2008 Jets State of the Union Part 3: The Woe Line
The Woe Line
To me, this offensive line and one particular position are the crux of this free agency period. In 2007, the line was bad … far worse than what we saw in 2006, which wasn’t any prize either. Unable to consistently create running lanes for their backs, the Jets also struggled keeping their QB upright, allowing for Chad and Kellen to get sacked on 9.3 percent of passing plays. Good enough for 30th (out of 32) in the league.
So how did we come to such a lowly state?
Maybe this is unfiar, but my answer is twofold, complacency and pride. Pride because the Jets thought that they didn’t need Pete Kendall (here’s the key) to be competitive. Complancency because the front office thought that even if they were to lose Kendall, they had sufficient fill-ins already on their roster. Couple that with the re-signing of Anthony Clement, a player the Jets didn’t sign before free agency. Clement tested the free agent market with no nibbles, but then re-signed with the Jets. Leading up to the 2007 Draft, Tannenbaum went out of his way to pat himself on the back since they were returning “21 of 22 starters from 2006.” Make that number 20 as of September 2007, and please note that those two non-returning players both went to the postseason while the Jets sat home … not fair I know, but I’m just sayin’.
This is just a bellweather, but here’s a quick look at one of the biggest differences on this offensive line and the sacks that they allowed in 2006 versus 2007. I tried my best to compile all the players who played a particular position into their sack totals … let me know if you have something different.
As you might notice, play was down across the whole line, but the most noticeable difference was at the Left Guard spot. And how many sacks did Kendall let up this year as a full-time starter in Washington you ask? Three.
I had alluded to the thought that some of D’Brickashaw’s troubles this year might be traced to who was playing on his right shoulder, and how a good guard could correct that. So … how much is that $1 million for a Kendall pay raise worth now in retrospect? I’m not saying the Kendall is or was the answer forever and ever, but his presence would surely have helped this unit in 2007.
Without Kendall, D’Brick was stuck often facing the team’s best pass rusher. Some games he had success (remember the first Miami game?) while there were others in which he struggled. Let’s face it, D’Brick is never going to be Orlando Pace or Jonathan Ogden, but he’s a solid player, but having someone like Adrien Clarke set up next to him isn’t doing him any favors. Now done with year two, the Jets investment of their 2006 4th pick has made it clear that he needs help. With two seasons with high double-digit sacks, the Jets would be wise to protect this investment with a solid starter to play left guard as opposed to their fly by night model of this past year.
Should the Jets invest in a solid starter at left guard I think that you could see D’Brickashaw’s sack totals and overall play vastly improve in year three. I don’t know what the future holds for guys like Clint Oldenburg, Robert Turner or even Jacob Bender … I think that there is a guy in there who can start, but the Jets need to be realistic about their progress when the draft comes around because there are three tackles right now on Mel Kiper’s Big Board in the top ten.
More to come tomorrow…
[Part 1: Darkest Before the Dawn]
[Part 2: The QB Quandry]
21 Responses to 2008 Jets State of the Union Part 3: The Woe Line
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Nikolas says:
Nice analysis, concise and precise ! By the way I think that- if not everyone- the most of us agree by now that the OL was the problem for the offense. However, the FO coming draft day will face a problem. Do you draft,with the 6th pick, an OT like Jake Long or Ryan Clady or a DE/OLB Chris Long, Vernon Gholston I(if available)?
Do you go with a rook in the OL or is it better to have the rook on defense?
Personally I think we should address the OL in FA, because on defense with the 6th pick we can draft a future defensive pro-bowler. Whether it is Long or Gholston. Then try to find another lineman in the second round.By the way Tennenbaum announced today that Chad is part of the team’s plans. He is going nowhere!! YES!!
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The Ed(itor) says:
As much as I would like to see the JETS draft McFadden, RB Arkansas, we need help up front. I saw somewhere that Dallas has two first round picks and someone was proposing the JETS trade down to get get more picks. I think Ray Rice from Rutgers could be a good choice for the JETS in round 2. That way we could take an OT or OG plus a DE in round one. Any thoughts??
