The best and quickest way to build a winning program is your defense. Building a strong defense will allow Clemens time to mature as an NFL winning QB. Today we have 3 potential Pro Bowl starters in Rhodes,Revis and Harris. Add another playmaking LB and a strong NT and you have the makings of a Championship defense. The offense will need several more players before they are a capable unit. Right now the offense is in neeed of 4 OL men and a pass catching FB and a big time WR. You don't get these kind of players in one seasaon either it will take a year or two to build up the offense. The defense for the Jets could come together this off season with a new DC and the positions filled above with quality players. Mangini will be on the hot seat in 2008 along with Tannenbaum. You win championships with your defense.
I think we may be closer than most people think on defense. Our secondary was good down the stretch and we were better against the run. You're right, add a nose tackle and a linebacker might be all we need. We're actually set at WR. Coles/Cotchery is fine, I suppose we can find a better 3 receiver and downgrade Brad Smith to a 4th receiver/gadget player. But you want to make a splash...go out and sign Berrian! Did the Pats stop at Welker and Moss? No they went out and got Donte Stallworth. Jones/Washington are fine at RB. I think Pennington or Clemens would both be fine behind a decent line...but that's where our biggest problem lies. Outside of Mangold, the entire line is suspect. That'll take more than 1 offseason to fix. I think we have a chance to be really good in 2 years, next year will probably be 8-8
We will ne a fringe playoff team next year. Also, the way to win championships is by having a great offense, and good defense, a couple of exceptions notwithstanding.
I agree. I think the next element we need to bring to our defense is getting a PASS RUSH! The Jets should go after Vernon Gholston in the draft and not look back. We still need some help stopping the run and we also need a player to create some pass rush so that we can create turnovers again.
bingo, a good pass rush = a better secondary. And our secondary is pretty good already without any sort of pass rush.
In our case, go one step further... a good NT (who demands double coverage) + a good pass rusher = a much better secondary and a MUCH better overall defense. Get me a good NT and a pass-rushing DE and I'm down with that. If you have to trade Vilma to get that done, do it, otherwise keep him for depth. Move Robertson back to the left where he belongs. He's been okay but he's too small and just not a natural NT, IMO. Now I'm done with the defense, unless a good corner pops up in later rounds of the draft.
A pass rushing DE is not necessarily a good fit in the 3-4. John Abraham would not be a DE in a 3-4, he would be an OLB. We need a pass rushing OLB. Actually, we need 2 upgrades at OLB.
This is why I rarely provide comment on linesmen, because my opinion is shit. No, all seriousness aside, why do you feel we need two upgrades at OLB?
The DL must be either priority 1 or 1a this off-season. A good DL improves the run defense, it allows the pass-rushers to do their job, which in turn will improve the secondary. Adding ATLEAST one big, strong body on the DL is an absolute must this off-season.
OLB must be a dynamic position in the 3-4. Merriman, D. Ware, J. Harrison, Vrabel, etc... Hobson and Thomas provide none of the things these players do. Thomas sorta did in '06, but that was his one good year. Hobson is slow and blockable. I've ranted extensively about him in a few other threads. He is the weak link in our D. Maybe we don't NEED two upgrades, but I certainly think Hobson must be replaced. Maybe we can get by with Thomas. I wouldn't mind replacing him, either.
Why do we need 4 OL? I think D'Brick is doing a decent job, NOT GREAT but better than Clements, but with the suck ass at left guard it's kinda hard to take on the INSIDE and OUTSIDE rusher at the same time because your compensating for the lack of talent to your right, not speaking of Mangold. Our LG situation is so bad I can't even think of his name. Anywho, with a FORMIDABLE left guard, I.E. Faneca and a good RT we'll have a better o line. I'd have to say we are 2 - 3 linemen away from being a pretty decent OL. I also believe, that we need OL depth, JUST IN CASE Mangold, goes down, someone who can come in and play either guard or center position. Our D is in need of a pass rushing OLB, a road grader at NT, DE, and someone to compliment Revis, then we'll be set, I HONESTLY believe with 27m in cap space we can handle that in this upcoming FA period AND the draft. Oh, plus I think we go after Anderson as a back - up QB as well.
Thomas can be effective with a compliment across the formation from him, he's Shawn Phillips, not Merrimen..........
