Not a chance that happens. This is really betts first decent yr, and I'm really unimpressed with him. The jets really aren't in that big of a need for a RB anyway. Vilma is the leader of the Jets defense. Vilma and Rhodes are our best defensive playmakers, it won't happen.
We don't play a 4/3 and we don't have big bodies in front of him, he has never been a dominating force even when we had that in 04, he was very good not dominating. Dominating is a guy who stops teams who is game planed against on every play. Vilma is a guy who can be run right at and taken out. Again if we played a 4/3 and wanted a middle linebacker to go sideline to sideline and make plays he's real good, but that's not what we do or want our LB to do.
Everybody is hung up on this deal because Betts is included. Even if Betts wasn't included, Washington would be giving us the value of the 18th pick for Vilma. That's damn good value. You definitely wouldn't get a top 10 pick for him in this draft. A pick in the teens is about right. If you want to assume Betts carries 3rd round pick value, then that means they're valuing Vilma equivalent to the 14th pick. How can people scream about value like that for a MLB? Especially one that doesn't fit the current scheme well.
How about Portis and the 6 for Vilma and the 25? Tailback is a low longevity position whereas linebacker is a long one. They're the same age but Vilma should be around and productive for 8 more years and Portis for 4.
Honestly, I've never seen any signs in Vilma that would indicate that he can completely take over a game. Like winston said, he's a nice player, but teams will not gameplan against him, since taking him out is easy. Run dives right at the guy with the center chipping off onto him and it's like he's inactive. He's not a ferocious hitter and I honestly can't see him blowing up plays behind the line. He'll get his tackle numbers and a pick or two, but I could never see the Ray Lewis comparison.
First and foremost, if the FO believes that ANY player cannot be traded, then we are doomed. I really like Vilma and I would be perfectly content for him to be on this team for many years to come. However, if a trade comes along that the front office believes makes the team better, then you do it. I would be equally satisfied if we made the trade. It POTENTIALLY solves a major deficiency at RB (I live outside DC and Betts has been showing flashes for a while before bursting out last season) and puts the front office (that did well in last year's draft ) in a position to get a potentially great player. We also need to keep in mind the qualities Tangini looks for in players: smart, tough and flexible. Vilma, without question, meets the first two, but may not have the flexibility this coaching staff wants. I have confidence that this FO will make the right decision. If it means Vilma stays, great. If it means he goes, that is OK too. Our last regime fell in love with players and was unable to see the forest through the trees. This one carries a chain saw and will do whatever is necessary to make the team better. DbJ
if you get rid of vilma and get that quote unquote good NT then who we gonna have play middle linebacker. so in essence you give up one good thing for another makes no sense we would still be lacking
IF this trade were to go down, there is not a doubt in my mind that the jets would trade down from the #6 spot to about #17 (Jax) & also get a second round pick (#49 overall), and a couple second day picks according to the draft value chart. Then, with the #17 pick, the Jets could take Okoye or Carriker, both may still be available; and we could probably get a ransom for #6 because Quinn or Adrian Peters may still be available. With all that said, I don't see it happening, at all.
Alan Branch does not fit the 3-4 defense, IMO. He is too tall to be a NT in it. In the 3-4 you want a shorter (6'2"-6'4") NT how can get underneath the O-lineman for leverage. Branch is 6'6" I believe. If he was faster, and leaner, I could see him being a DE in the 3-4. But all-in-all, I do not see the Jets drafting him even if they have the opportunity.
Branch played at 6'6" and 330 lbs at the age of 21 last year. Realistically he's going to be 6'6" and about 340-345 lbs as his matured playing weight. That's the kind of player who could easily tie up two offensive linemen in a 3-4 without giving up too much leverage to hold the line of scrimmage. I agree that you'd prefer a shorter guy in the 3-4, but when you have that kind of physical presence it just isn't going to matter a lot. Players are getting a lot bigger over the last decade. Many of the guards in the league are now 6'3" and taller, which is where tackles were a decade ago. That's one of the reasons that 6'3" and 6'4" NT's are now beginning to see the field and excel. The bowling ball NT's that were in vogue until recently have some deficiencies in today's game. They don't block internal passing lanes very well and the outlet up the middle is in constant use in the NFL these days. Look at some of the players who played the nose last year: Ted Washington is 6'5", Jamaal Williams is 6'3" as is Jason Ferguson. All of those guys are 30 or older. When they were Branch's age NFL teams wanted 6'0" tall players at the nose to deal with all the 6'1" guards and centers in the league. I'll guarantee you that by the time Alan Branch is 30 there will be a 6'6" tall starting NT in the NFL even if it's not Branch himself.
Do it and don't look back. Vilma isn't a great fit for the 3-4. He did a nice job last year, but you can replace him. Hell, the Skins 2nd round pick could potentially bring us a player to do what Vilma did if not more. At the 6 pick, you're looking at Branch, Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn, JaMarcus Russell, or Jamaal Anderson, with Adrian Peterson and Levi Brown entering the list. Hopefully Quinn and Russell go 1-2, and then we can get Branch, Johnson, Thomas, or Anderson, in which case, we made a hell of a deal.
What about the 6 straight-up for Vilma? That's what I was debating with some Skins fans at work yesterday.
Not sure if you saw Branch's recent Sportscenter piece, but he is in the process of slimming down for the combine, not getting bigger. In his own words in the interview he said he played at 336 and (from what I remember) he was trying to get down to the low 320s by the combine. Seems to me that he is more interested in playing DT in a 4-3 where he can get after the QB than bulking up and being a space-eater in the 3-4.
