The Editor and Chief of Jets Confidential (The overpriced Rag), Dan Leberfeld is all for Blalock......he just Jinxed us Remember, he wanted Brooks to start overr Chad. In all honesty, it's a good article, I agree with his POV. April 13, 2007 O-Line still needs help When people talk about the Jets needs in the upcoming draft, offensive line isn't discussed that much. But maybe it should be. Let's be honest. The Jets running game was a disappointment last year. Leon Washington had his moments, but overall, this was one of the NFL's most anemic running games. The team is also lucky Chad Pennington didn't get hurt again. He took a lot of hits due to very inconsistent pass protection. The Jets offensive line did improve late in the year, but had an average season at best. The team needs this unit to play better, especially with the acquisition of franchise back Thomas Jones. And if they want to keep their talented quarterback in one piece, last year's uneven pass protection isn't going to cut it in 2007. It looks like the team has a future star in center Nick Mangold. That was quite clear watching him in his first year. He's a good one, and was probably the team's best lineman during his rookie year. That is good and bad. It's good that the Jets have a potentially great center, but it's a little disconcerting when your best player on the line is a rookie. Left guard Pete Kendall had a solid season, but after a decade in the league, he doesn't have the mobility he used to. Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson has a lot of potential, but he gave up ten sacks last year, and was a little bit of a disappointment. Right guard Brandon Moore needs to be more consistent. Right Anthony Clement is a serviceable veteran - a good, not great player. With all this being said, don't be shocked if the Jets pick an offensive lineman fairly high in this draft. They recently had one of the top college OL prospects in for a visit - Texas guard/tackle Justin Blalock. While he mostly played right tackle for the Longhorns, he's under 6-4, so he might be better suited at guard in the NFL. This 330-pounder is the kind of road-grader the Jets could use in their running game. He's also a Tangini kind of player ? a team captain who works hard and is very smart. He's a quick study. So don't be shocked if the Jets give Mr. Blalock some serious consideration when they are on the clock in the first round. Or use one of their two second round picks on an offensive lineman. It's a bigger need than you might think.
I am all for an O-Lineman. granted, I don't follow drafts and don't get too wrapped up in possibilities, but a dominant O-Line can keep your offense on the field, wear down a defense, and put you in prime position to win every game you play in.
where most teams develope their O-line over the years, the Jets seem to be starting the trend of "draft an Olineman that can play now" kind of mentality...and it seems to be working so Im not going to argue with Mangini... Blalock looks like he could seriously bolster this o line, so I think he could be an asset to this team..if a great oline can make Jones/ Washington look like Smith/Sanders...then im all for it
There's never been a dynasty in the NFL that did not feature a great offensive line. That's just the way it works.
That's true, however the Jet's current line is composed of 2 first round picks and 3 free agents. Adding another first rounder to that line at the expense of one of the free agents is likely the single best way to improve the line. Right now the Jet offensive line is among the weaker components of the team as a whole and improving the offensive line would do more to help the Jets than anything other than improving the defensive line.
Yeah, but now we're in the area where guys like Hutchinson are making a crapload of money. Tanginibaum wants to get these guys in young with rookie contracts to get a great line without dishing out all that money.
I think we have 5 1st rnders that were drafted for the D-Line(some are OLB's for our system) DRob, Ellis, Haynes, wadsworth and b thomas are OLB's but drafted as DE's drafting a position doesnt mean jack so lets draft 3 guards the next 3 yrs will we have the best 3 guards in the league? alot of those guys are busts so you cant just go crazy on one position. I am not a scout for the Jets but I am sure they have many minds that think certian players fit the bill(not a position)
You are right, he actually gave up 11. It is not a matter of opinion it is a statistical fact. Also Leberfield is not far off with this. Just think of 2 instances where we could have and probably should have lost Chad for a considerable period of time. The first was a near knee injury disaster when Cotchery mkade his amazing TD catch and run at home against the Pats. The other was when ROOKIE Mario Williams SCHOOLDED DaBrick. DaBrick is only going to get better, but he needs to. The whole line needs too!
I never counted how many sacks D-brick gave up, it didn't seem like double digits to me. I know Schobel & Taylor really took it to him. What I notice about D-brick, he has more problems giving up plays to the inside. D-Brick will improve. He faced some of the better pass-rushers in the NFL last year. IMO, D-Brick faced much better DEs than Marcus McNeil. D-Brick's sophmore year will be interesting.
I agree. Hopefully he is really seiazing the off-season workout proam and adding some muscle and size to his frame. His flexibility and mobility are an asset, his lack of strenght right now is a liability, but at least that is something he can address.
Funny thing 331, I wasn't on the band-wagon to draft D-Brick last year. I wanted Hawk, assuming Mario would be gone. Mcneil scared alot of Gms from a reported cronic back problem. Let's just hope D-Brick improves each season He has the intelligence and work ethic to be on the right track.
I think the Jets would be better off going in a different direction RD 1...Blalock is a good player, but spending 3 first round picks on the Oline in two years is a bit much. We can pickup a Guard in the 2nd or 3rd round. I loved the Brick and Mangold picks, but we need to add 1st round talent to other parts of the team. Having said all of that...I still would be happy with the selection of Blalock...it should guarantee the Jets a top 10 Oline the next 5 years or so. I just feel like we need to add talent in other positions.
