Link: PFW Analyzes Jets’ Needs
Pro Football Weekly posted their position-by-position analysis of the Jets’ team needs.
Quarterbacks: Believe it or not, the Jets believe they’re not in dire need at the position. They genuinely believe they have at least one quality passer in either Brett Ratliff or Kellen Clemens. Still, if a guy like Mark Sanchez dropped to them at No. 17, it might be difficult for them to pass him up.
Running backs: Thomas Jones finally delivered last season, proving to be the chain-moving running back who would wear defenses down late in a game. They have a terrific complementary back in Leon Washington, whom they are trying to extend.
Receivers: This could very well be the position the Jets will want to spend their top pick on. Jerricho Cotchery is a marginal No. 1 talent, and he’ll likely be needed to fill that role after the club agreed to release Laveranues Coles.
Offensive line: As much as the Jets have invested in this position over the last few years, they’re still not getting the consistency and dominance they believed they should have. The OT bookends are particularly shaky, as OLT D’Brickashaw Ferguson has yet to prove he’s worthy of being the No. 4 pick of the 2006 draft, and Damien Woody was nothing more than OK — and probably less — at right tackle.
Defensive line: Even though NT Kris Jenkins regressed over the second half of the season, he should continue to hold the fort down nicely for a few more seasons. There are questions on the edges, however, where Kenyon Coleman has merely been a guy. Shaun Ellis — who had a nice bounce-back season in 2008 — is getting up there in age, and some young talent would go a long way for the rotation.
Linebackers: This position is absolutely littered with talent, although getting everyone to max out their talent and get on the same page is a process in the making.
Defensive backs: After trading for Lito Sheppard and acquiring S Jim Leonhard, the Jets have shored up what should now be a strong secondary for 2009. The need for a quality nickel back may not be much of a need considering how well new head coach Rex Ryan develops defensive talent.
Special teams: The Jets chose not to re-sign Mike Nugent primarily because they think Jay Feely can get the job done. The punting game is not so strong. They have a plethora of skilled returners.
Summary: Wide receiver figures as the club’s No. 1 need after the Jets chose to address the defensive side of the ball more vigilantly in free agency. The offensive and defensive lines could welcome some new bodies to provide competition.
My biggest issue comes with the offensive line assessment. Can D’Brickashaw Ferguson get his respect? He’s been a lot better than shaky, and from what I saw in 2008, he made significant strides. Whether or not it was because of Alan Faneca is irrelevant.
The OL had two Pro Bowlers on it in Faneca and Mangold, and D’Brick was an alternate. There’s no shame in that. Another season together should make them an even better unit.
Aside from that, the breakdown is fairly accurate. Something needs to be done about Kenyon Coleman and why he disappears so often.
74 Responses to Link: PFW Analyzes Jets’ Needs
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ED says:
Sounds right to me. And I disagree with Bassett about Brick. He REALLY needs to step up his game this year.
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Bent says: ED – It’s Angel Navedo’s post, not Bassett’s…but Brick was outstanding in 2008, so you disagree with me too. He gave up 2.5 sacks and was much improved in the running game.
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Dave says:
D’Brickashaw Ferguson played at a pro bowl level this past year, somebody needs to give the man some respect. Same goes for Damien Woody, not a pro bowl level but his play there has actually led people to believe that Brandon Moore all of a sudden became the team’s best run blocker.
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DaveTN says:
I think that the overall point about the O-line might be near the mark, though. We all would have liked to see them run the ball more down the stretch, but are we sure this group can really grind out the yards when they need them and the defense knows it’s coming? I’m not saying they can’t, but partly b/c of the playcalling at the end of the season, I’m not convinced.
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Angel Navedo says:
A lot of the running problems at the end looked more like teams weren’t threatened by the pass anymore. They knew we weren’t gonna stretch the field. And if we tried, there’s a good chance our WRs weren’t going to get separation, or Favre would throw an INT.
After that we saw 8 in the box more often, and teams selling out to stop the run and slow down Dustin Keller.
