not make a huge splash, but we need 1 more solid CB since we couldnt figure who to start besides dyson
xx there are a few things we need to appreciate with the draft and one of them is that you generally do NOT take a FB on day one. there are a few positions where a day one pick is off limits, kicker, punter, FB, and even OG are the main examples. i think the jets will target these positions for day one - RB, DL/LB, WR. day 2 gives you flexibility to pick amost anywhere but i would imagine CB and OL would be heavily looked at. with some cap space the jets are in a sweet spot this offseason. FA can help take loads of pressure off the draft and allow the team to really get there guys. jil
I agree that FB is not a day one pick... I'm just saying that the Jets should place a heavy emphasis on FB, and if the Jets see a Lorenzo Neal type of FB sitting there and know he is not going to survive day one... I'd make the splash. Look what it's doing for Tomlinson.
i think we all agree here.. just say no to brian lenord in the 2nd ad 3rd rds. maybe the 4th but not a 1st day pick.. im not even sure why we need draft a fb they come a dime a dozen
Why do you only look to the draft when it comes to addressing our needs. My thoughts are to find a CB in FA instead of the draft. I disagree completely that CB isn't a need. We need 2 good corners, and I'm not ready to sign Hank Poteat to a 4 year deal. This year's team had unimpressive 16 ints this year...the only playoff teams doing worst then us are INDY (no shock there) and KC. I do agree that I don't feel like we should address CB with an early draft pick. We should use FA to acquire a good veteren corner. That way we don't expect some rookie corner to step right in a be a contributor, b/c usually that isn't the case high pick or not. I think the fact that we had to try Drew Coleman and Hank Poteat should be a reason in itself that we need help at that position. Drew wasn't spectacular and we got pretty lucky with Journeyman Hank but do I want him starting for us next year...no, although he's certainly earned a spot on our roster. All the concerns you have are valid ones, but lets be honest, FB doesn't play a huge role so it shouldn't be a priority regardless if you do/don't like askew. I'm sure we can find a bruiser later in the draft since FB is position people don't spend high picks on. As for JUST the draft, I feel we do need to spend a high pick on the best possible DL, pressure LB, and G that we can get our hands on, so in that regard I feel the same was as you do. Still, FA will be important for us as we try to address or needs and take the next step as a franchise.
i agree you need atleast atleast3 good cbs in this league. nickel cb is even harder to play than playing outside.
The reason the Jets need a CB is that Dyson is injury prone and Barrett is starting to get up there in years and was injured most of the year with small nagging injuries. Barrett minus a step is no longer an NFL caliber defensive back.
I would be shocked we keep barrett with the $$$ he's making. If he doesn't restructure he's gone and good riddance....he has good ball skills if he's in position to make a play....but his lack of speed and acceleration will only continue to hinder him in the future. If we could combine barrett and miller we'd have one helluva CB. I'll continue to hope that we can get Samuel or any other high end corner in FA.
Barrett defends the deep ball better than anybody but Dyson and he's close to Dyson. If you put him on a fast big receiver he gets burned but then again that's true of everybody but Dyson.
Hah, is that really a good thing that Barrett is our 2nd best CB?:breakdance: I actually think barrett does well against bigger/slower/physical wr's and struggles against fast twitch guys that who try to get you off balance with double-moves and speed instead of just trying to out-muscle you to the ball. Guess its irrelevent, since we still need another cb either way you look at barrett, he just isn't the answer at cb we need.
There is no way that I take a FB over CB if we are talking draft order. As we saw this year, the #2 spot was constantly in flux and I don't view Poteat as the long-term solution, though he will provide quality depth, possibly as a NB, until Miller figures out which way is up...
Why can't you take an OG on day 1? And why on Earth would the Jets waste a first day pick on a WR when they have one of the best tandems in the league and WAY too many other needs? Is there any way that Alan Branch slips to our spot? If so, I would take him and plug him into the middle of the D-line, and then shift D-Rob to end along with Ellis, which would be a very good defensive line. If not, I would look for a DE/OLB hybrid like LaMarr Woodley or a right tackle. I don't think cornerback is our most pressing need, but it most certainly is a big need. I would rank the needs: DT RT RB LB CB
Alan Branch is not going to happen. Woodley still seems possible. It would be nice to have a Terrell Suggs terror in our LB Core. Still the key for me is having an answer to improving our Dline. We have to make adjustment on the Line so that has to be addressed in FA or with a Day 1 pick as well.
I didn't realize Ellis was going to be 30 going into camp next year. Time to start grooming his understudy as well....
My ideal draft order would be: 1) A top-shelf, game-changing DE. Get in the QB's face in the base D without having to blitz in order to disrupt. I would even be happy if we had to package picks to move up in order to get the right guy. 2a) Running Back. Easy decision. 2b) Guard. You can get a top-5 guard with a late 2nd round pick; and Pete Kendall is very old and not long for the NFL world. 3) Tight End. A big, tall target with the speed to be a downfield threat. You can get good value in the 3rd for a TE. I'm tired of waiting on Baker. 4) Fullback. Good value here as well, for a position usually ignored in early rounds. Nasty blocker with decent hands. From round 5 on, draft for depth, hopefully linemen on both sides. And as for cornerback, get a FA (yes, I would love to see Samuel in green.)
Actually no, a good FB is hard to come by. You can get a mediocre FB. But if you want to see what a good blocking FB does for your run game take a look at SD or Seattle. If there is a good FB on the table, don't see any reason not to take him. But there are positions I would definitely address before FB, like RT, OG, NT, OLB/DE. It all depends on what happens during FA though.
My offseason dream... Steal Samuel from the Pats. Sign Randy Moss. Draft the best LG or RT available. Replace Asskew at FB with a first day pick. Get a true NT in rounds 2 or 3. Look to steal a SS in the mid rounds. Take a look at a basketball player on day 2 for TE potential.