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Nelson17 says:
I like that thought, we don’t need a player, we need a couple good players. But if we had 2 picks in the 1st round one needs to be a OL and the other needs to be a DE doesn’t matter the order just pick the best players available. I would like to get Jeff Otah or Sam Baker and Calais Campbell or Derrick Harvey. Another player I would love to get and put in the slot in Early Doucet.
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KevT says:
If you notice how many guards were acquired last summer to other playoff caliber teams, you’ll see it is part of a bigger trend — Dallas (Leonard Davis), Browns (Eric Steinbach). If used to be that left tackles were the standout lineman on the OL that you paid the bucks while everyone else was interchangeable. That might be changing if you factor in changes in blocking schemes, blitzing schemes, etc.
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Pete says:
I agree we need to address O-line in FA. Although I do not want to break the bank for Alan Faneca.
Note to Ed(itor): If Ray Rice comes out I do not think he’d last til round 2.
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I otally agree. The offensive line is the problem, not their running backs. And yes to KevT; Dallas, Buffalo and the Browns spent serious coin last year for guard, because those teams know that a great guard (like Steve Hutchinson on Minnesota) is worth their considerable weight to that team’s running game.
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subwayfare says:
Losing Pete Kendall over a million bucks was definitely an error I think the FO would acknowledge at this point. However, it seems as though many people are attributing the entire offense’s shortcomings and the failure to return to the playoffs to the absence of one offensive lineman. Somehow I don’t think the Patriots would give up on the season if Logan Mankins were lost in training camp. If your team is that much of a house of cards you have no business even saying the word playoffs.
The Jets need as much of an upgrade in talent as they can reasonably afford across the board. The more good players they have, the less likely they are to crumble with the loss of one or two. Better players make for better internal competition, which makes for a better overall team. Again, see New England. But rebuilding a team – and that’s what the Jets are doing whether anyone is willing to say the word or not – takes a little time.
I think the strategy should be to trade down for more picks, look for good players in FA without cap-busting contract demands unless there’s a star that’s such a perfect fit in terms of need/ability/desire/age that it’s impossible to say no. I personally don’t think Faneca fits that bill but that’s just me.
I imagine management’s position that Chad’s coming back to compete for a starting position is simply PR to up his trade value. Unless they’ve seen enough and want to dump KC. Having KC come back and have the two split a whole camp’s worth of first team snaps seems counterproductive.
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matthewm says:
Trade down, get four picks between the late first round and early 3rd, and draft the best players available, regardless of positional needs. Use the money you save to sign free agents, and with them target the holes in the starting line up. Bring back the Sack Exchange, whatever it takes, and find some run blocking linemen. Keep it up with special teams. But drafting to fill a need rarely works. You can win a lot of Mangolds and Harrises, not one Reggie Bush.
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Zenlaw says:
I agree that trading down would be the best case scenario, but one thing we can’t lose sight of is how difficult it is to trade down. It is one thing when a team is sitting with a very high pick and a coveted player is still on the board. However, it is another thing to attempt to trade down from the 6th pick in an attempt to stockpile multiple 1st down picks.
Most likely, the Jets will be faced with selecting a player with the 6th pick. Hopefully, they find a true play-maker at that slot.
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jet4lif says:
The late round OLs usually stick around with the team long enuff to gel together(either backups or average starters) which helps to build a nice cohesive unit.
I think if we dont trade down from the 6th spot then we shd get the best available player possible(OL or not). And then make the other picks based on that 1st pick.
But I also believe that with minor changes we get into playoffs next yr. So paying a FA OL wont be a bad idea(Even Faneca). -
BA_JETS says:
I agree that we need to target the O line in FA, Ryan Lilje at LG and SEan Locklear at RT, which are our two glaring needs on the line. I still think that Dallas will want a McFadden or K.Smith (now that he’s declared) the Cowboys love the big name running backs and are looking for their Emmitt Smith of the future and DMC or Smith is it, one of the 2 will fall to us at 6th and I think we can get both of Dallas’ 1st’s plus a third or fourth from them, we targwet the defensive line or OLB/DE first and go after Red Bryant with our second rd. I know it’s high but we need the nose tackle filled as badly as any other slot on the D roster. I reallt think the Jets are in the best position to improve this squad in ten years in this off season and draft. Lets hope they finally get it right and stop B.S’ing around.
