Buzz: Are There Tradeable Tackles?
It seems that this offseason, there are going to be a few players that could play Nose Tackle in a 3-4 that might be on the market by trade. Kris Jenkins in Carolina is one, while Shaun Rogers in Detroit is another.
Check the lowdown after the jump …
Kris Jenkins — DT – Carolina (334 pounds, 6’4″, 28 years old)
Panthers Capology — After cutting Mike Wahle and Dan Morgan, the Panthers are projected to have about $12 million available in cap space, and Jenkins counts $5.5 million against the 2008 salary cap. If released, the Panthers would gain another $3 million in space according to ESPN.com, but the moves to cut Morgan and Wahle might have given the team enough breathing room. If they want to move the Jenkins, sooner rather than later would be best since he has a roster bonus for a million due in early March.
Impact to Jets? — Jenkins could step right in and play a majority of downs for the Jets at nose. His ability to penetrate into the backfield and take on double teams far outstrips Dewayne Robertson at this task. Jenkins had trouble during the 2004 & 2005 seasons with staying on the field, but he’s played in most games since that time.
Analysis — First off, Jenkins was shopped last season by the Panthers, who were hoping for a first round pick, but one that never came their way. Jenkins played solidly in 2007, with the exception of a fine for a hit on Manning during the season. To get back into the trade market, the Panthers will need to re-set their expectations in terms of what he could fetch. Jenkins has stated that he would love to be in DC or Baltimore, but I would think that Baltimore wouldn’t be interested with Haloti Ngata taking on a bigger role lately. As far as the Skins, it’s hard to say what the new coaching staff might need as of yet. All I am saying is that New Jersey isn’t that far from DC …
Shaun Rogers — DT – Detroit (340 pounds, 6’4″, 28 years old)
Lions Capology — The Lions are in a similar cap situation as the Jets, with over $20 million in space for the upcoming season. Moves for them would not be precipated by needing space as much as philosophical differences between the coach and the player. This then leads to their potential demands, an impact player who can contribute come September.
Jets Impact? — Quick and explosive for his size, he also has great tackling skills and can easily get into the backfield if blocked singly. Despite weight issues, if Shaun Rogers is on the field, he’s a guy that teams have to double, which would be a big upgrade for the Jets defensive line. He might not be the easiest guy to deal with or keep in shape but his presence would be immediately noticed.
Analysis — Rumors were out there in January that Rogers was to be released after the season, but those were squashed by Lions’ Head Coach Rod Marinelli. Either way, the team won’t cut him (why would you?) but it appears that they will be listening to offers involving established players … not draft picks … for Rogers. Vilma would seem to be the most likely bargaining chip for the Jets.
32 Responses to Buzz: Are There Tradeable Tackles?
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Ilan says:
Just a heads up, NFL Live did a short piece on Vernon Gholston this afternoon. I don’t have a link or anything, but if someone wants to go looking for it I just thought I’d let everyone know.
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dakar says:
like i said in a past posting…i dont see why teams dont try an take an o-linemen and convert him into a DT\NT…
the main reason i got before for to why it wont work was leverage…that didnt sit with me then and now seeing the size of jenkins rogers and knowing hansworth 6’6″ is taller but weighs in at 325lbs…they are among the best DT\NT in the leauge…
which means my theary on height and size and converting an o-linemen into a DT\NT would make a difference to a team than leverage…teams dont double team megits…they double team giants…
so to have a DT\NT at around 6’3″-6′-7″ at 325-345lbs makes more sense…dont you think…
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JustaGreenGuy says:
As long as the deal wouldn’t create a nightmare for the team, I would be thrilled with either one. The idea of stopping the run is just overwhelming. If for some reason we could even keep Vilma he might be able to make some plays with one of these man mountains anchoring the line. I would take either one over a corner. We can always dream.
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SoFlaJets says:
KFFL is reporting today that the Packers may not resign Corey Williams-he’s 6’4″ 315 and had 7 sacks last year
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TOON2388 says:
I put CB in the same category as WR – a definite 2nd tier need. Quick: name the starting corners for the 1985 Bears & 1986 Giants? Exactly – get to the QB and/or keep the ball on offense and you off-set potential weakness at CB. Starters @ LG, RT, NT, DE, & OLB is what we need FA and the Draft to produce.
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toon i agree as most of us will…thats what most of us have been saying…win the battle in the trenches you win the game…its as simple as that…but getting what we need is the challenge…just my thoughts…
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Mehl56 says:
If the Jets could acquire a Rogers type player w/o trading Vilma- I believe Vilma would have a new life w/ us!
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Dave says:
Kris Jenkins is NOT a nose tackle, despite his size. He’s a UT and he plays it for the Panthers, they brought in Maake Kemoeatu to play nose tackle.
