King Has Jets Taking McFadden
In today’s Monday Morning Quarterback, we hear yet another man’s case in defense for the Jets taking Darren McFadden in the draft. Check it out.
6. New York Jets. RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas. Think of the New York offense. Anything stand out? Nope. Laveranues Coles is a decent deep threat, but not the explosive playmaker you’d like. This team has spent $94 million guaranteed on five players this offseason (Calvin Pace, Kris Jenkins, Damien Woody, Alan Faneca, Kerry Rhodes), and Jenkins, Woody and Faneca are win-now signings. McFadden’s a win-now pick.
Look, I have always been against taking McFadden. Then again, since coming here all I’ve been able to talk about is McFadden. So, I guess you got me. It’s pretty clear at this point that the team needs some sort of offensive playmaker that isn’t there right now. So the real question is, do we want a playmaking running back who can make Sports Center’s top ten plays every week? I do. But, I’m still torn on if he will even be there with the sixth pick. However, I must admit that five days before the draft, I want D-Mac on the Jets.
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Here are 2 reasons why I think the risk of drafting McFadden outweighs the potential rewards
1. The Draft is always a crapshoot. With Jones & Leon on board, there are not enough touches to go around.
2. The Faneca signing. He is the best run blocking guard in football. Along with Mangold and Moore (who cannot pass block, but can run block), this should be a very good interior run blocking unit. Jones is a proven commodity at running between the tackles.
I agree man, at first It wouldnt of been my favorite pick, but as the Draft draws closer the more I want him on the Jets
Consistent with my post in the Ryan thread, I think that if we have a great running game next year after drafting McFadden, I don’t really care if its because DMC is hurt or ineffective but TJ and Leon are doing great. A great running game would help Clemens tremendously (and take away any excuses), and certainly while we could upgrade at the position, our WR corps is competent enough to do very well or even thrive with a great running game and “good” QB play.
Finally people are beginning to see the light. Mcfadden at 6 would be the best possible scenario for the jets.
Ryan and Dsmizzle, I agree with you both
Unrelated topic but, is anyone concerned about how much the departure of mike westoff could effect our special teams this year? I know im concerned. We have been dominant, especially in kick returns, while westoff was here. How will this effect our kick returners this year?
Maybe Bassett or some one else could do a piece on the new special teams coach. just a suggestion. does anyone know about the new coach?
My head is spinning from hearing all of these different scenarios. Honestly, I don’t see how Al Davis passes up on McFadden. I would love to see DMC in a Jets uniform. I just don’t know if its going to happen. If Al Davis realizes that Gholston is the best pick for the team at 4, then it could happen. If the Raiders do in fact take McFadden and either Gholston or Chris Long are there, I would suspect the Chiefs would jump on the chance of getting one of them for the fact that Jared Allen is close to being dealt to Minnesota.
Mike G.:
Westoff was absolutely a tremendous asset. Granted, we’ve had great skilled, fast returners during his tenure, but almost every NFL team has fast, skilled players returning kicks.
He’s a great coach, pure and simple. My college coach always spoke of there being 3 equally important aspects to a game, offense defense and special teams, and that you need to win 2-of-3 to win the game. All 1st-string Special Teamers were considered and treated as team starters.
The emphasis that the JETS have put on special teams was something I always admired, and they did it extremely well under Westoff. I hope that despite his departure, that the guys who are coming back have had his teachings instilled in them. Who is now in that position with the JETS? Is it a new coach or is it a guy who was Westoff’s understudy? This is so important I’m a little embarassed that I don’t know who his successor is off the top of my head.
I would prefer we trade down with Dallas if possible. I prefer a workhorse back. The teams with the Darren McFadden type backs never seem to win the superbowl.
This is a luxury pick. We can wait a year or two till Jones production starts to drop. Unless you count last year as a sign its already begun. No matter how much we love the Leon, he cannot carry the load himself.
