It could be, I guess, but I doubt it. As far as the DL goes, I don't think Bowles scheme is all that different than Ryan's scheme. I think it was very easy to project how Mo would play in that scheme, and in fact Mo not only played as well as he has in the past, but had a career year. How would Mac have looked if he had spent a chunk of the cap space that was avaialable last season, and then MO had a down year? Posters would be screaming about that. In addition, if he had done that, the Jets may not have Carpenter and Gilchrist, or he may not have been able to trade for Marshall. I see a lot of nit-picking going on with Mac. The funny, yet sad thing is, that many posters don't realize that if Mac hadn't done such a great job, they wouldn't be able to "nit pick." There'd have been huge glaring problems and mistakes. I know you're not killing Mac, and think he did a good job. The only way I see the Jets keeping Mo is if Mo agrees to something like $11-$12 million per year with the first year or two's salary guaranteed, and even that probably wouldn't be enough to keep him happy. I think he's a goner. Mac will do the best he can. He'll either tag and trade him for what he can, or he'll let him walk and settle for the 3rd round compensatory pick.
My point wasn't about schematics, but letting good young talent go in general. I liked Vilma back when he was here. A good leader, he was our best cover linebacker. He could've fit in a 3-4, and especially against a pass-happy Patriots offense. Again, I don't really like calling Mo and our D-line 3-4 lineman because they play in so many different fronts and they do so many different things. Williams could prove to be better than Mo, but until I see that happen, then I will hold my breath. Jets don't even have to worry about a Williams contract for a VERY long time. I've seen Mo dominate on a 4 man front against left tackles, right tackles, guards - it doesn't matter he's a match-up nightmare virtually anywhere on the field. This season, he was the 3rd best lineman in the league IMO behind Watt and Aaron Donald.
Bowles scheme is more about winning your match-up and getting into the backfield in terms of being on the D-Line, Rex Ryan's scheme was read and react, eat up blockers and open up for others. Bowles runs more 1 gap schemes, Rex did more 2 gap schemes. So the chances to rush the passer happen more often with Bowles then Rex if you are on the D-Line. The strength of the Jets defense is the D-Line and the Secondary, so it's best to put the D-line in a better situation to succeed and make plays. I knew Wilk was going to get close to 15 sacks this year, he's so damn dominate. To this day, I believe the Jets shouldn't have paid Revis all that cash and instead looked to fine a way to retain Wilk last off-season. Wilk IMO is only going to get better. Jet fans will never be happy with the GM especially in the off-season where moves can be made, fans want the GM to get the players they want. Restructure Brick, cut Cro and maybe look to front-load some of Mo's deal next season, just whatever you do, don't back-load that shit! Cap is increasing as well this off-season. All I know is this dude better not just freaking walk. That would be a HUGE disappointment IMO. A 2 time 2nd team all pro.
I agree with your comments regarding scheme. I would have had no problem if Mac had re-signed Mo and not Revis, but then he would have had to draft or sign another CB. If he had drafted another CB, I think Jets fans would have gone after him with pitchforks. LOL I understand about not wanting to lose young, home-grown talent. I don't like it either. As I've said before, Mo is one of the few players that I wanted the Jets to draft and they actually did. He's a great player. The reality is that he seems to want too much money, and the Jets probably can't afford it. They also need the strength of their team to be in the LB corps and NOT the DL. Changes are necessary. As good as he is, if the Jets can use the money they would have used to re-sign him to keep a couple of other Jets FAs they want to retain and sign an outside FA or two to upgrade the RG, TE, or OLB positions, I will be happy.
See I don't think the strength of the defense HAS to be the linebackers. I think that position needs an overhaul and infused with speed, but look back at the Cardinals last season. Bowles defense the strength was the secondary and the defensive line. In a sense it's similar to the Jets. Some competency would be nice. The defense was so much better when Davis left the lineup for Henderson.
That may be true for the Cardinals for a year or two, but I just don't think (but could be wrong) that a D which uses a 3-4 alignment as its base (even though it uses different formations) will ever be that dominant or consistently successful when their LB corps is the weak link. It also may work fine in the NFC, but we know from experience that it doesn't in the AFC. We will never get past the Pats, Steelers or other top teams until we can consistently pressure the opposing QB and can cover receivers over the middle. No matter how good most DL are, they just don't have the speed that the Jets need to make plays.
Regards to bold: This is why the 4-3 alignment is an alignment that should not be lost. You send 4 to the QB and drop the rest in coverage. We lack the linebacker and if we need another speed rusher. Which could mean the Jets are 2 players away from having a true dominant defense [no matter the scheme]. We need 1 linebacker with the side-line to side-line range and another speed rusher potentially off the bench. I think the Jets have 4 guys that can go after the QB on a snap by snap basis. Bowles will need to find a way to generate pressure with 4 men on a consistent basis. You definitely want personnel on the defensive side on the ball that can allow you to run whatever formation you wish.
Bowles may definitely want that, but it isn't a necessity for me. I'd be perfectly happy if they'd just stick with the 3-4. Too often when you get players with scheme versatility they're jack of all trades masters of none, and you wind up with players that aren't among the tops at their position. Mo is an exception to that. Unfortunately for him, he wants too much money and we have Richardson and Williams who play the same position and have much cheaper contracts.