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Bent says: I don’t think Haynesworth is either.
Based on what we’ve seen from the Jets these last few seasons, I would imagine they’d have no interest in either Rogers or Jenkins because both are too big and not mobile enough. Signing either would represent a change in defensive philosophy, although I accept such a change would be welcomed by many fans.
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mehl…i agree with you…a NT that size will deffinitly help vilma make more plays…i would trade S.ELLIS for rogers and put drob at lde…keep vilma…draft 2 outside lbs…and for offense i would get s.andrews and since j.gross will most likely stay in carolina i would sign wahle…now both are fronts will be much improved…but since this is just a bunch of if this and if that talk…we will have to wait and see what really happens in the up incoming free agency…just my thoughts…
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sean says:
wayyyy off topic but oh well. Im trying to figure out a way to swap giants season tickets for jets season tickets. My aunt has been getting them for years and is thinking of getting rid of them. My father and I are considering taking them over from her. Obviously we are both jets fans so rather than just sell the Giants tickets we are trying to figure out how to parlay them into Jets tickets. Any ideas? Anyone have Jets tickets they would want to swap for giants tickets?
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lolol…sean…i dont think you’ll find any 1 in here to swap their jet tix for giant tix…but i guess its worth the try…lolol…
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Zenlaw says:
sean. sounds like a job for craigslist.
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I’m hoping to prey on those disgruntled jets fans who are jealous and ready to jump ship.
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ian says:
sean–any small or medium sized business that has season tix for clients/customers would jump at the chance to trade lowly jets season tickets for defending super bowl champ season tickets. i’d try an ad on craigslist (yes, the pg kind, before anyone else makes the joke) or maybe take an ad in some small jersey paper
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oh, and why don’t we just get either one or both of these guys, draft s.ellis, rotate them all with d-rob at DT and play a 4-3 with vilma inside, harris at strong side and whoever floats to the top playing weak side? we would have elite dt situation for a good while as the rotation would lengthen their careers. easy work, no?
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seanmac says:
Rogers could probably play the nose successfully, but I don’t think Jenkins could. It’s something that the Jets should consider, but I wouldn’t expect them to pull the trigger. They’re not likely to replace a hard working (and successful) player like Robertson with a notoriously lazy guy who is staring down the barrel of an eight-game suspension. I also suspect they think it is more important to get bigger at the linebacker position than at the nose.
(I do like the idea of moving Ellis instead of Vilma, however.)
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good call on the craigslist; hadnt thought of that.
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sean: agree on rogers being lazy, but how is he “staring down the barrel” of an 8 game suspension? he violated league substance abuse policy once, right? that means his next violation will be 8 games. if we apply that same logic, every player on the jets who has never violated the substance abuse policy is “staring down the barrell” of a 4 game suspension. i could just as easily say not to draft chris long or vernon gholston because he is staring down the barrell of a 4 game suspension.
question about the D-line: does moving shaun ellis to OLB effectively turn the team into a 4-3 defense?
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Liam says:
Sean, why don’t you try a Giants blog?
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ian, its called recidivism yo.
how many players on average get busted for violating league’s substance abuse policy? 2-3%? Who is more likely to get busted- one of the 2-3% that has shown he has a problem of some sort with a banned substance and is stupid enough to get caught; or one of the 97-98% that has never been banned. I bet if you looked at a list of alltime offenders, you would see many repeats.
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i dont think moving ellis will work…he’s to slow to play lb…trade ellis for rogers… rotate him and pouah…move drob on the end opposite coleman… draft gholston and 1 other of the top 10 de\olbs in the 2nd round…and in the 4th or 5th round if he is still available draft marcus dixon from hampton…he’s 6’4″ 295lbs and runs the 40 in 5.15 sec…use him to rotate with coleman and drob…plus we’ll still have cj mosley,m.devito and k.brown…just my thoughts…
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KJ says:
dakar,
I think you’re on to something….Trade Shaun Ellis for Rogers.
Keep Drob; move him to LDE.[DRob-Rogers-Coleman]
Draft Sedrick Ellis in the first.
Drob-Ellis-Rogers-Coleman; running downs
(where the hell are you going to run on that?)DRob-Rogers-Ellis; passing downs
(Two non-stop motors coming off the edge… Rogers holding the middle)Keep Vilma; move him to WILB, next to Harris
(His being undersized would be off-set with a huge NT and a block-taker in Harris…frees him up to side-line to side-line it)
Keep Hobson as an ILB backup… right size for the inside…still a playmaker, just out of position… knows the schemeMove up to get a pass-rusher in the first…
Groves? in the first/second.Groves-Vilma-Harris-Thomas
Bowens-Vilma-Harris-Thomas
(its all the same, with that D-line)Address OL and CB in FA.