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nyckage says:
The reason why the Giants have the best O-line, because those guys have been with each other for a while now, we have to let our guys jell, they were pretty good this year wait until next year when they all used to each other
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J-E-T-S526 says:
I think that instilling depth in the O-line would be a good move for insurance incase of injury and also to develop for down the road but not a DIRE need. Help on the D-Line should take more precedance, get rid of Coleman…get someone competant to help Jenkins to stay fresh…
atleast 10-6 BABY!
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Matt says:
I wouldnt be surpirsed if the Jets used their first pick on Tyson Jackson, an ideal 3-4 end.
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JesusRevis says:
Im sick of listening to all of these writers talk about the Jets. When push come to shove these guys dont watch every game, they dont know as much as us fans do. D’brick is shaky? Woody was less than OK? This is a joke.
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SackDance99 says:
I wonder if there’s ever been an analysis of first round “bust” average per position. If there were, I’m willing to bet that WR is up there. Some WRs are such obvious freaks with great college resumes, but after that, I wonder whether WR shouldn’t be a 2nd or 3rd round position. If I’m the Jets at 17 and I decide to not go QB, I concentrate on the front 7 or take the no. 1 RB off the board. And, I know it’s probably nuts, but if TE is going to be a focal point of the attack, the Jets could probably also take the no. 1 TE, too. Double TE, with Leon in the backfield could be a nice obvious passing down combo…it worked for the Pats for years when they had no-name WRs.
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D’brick shaky? Woody was less than OK? What a joke
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Matt says:
SackDance, that would be a brilliant study; creating a Bust % per position. I bet that would be VERY interesting. The problem is determining what a “bust” is. You’d have to have strict rules… could be done though!
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I agree with what you guys had to say about D’Brickashaw and Kenyon Coleman. How about move Vernon Gholston to that right-end position where he played and dominated in college? Overall a good analysis by PFW though.
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bc says:
Alon
I agree put VG at DE and see what he does. Work him in on passing situations. DE is a comfort zone for him (i.e. he dominated in college).
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zenlaw says:
Sackdance, you’re saying what I’ve been thinking for a while. I’m scared of drafing a WR in the first round. Any of the projected first rounders, including Crabtree and Maclin could be total busts. It’s a total crapshoot. For every Calvin Johnson, there are plenty of weak first round WR’s.
Look at the class of 2005 as an example…
Braylon Edwards, Michigan
Troy Williamson, South Carolina
Mike Williams, USC
Matt Jones, Arkansas
Mark Clayton, Oklahoma
Roddy White, UABBraylon is hot and cold depending on whether he feels like catching or dropping the ball. Roddy White is great, but the rest are mediocre WR’s at best.
The class of 2004 is equally hard to pin down with…
Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh
Roy Williams, Texas
Reggie Williams, Washington
Lee Evans, Wisconsin
Michael Clayton, LSU
Michael Jenkins, Ohio State
Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma StateOf this list, while Fitz and R. Williams are great (I also like Evans), the rest are marginal starters.
All I’m saying is lots of risk in this category. I would prefer a lineman either on offense or defense.
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Jetsaregood says:
Jesus
Guys like Dbrick are going to be put down regardless of their performance going forward unless they become absolutely dominant.
Dbrick struggled early in his career and as high pick(4 overall) even when he plays well, writers and analysts are going to constantly have it stuck in their head that he hasnt become an allpro olineman. Jets fans know hes played well, even if he hasnt lived up to the 4th pick status, so there is no reason to even let it bother you.
As for woody, he has a bad reputation so hes not going to garner the kind of praise you may think he deserves. He was solid for the jets last year. They could certainly upgrade the right tackle spot, but its not a neccesity at this point.
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JerryB says:
Gholston is too small to play a DE in a 3-4. He’ll be a 3rd down pass rusher this season. jackson is one of the very few 3-4 DEs in the draft.
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sec108 says:
Alon and bc,
Under Mangini and now Ryan we play a base 3-4 defense, therefore DE is NOT and option for Gholston, he is much too undersized for this position. Yes, he did play DE in college and played it well, BUT that was in a 4-3, it takes an entirely different skill set to play DE in 3-4, one that Gholston does not possess and is ill-suited for.
