I decided Jenkins over Feneca... they both will greatly improve their respected side of the ball... but I feel Jenkins will improve everyone on the D more than Feneca improving everyone on O. When I first heard about the Jenkins trade I was sooooo happy he's a great player.
Little John Flowers. Or maybe Andre Woolfolk. Jenkins will be the most important addition if he stays healthy.
I love all the pick ups but it has to Faneca come on. He is a seven time browler and it was our worst position, there is no chance---i love them all but Faneca for sure
Free Agents are signed, Draft Picks are selected, so the closest thing to a "pick-up" are the unrestricted free agents that are picked up after the draft, so I second the nomination....Woodhead. This is the kind of guy that always emerges on a championship contending team--tough, overlooked, gym rat guy with super speed. Maybe he's our Phil McConkey. Obviously, I hope this isn't true...really need Jenkins, Pace, Faneca, Gholston, and Keller to live up to the hype...I'm sure they will and Woodhead will emerge as a great sidebar.
Faneca, without a doubt.... You can't consider a rookie for something like this before he even steps on the field, so Gholston and Keller are out... Jenkins will be adjusting to a new position, so, although he should be a huge addition, it's not a guarantee... Pace had one big year... We have to cross our fingers he continues to play on that level here, but again, it is not a guarantee... Woody shouldn't even be on the list... Assuming D'Brickashaw takes a step forward, RT will still be the weak spot on our OL this year, and we have no idea if Woody will be any good there, or if he will last all 16 games... Faneca is proven at his position, will be playing between two young players who need a veteran presence in order to take a step forward, and will be improving what was the team's weakest position in 2007...
I am less concerned with Jenkins' ability to adjust to his position than I am with his ability to stay focused, I think that is the x-factor. He's a smart guy, if I were to choose from any of the available DTs that were traded for/signed this offseason I think I would choose him again. Any DT that scores better on his Wonderlic than our Rhodes-scholar runner-up has something going on upstairs.
Ferg was decent. He was strong but a little undersized. When you think of Jenkins, think of Ferg with better skills, size and strength.
MobiusOne, I agree with your post. This question has more to do with our hopes and fears than it does with reality. I would love to take Jenkins at his word -- the most impressive thing he said for me when he first become a NYJ was "I have a reputation of not moving." If he is able to do that consistently, boy, would I love that to be true, then this defensive line will experience a revelation. The defensive ends will discover a whole new lease on life. Their performance will be enhanced tremendously because those double and triple teams that try mightily but ineffectually to move that immovable object on the NYJ owned line of scrimmage will free them up to win their one-on-contests. The opponents' offensive line will be stymied by our defensive line and our linebackers will be free to kill the RBs and stomp the quarterback. Faneca can just stablize the whole line if Woody can hold his own on the right side. Our RG is not bad but he had little help last year because the RT was a revolving door almost as bad as the LG was the doorman for the DL to pass through with impunity. Also, they will be attacking the line of scrimmage, not trying to catch and hold out the DL. If Faneca can lead them on this attack, then these RBs that we have will make every inch the OL gets them go for yards at a time. We can gash the defense badly with these RBs. TJ can slash them, LW can stun them, Chatman can run through them, and Richardson can flatten them. If Faneca and company can just beat the DL somewhat at first, the RBs can overwhelm them and then Faneca and company can decimate the DL better and better. The OL and the RBs can provide that one-two punch that can snowball the demise of the defense. That's what I'm hoping.
With camp underway, does anyones opinion change? I have not heard much about Faneca but plenty on Jenk.
Pulling out this thread from over a month ago. Even though its only 1 game, I'd have to say Jenkins & Pace looked to be significant difference makers. No, I didnt forget about Favre,.......it just seems like Jenkins is clearly making certain players on the defense much better (Barton, Harris, Ellis). It looked like 3 different guys were wearing #97 at the same time yesterday.