If he is available at #6, the old saying “1 RB in hand is better than 2 in the bush” comes to mind. If we do not pick up a RB we will have to do so next year or the following. Does any one see a Turner coming available in the next year or two?
IMO if you have the opportunity for the explosive play maker, you take the opportunity. Your drafting for the future, why not draft a position you WILL need in the next year or two? Unless everyone is happy with the Chatham signing as the future…
About time we see the light. I just hope he is available. The SEC is the best “combine” there is to evaluate talent.
Tough decision as to whether to draft DMC. I’ve changed my mind at least 3 times on the issue. My biggest concern with DMC is the numerous times he fumbled.
Whether it’s DMC or another player, I think we can all agree that the Jets need an offensive playmaker; someone who other teams will worry about. I like the offense players on the Jets, but none of them are studs.
I just need to say one thing about this, and that is, you can’t blame the braintrust for taking DMC nor can you blame them for not taking DMC. If the players they are looking for are not on the board (assuming DMC is) and no partner to trade down, you have to take him.
Zenlaw, that is definitely a big concern, but what do you think will be one of the first things he will learn to do all over again? I think things that are fundamentals can be fixed once in the NFL, and ball carrying is soemthing i would consider to be fundamental. What the Jets need to do is teach this kid how to work out his lower legs and maintain balance after the first contact. If he shuts down after the first hit, he won’t be anything but a Reggie Bush.
I have to question this whole win now thing, why are Jenkins, Woody and Faneca win now signings? Jenkins is 28, Woody and Faneca 30 and 31, we can’t legitimately expect to win 3 years from now with these guys as well as this season? I guess Woody might be pushed inside by then perhaps but I would think Jenkins and Faneca would still be entrenched as starters making big contributions by then?
And McFadden, what makes him a win now pick? I get that he is ready to contribute right away, but wouldn’t he be our starting RB 5 or 6 years from now as well?
Is it just me?
Faneca helps the running game on the outside as much as the inside. He is an excellent pulling guard.
Westhoff’s replacement is Kevin O’Dea, a young assistant from Chicago, hopefully in the Schottenheimer/Daboll up-and-comer mould. Westhoff may yet be back in a year or two, albeit possibly only in a consultancy role. Hopefully the new guy will not make us say “oh dear” too often.
Don’t forget Sutton is still DC too! Does he have 100% job security, I wonder?
i am stunned there are this many jet fans blinded by this guys potential. Lets pretend he is a super star citizen , donates all his time to charities and junk. How can you overlook the fact that we have an excellent 1-2 punch already. Jones will rebound, curtis wasnt an unstopable beast every year either. With a little help (which we have hopefully addressed) he will be a work horse, which is something that dmc is not. And one last point that i cant believe that is being dramaticlly overlooked. Didnt dmc have over 20 FREAKIN FUMBLES in college. 20! I have only heard this one time, so is there a chance this is false? Im dont follow college football that much. ANyone worth a grain of salt as far as football knowlege knows that without a doubt the most importmant stat in football is turnover diff. By far. I would love to see them trade down with baltimore or dallas or whoever and get another sick cornerback or a big receiver. Well, long would be the dream scenerio, not much of a chance though. FOr that matter i would rather see ryan drafted then mcfadden.
DMC lost 9 fumbles in 38 college games playing the majority of which in the SEC. i dont know the exact split – but i would guess he lost the majority of these when he was lining up at QB and running the college option. there are a lot of reasons to take/not take him, but it doesnt seem to me that fumbling is one of them
23 actually, but some were on kick returns and some were dropped laterals.
9 maybe is the number of fumbles lost? He lost 2 of 10 in 2007.
his totals over 3 years was a fumble every 29 carries about. Curtis martin for example was one every 123 carries. This is a concern. Now granted , you are rirght if a lot of these came in an option situation, but that leads to my other point. Didnt his partner also have back to back 1000 yard seasons. Dont they run an non-nfl offence. How come he doesnt come under the same scrutny of being a system player like hawaii qbs, or oklahoma qbs of the past. Man, im not feeling this pick.