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Jeff says:
If we keep the 6th pick we can draft Vernon Gholston which is like a Terrell Suggs in itself. Would you trade down knowing your getting a player that can produce 10 sacks a season?
Or we pass on McFadden who is as versatile as Tomlinson, hey he doesn’t look so bad averaging 18tds a year right???If we drade down Dallas would have to fofeit not only this years two 1st rounders but their 2nd, 3rd rounder and next years 1st. The 6th pick is worth more than two late 1st round picks which are like early 2nd rounders and an early 3rd and 4th.
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I really notice that D’Brick has real problems with speed bull-rushers like Vanden Bosh, Jared Allen types. He is very good against speed rushers and strong linemen like Seymour.
Besides that he really needs to strengthen in the offseason. For a LT he is no Pace or Davis, whom have elite strength at LT. Even if he is the same size as Walter Jones the difference between them is that Jones is as strong as an ox, I think that D’Brick really needs to train with another linemen to build up his strength and skills.
Or else he will be known as a huge bust and will forever be known as D’Turnstile Ferguson just like Dewayne Robbed-us-son
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jetsgrumbler says:
D’Brick looks like and blocks like a TE more than a LT. I don’t know what he really weighs, but I doubt he breaks 295. Maybe they should move him to TE? I know players aren’t that fungible (despite my repeated calls for Vilma to move to SS), but what else can they do with D’brick? He’s really not a franchise caliber LT, he’s not strong enough to play G, and he’s too expensive to get rid of.
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Harlan Lachman says:
Getting a 4th round pick for that stiff Kendall was a steal. Too bad Tangini didn’t have a decent replacement. Too bad they misjudged the entire OL.
My guess is OLB will be our first pick because there will be a stud or two there who is not a reach. Our second pick should be able to get a starting caliber guard or tackle.
If we don’t waste money on Hobson and other rejects, we will at least have money to go after upgrades on the lines in FA. In the unlikely event we sign an OLB, we can shift priorities with our first pick or get two good LB.
From the first reports, it will be easier to upgrade the OL in the draft and FA than fix our D. There seem to be more good OL than DL available. But Rome was not built in a day and no matter who we sign and draft, we will not compete with the Colts or Pats for the best record in the AFC next season.
h
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Nit McPickens says:
Minor detail, but the other non-returning player, Kimo von Oldawful, did *not* go to the post season.
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neauone says:
Jets cannot “CANNOT” win without a Pro Bowl Calibre OL, look at the great teams, the Jets cannot “CANNOT” afford any of their QB’s to get killed as they did this year and expect to win. The Jets can address the DL this year, but the priority has to be the OL, if not we will not score much and the running game as it has this year will suffer. We can pick up some good talent in the second and third rounds for Defense and still pick up a good talent for the OL again in the 4th round.
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ALBIE58 says:
Please Jets go get ol HELP get rid of clark and clements
also trade down in the draft for more players -
MarkM says:
Good analysis but the Jets need big time players. This is a passing league now so you need stud pass rushers, a top quarterback and a deep threat. Get the OL later in the draft or in free agency. Get the top offensive player or the DE in round one. When was the last time the Jets had an all Pro STAR player that they drafted?
Excellent analysis. The Jets have drafted quite well at OL in recent years. Nick Mangold, Randy Thomas, Jason Fabini, Kareem McKenzie, D’Brick. That’s as good as any team. Yet, we have lost, by my count, 5 solid O linemen. McKenzie, Fabini, Thomas, Kevin Mawae and Pete Kendall. Some are older, yet still better than Clarke, Clement, etc. All teams lose free agents, but the Jets have been lax in retaining O linemen. The OL is a team within a team and must play together for years to excel.