I thing we would have done better with Herm as coach in one area, the draft. We would probably be looking at the #1 pick instead of #25.
I'm actually gland that we didn't trade for Bush as it probably worked out better for both franchises in the end. However, to say that Leon is better than Bush is Jets homerism at its finest (can't complain...I do it too). If anyone watched the playoffs last year they will understand just how dynamic Bush really is. Am I the only one that saw those two long-ass runs he had against Philidelphia. Not to mention the one he had against the Bears. I actually think having Duece McCalister is what lost them the game against the Bears. Everytime Bush touched the ball it seemed like he was on the brink of a big run. Duece wasn't really doing much that game, but I think Payton kept on going with him because of experience...not to mention Chicago's ability to seemingly strip the ball at will. I think Bush will have a breakout season next year and will really show his talent. Like I said before though, I'm perfectly happy with DBrick and Mangold holding it down on the line. New Orleans was asking for way too much to move up just two spots.
Without Duece, there are no holes for Bush to run, it's as simple as that. Chicago/Philly had to run a defense that could try to cover both styles of running and they got bit in the ass for it. That's why a 2-back tandem is so popular these days. THat being said, Bush is a gamebreaking version of Leon, and if he gets by the front 7 there's at least a 50% chance he takes it to the house. He's also basically Ted Ginn Jr. with a little more size at the WR position. He's going to be huge for the Saints, but they need to keep a power back tandem going with him or else he'll get swallowed up at the line as defenses gameplan towards him being the only threat at RB.
The reason McNeill fell was because of chronic back issues that are still unresolved--they just didn't happen to show up last season. I know he started all 16 games last season, but for all he know, he might miss 10 next season.
I can guarantee you everyone who posted in this thread thinks that Bush is a lot better than Leon. However, Leon is the better value compared to where he was picked. We are pretty much all in agreement that it was better for the jets to get brick and mangold rather than trade our entire draft for bush.
He also walked onto one of the best lines in the league. Who knows how he would've done walking onto one of the worst (ours).
2 1st and a 3rd is not a bad deal considering the type of prospect many considered Bush was coming into draft. McNeill was considered at best the 3rd best OT prospect coming out. In reality, if we did make the trade more than likely we would have jumped on Winston Justice early in the 2nd round. Brick and Justice were considered 1 and 1A respectively. Justice was physically was more gifted then Brick. He was projected to go in the top 15 but slid completely out of the 1st round due to character questions. He didn't get to play this past season because he was behind a Pro-Bowler but I believe he would have done a fine job for us at LT. The big drawback would be not having Mangold. There simply wasn't another center beyond pick 97 that could have helped us. But much like we traded for Barlow after the draft to fill a need, I'm sure the FO would have found a way to address the center position somehow. Like I told many before the draft last year, I really want Bush but if we land Brick and Mangold that's not a bad consolation prize.
