No. I don't think it necessary or that we will be able to by next season. I think that Winters and Shell are serviceable, but both positions could be upgraded fairly easily. I think they will have to wait until 2020, however, unless the Jets sign A.J. Cann, start him at RG and Long at LG, and let Winters be the backup OG.
I agree, but still think the RT position could be upgraded. There could be a couple of RTs in FA who would be upgrades over Shell. There could also be a couple of starting OGs in FA who could be better than Winters or Long. Both are due to make $6.5 million next year, and both could be cut with zero dead money and $6.5 million in cap savings. If Mac drafted an LT with our #1 pick, and then a C in the 3rd round (or 2nd round if he can trade down in the 1st and still get the LT he wants), he could totally remake the OL if he signed two of Cann, Pamphile, Spain and Silatolu, and either Bobby Hart, Cedric Ogbuehi or Ja'Wuan James.
It also applies to the short game, how many times has the quick pass to the WR at the line worked? Everytime I see this stupid play the WR is covered by one guy with another defender nearby covering air. There is no WAY that stupid play can ever work yet he still calls it. Every other team will over-load one side so there is single cover on the other if they attempt that play and the smarter teams will send this receiver in motion towards the overload, reverse course just before the ball is snapped so he's already moving near top speed when he gets the ball and has to beat one guy. Bates play calling is like watching grass grow in winter.
Long is getting only 3 million next year. He'll be back playing guard. Winters will be let go or agree to big restructure.
That's not what Over the Cap says, and they are generally very accurate. The $3 million is Long's base salary. He has a roster bonus of $3.5 million, bringing his total cap hit for next season to $6.5 million. Regardless of his cap figure, you're probably right that he will be back if Mac is still the GM, but is he better than AJ Cann or Kevin Pamphile? If not, and we have a new GM he could be gone. Long has been pretty good this year, but not great. If I'm the GM, I'm signing the best OG I can in FA and then will let Long, Winters and that OG battle it out for the two starting spots. If Long loses, he could be kept as backup OG and C, could be put back at starting C if the Jets don't get a C in the draft, or cut. If Winters loses out, he gets cut.
Shell is a solid starter for us, probably our best lineman. No need to make holes at positions if we don't need to. We need a C and a LT, a good C will boost the play of the guards.
Not sure it's a great use of money to upgrade the RT position where Shell has actually played pretty well and he's only due to make $720k next year. Any top free agent RT providing a huge upgrade is going to cost a ton and to get someone as a slight upgrade is still going to cost more than what Shell is going to make. Can't say I've scouted any of these guys but it may make sense to stick with Shell and spend the money on the rest of the line/pass rush/WR/RB. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/offensive-line/
I know that Shell is our best OL, but that isn't saying much. He's average or slightly above average. I'm not saying that we should seek to upgrade the RT position this year, but I think it needs to be upgraded sooner rather than later. I think it comes down to what is more important: winning or best use of money. The two aren't necessarily diametrically opposed, but they can be. If there are better places to spend the FA $s and we can upgrade other positions that have a greater need of upgrading, awesome. There may not be many positions or needs that the Jets can fill in FA. If the Jets don't clean house, will any FA want to sign here? Edge rusher seems the most likely need that can be filled in FA, but even there, all the better ones could re-sign with their present team or take less money to play elsewhere. They could possibly sign an edge rusher or two, but even if so, how/where will they spend the rest of the money? They can possibly add a WR or two (Adam Humphries and Tyrell Williams or maybe Golden Tate), but there are no #1 WR types available, and even if they sign a WR or two, we're probably not talking big money unless it's Tate. Aside from LeVeon Bell, there will be no topflight RBs available. What RB would you have the Jets sign if he's available? Tevin Coleman? TJ Yeldon? I don't want Bell. Donovan Smith and Cedric Ogbuehi may be the best LT options available in FA. Would you sign either? At C, the best option looks like Matt Paradis, but will he re-sign with the Broncos, or would he want to play for the Jets? Similarly, there will be no topflight TE available, and many of those who will be available are ancient. As you know, the offense is in dire need of upgrading. So how are the Jets supposed to upgrade the offense and where are they supposed to spend their available cap space and improve the team? At least right now, there are around 3 potential FA OGs and 3 potential FA RTs who could be upgrades to our OL. Are the Jets just supposed to keep working on the D and not try to upgrade the offense?
Steelers have 1/3 of their salary invested in their offensive line, it boggles my mind that some jet fans and Mike Mac think that ok oline play is good enough. Shell can be replaced and if the opportunity comes up to replace him you do it. I would definitely try and improve, C, LT and LG, but if a better option at RT comes up that wants to sign with Jets, they should do it.
Not my point. I want an offensive powerhouse, I want Sam to become a superstar so I want to spend/draft/trade whatever it takes to upgrade the offense. I just think Shell is the least of our problems and I'd rather spend the $$ on the rest of the line and playmakers--although we will need to address the pass rush at least once in FA. You build a competent rest of the line and Shell may prove to be a really good RT. The best line works as a unit so, as you know, the C helps the guards who in turn help the tackles and vice versa.
They help Shell out a lot with tight ends and running backs. He is rarely blocking his man 1-on-1. It's okay because he is dirt cheap but if you want to win you need a better right tackle. Then you can actually send that tight end out for a pass or let him block the linebacker at the second level for once
I wouldn't be, but the odds of being able to do that - and fill all the other glaring holes - are prohibitive.
I think that comment - the negative impact that coaching, in this case Bates, - can be applied to all the units. I don't think we have SB talent by any mean, but they aren't as bad as they've looked. Support for this is provided by the three good games they had, proving that there is decent talent overall even in there are also glaring holes, but the coaching, from Bowles on down, particularly Bates, has undermined them. And as of a few games ago, a lot of the players decided to take matters into their own hands, thus creating worse communication and teamwork. The situation screams "FIRE BOWLES NOW!", but the Johnson Boys don't want to admit their idiotic mistake in extending Bowles and Macc after yet another losing season. There is absolutely NOTHING to be gained by keeping them for the rest of the season, except their own egos. Their duty is to put a winning team on the field, and they are failing at that miserably.
I know that you want a powerhouse offense based on your other posts, and that you want to upgrade the offense as much as possible. As I said, I agree that Shell is the least of our problems on the OL, and perhaps would add that he's the least of our problems in general. With the other 4 starters being better, Shell could prove to be a lot better. You get no argument from me there. If the Jets were unable to upgrade any other OL position in FA, but were able to sign a better RT, wouldn't you do it? It would be awesome to have depth as good as Shell, and maybe a better RT makes Winters better. How do you think we upgrade the C position? Matt Paradis? The draft?