Andrews/Gross, and a CB…or Andrews/Wahle and a CB…OL 3rd round.
WR 4th round.
RB 5th round. -
You don’t want Shaun Rogers. Take it from a lifetime Lions fan. Shaun is all talent and no desire. Marinelli has tried everything to motivate this guy. Rod is probably keeping him for trade bait and for lack of players, period on the Lions.
On the other hand, maybe a change in venue is what he needs. -
liam–i disagree about recidivism–maybe it applies w/sex offenders or drug addicts, but not with players who only take the drug to get a a competitive advantage. steroids are not like crack or sexual deviance, and it is disingenuous to take an argument that makes sense in those specific areas of criminal law and try and apply it to the world of performance enhancing drugs.
also, taken out of context, the comment telling sean to try a giants blog is very funny.
kj–that stragey might pose problems against play-action, draws, and generally creative offensive coordinators. in limited situations, though, a 3 or 4 DT line might be a good idea–look at the success the giants had with the uncvonventional 3 DE approach.
overall, i still maintain that either of these two would be a good addition. i know jenkins has not played NT before, but neither had D-Rob. if you’re going to play someone out of position, it might as well be a guy big enough to do play the position. (yes, bent et al. i know that Tangini apparently want smaller NT’s–but that is their error, and there is no reason for me as a fan to sanction it.)
when i say that either would be a good addition, i am talking about what i want to happen, not what i think will happen. what i think will happen is that jets won’t sign any real free agents, will sign other team’s trash, and randy lange and the team’s press machine will try and tell fans that kenyon coleman = richard seymour and that a healthy andre dyson = assante samuel.)
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ian…your right…what we want isn’t likely gonna happen…and i agree…randy lang will make us believe we have a monster team as he does every year…or at least tries to…lolol…
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Mike G says:
I agree with Toon. Our needs in no particular order are RT LG OLB NT DE. We can fill these holes in several different ways, all that matter is how the FO goes about doing this.
Several options for all 6 position in Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, ryan Long, Scott Lilja, Stacy Andrews, Max Starks, Jordan Gross, Shaun Rogers, Kris Jenkins, Sedrick Ellis, Corey Williams,.. etc….
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dakar says:
another good rt would be sean locklear from seattle…i also think sean rogers would do good in NY…a change of venue would do him some justic…he’s tired of being on a losing team…his motivation would be that he knows in NY he has a chance to make the playoffs…and he’ll be around a lockroom filled with high charactor guys…i think he’ll thrive in the NY market…just my thoughts…
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Bent says:
From ESPN’s article on 2007′s most overrated players:
Shaun Rogers, DT, Detroit — He was named the NFC player of the week at one point during the 2007 season, but his 4.4 YPA allowed on point-of-attack runs was quite disappointing for a player who had been dominant in that area in the past. And that wasn’t all: 30 of the 97 POA runs directed at Rogers gained at least 5 yards, and 11 went for 10-plus yards.
Also of interest:
Jeremy Shockey, TE, N.Y. Giants — There is a reason for all the talk about whether Kevin Boss is the real long-term solution at tight end for the Giants. Shockey’s 6.8 YPA this past season was mediocre, and that doesn’t tell the whole story. Take away his 12-catch, 129-yard game against Dallas in Week 10, and Shockey averaged 3.5 receptions and 38 yards in every other game in which he played.
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SackDance99 says:
I’ve found the fan focus on NT or, generally, DL to be puzzling. The Jets have adequate d-linemen. Are they top NFL players? No, but Ellis, Robertson and Coleman are okay. In a 3-4, the down lineman are cannon fodder for the LBs. Now, at LB, the Jets do not have adequate OLBs and they need an ILB to match with Harris. I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face, the 3-4 is all about the LBs. Look how much the Jets defense improved with Harris, the only LB who can field his position in the 3-4. Add a pass-rushing OLB, and all of a sudden, the 3-4 would begin to take shape. Improving NT, IMO, wouldn’t really help the Jets defend the running plays which killed them the most: cut-backs. For that, the Jets need better weak-side LBs, particularly at ILB. Match Harris with an equally good ILB in the middle, and you could put Chansi Stuckey at NT and still stop the run.
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JT says:
I have about had it with some of the players on the NY Jets. Baker and some other vets are complaining about how the team spent money this off-season. For once, they are actually trying to get better and some selfish vets shoot their mouth off! These are the same bums that went 4-12 last year! How embarrassing!
For that matter, Pennington could be a choice too. The Lions aren’t exactly deep at QB–Kitna is their starter and their backups are J.T. O’Sullivan and Dan Orlovsky.