I prefer running whatever scheme matches up best against the offense. I like the fact that we can be versatile, and I am sure Bowles is as well. That's his calling card, not just running a base 3-4. He WANTS to run other formations. In terms of cash, we will see once he gets his new contract. I still do not believe he wants 15 to 16M a year. Regardless Mo is the best defensive lineman on this team, he is better than Richardson and right now better than Williams. You are simply delaying the inevitable in terms of handing out a big contract. Someone is going to get it, if it's the pot smoking lineman that was speeding or the silent assassin on the field. I personally would go with the latter and trade Richardson. Pay Wilk now, while we don't have a franchise QB that takes up 100M. The cap is increasing. I think Richardson beats Wilk in potential, but I need to see him be trouble free for a new off-seasons before I invest large $$$ Both have low trade values, but Mo could have a lower value because the team has to sign him to a new contract. We won't get close to the same value via trade.
I don't know what Mo was asking for last year but us drafting Leonard Williams (and him playing well) means Mo is leaving. The smart thing to do is to try to extend Sheldon now while we can get a problem child discount. Then we can lock up Snacks / Fitz and trade Mo to a NFC team so we don't see him more than once a year.
I'm fully aware of what Bowles likes to do, that's just not my preference. I see the positives of it, but I also think it hurts in some ways that don't show up in the statistics, but can make the difference between wins and losses. Now maybe Bowles IS that much better at it than Rex, and the Jets will get better players to fill those versatile positions, but we saw how that often didn't work out so well with Rex. Regardless, Bowles is gonna do what he wants to do, and I like what I've seen so far, but there were games when the D looked pretty bad and couldn't get off the field. Mo is the best right now, but in another year, both Richardson and Williams could prove themselves to be better. You like versatility so much, well Richardson was able to play OLB with some degree of success, much better than Coples ever looked. The problem with trading Richardson is that with his off-season problems and down season, his value isn't very high right now, and he doesn't give us any cap relief, and in fact might lead to a cap charge as the rest of his contract would escalate to this season, and the Jets would be responsible for that, not the new team. I think you're wrong about what Mo wants, but we'll see. If Mac decides to trade Richardson, keep Mo, and can fit him under the cap, retain all the other Jets FAs that they want to keep, and still bring in an outside FA or two to help address holes at TE, RB, ILB or OLB, great I'll be happy. OTOH, if he keeps Mo, loses Jets FAs that weaken us at other positions and is unable to sign any outside FAs to help shore up weak positions at RG, RT, TE, RB, ILB and OLB, I won't be happy.
Who was picked up as an undrafted FA in 2012? Snacks? If so, thanks. If not, I have no idea who you're referring to. LOL
Jets shouldn't even think about trading Richardson potentially until his contract year. Not referring to this off-season at all. Jets can worry about Sheldon Richardson in 2 off-seasons. Both Mo and Sheldon have low trade value at this time. You won't get equal value for any of them. Sheldon and Leonard still have to PROVE their long-term worth and none have proved anything at this time. Remember, Richardson also wants to be paid like the highest defensive lineman in the league. If Mo wants to work with the team [which at this time we have no news about the negotiations], then I am resigning Mo now and I will think about Richardson down the road. This off-season is about keeping our own and getting talent via the draft. I think the Jets could get around 30M in cap space and can use that to resign Fitz, Wilk and Powell.
30 million just doesnt go that far my friend Explain how you get 3 players signed with that $ and Ill listen
12M - Wilkerson 5M - Fitz 3M - Powell [5M alternatively to Lamar Miller] 8-10M can go to draft, and FA acquisitions [think special teams] ... maybe the Jets think Lamar Miller is an upgrade over Powell and despite to allocate 2 of the 10M and throw 5M / season at Miller... Snacks is in the equation too ... Jets have very little flexibility, but they have some and that's OK
Fitz essentially getting same salary as '15? lmao He is our premier resign imo so thats 16 guaranteed for 2 years with 8 per right there 12m to Wilkerson - I think you have perfected the art of the lowball. Even if the Jets Franchise tag him for a year thats well down under market rate for him. Prob more like 16 mill to tag him Hmm.. is Lamar Miller younger than Powell? cant see how Powell wouldnt get same Back to my point ....we have much less money available keeping both Fitz and MW. Ones gotta go I think I know who that is plus LWilliams is our future
I'm guessing the reason we haven't been able to sign Mo for the past year is because he wants way more than 12m per.
The Mets did the unexpected and resigned Cespedes. I expect the Jets to follow suit and keep big Mo. I honestly believe Harrison is more "replaceable" and the addition of a decent OLB could change this defense in a bigger way than retaining Harrison. I know they can stop the run, but you need to generate pass rush as well and even with the star studded D-line the pressure wasn't consistent and they did get exploited up the middle at times. Gotta spread that star power around, it can't just be on the Dline. I feel that they will stick with Mo. Harrison will walk, and Richardson moves inside (or is used as trade bait).