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john r says:
For that comparison to work, you have to take in the factor that the WR has more positions on the field, than QB’s
at the end of the day we dont have a number 1 WR, we have a number 1 running back, and great O line, and a up and coming TE. We also have a QB that knows the offense and should be given a shot.With those facts, and my personal belief that sanchez is a bust, i would focus on a WR or draft down.
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sec 108
VG is also ill-suited for LB because he can’t drop into coverage. IMO his only chance at being a productive part of this team is as a situational pass rusher. -
James in TN says:
Which percentage bust will VG raise? OLB or DE?
Hakeem Nicks or Beanie Wells in RD 1.
Go Jets
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No Farve no problem says:
Hey bent,
Jim leonhard signed a 3 year 6 million dollar deal less than a week ago with a 1 million dollar roster bonus. Eric smith signed a 4 year 2.193 million dollar deal July 21, 2006 which included a 527, 500 roster bonus and a base salary of 500,000 dollars in 2009. . Abram Elam signed a one year 1.01 million dollar tender (the lowest amount of a contract the jets could give him) on February 25, 2009. If that doesn’t tell you that he is making at least twice as much money as the next guy on the roster than I don’t know what will. In comparison to the other safeties we have he is not worth that much. We don’t know how the two safeties will play in an aggressive scheme so we are basically wasting time with them. This is not good.
Where is you argument Bent??
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miked4222 says:
Jerryb- On Gholston’s size; according to NFL.com, Gholston is 6ft 3 264 lbs; Osi U. is 6 ft 3 261 lbs; Demarcus Ware is 6 ft4 262 lbs….he is the perfect size for todays DE….now, if he can play the game like either of the other 2, we’re set for the next 10 years at DE!
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D-Brick is not a bust, he is finally getting it going and I guarantee he is gonna be something awesome next year
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Osi plays in a 4-3 and Ware is an OLB.
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miked4222 (and bc),
mike, you are comparing size to OSI (a 4-3 DE) and Demarcus Ware (a 3-4 OLB). Ware is the best comparison for Ghoslton, they play the same position, only way Gholston becomes a DE is if we switch back to a 4-3, in which case we have holes in a bunch of other places in our defense, and we probably hired the wrong coach.
bc, I agree, Gholston should (and will) be used as a situational pass rusher, but it will be from the OLB position, not DE. As for his cover abiltiy, I’m not ready to give up on that just yet, people need to remember he was only in this defense for 1 year, a tough transition for alot of players, let alone ones that come out early with little experience. I am hoping he makes a LaMarr Woodley like second year leap and becomes a force for us.
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Dean Barbella says:
Jets 2009 Draft
17th pick: WR Percy Harvin (Florida) or Hakeem Nicks(North Carolina)
54th pick: NG Ron Brace, Boston College.
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sec 109– I’vealways felt that VG position should have been DE….put him in a 3 pt stance & let him play…my feeling is don’t let him think–let him play…Ware & Osi are both every down players, keeping in mind that VG came out early, he was only 21 last season– he’s going to mature as a man & football player the next couple of years–he may suprise us & play as an every down player
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sec108
I’m willing to give him more time at OLB but he looked lost when having to drop into coverage. After last season and all the high expectations I think there is alot of pressure on him to produce in 2009. The DE position is familiar to him and could help build his self-confidence. -
miked4222,
I agree, he way well turn into an evey down player, but it will not be as a DE on this team as long as we play a 3-4, he simply doesn not have the size (think Shaun Ellis and Kenyon Coleman) to play there in this defense. He should be able to generate plenty of pass rush from his OLB spot though, thats what this defense is desgined for.
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Kyle says:
God, do these so called “analysts” tell us anything we don’t already know? This post is a total “duh” to me.
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VG= every down player (on defense)
BWWAAAAAAAHHHHH, good one!
I think maybe we can convert him to a blocking TE. Start now and by next year we have a 10 year Blocking TE. Eh? -
bc,
the 4-3 DE position is familiar to him, 3-4 DE would be totally foreign, and I would think unsuccessful for VG. I think they will leave him at OLB in the 3-4 and dial back his coverage responsibilities, just let him rush the passer, and when we slip into a 4-3 look he should definitely get the opportunity to play a DE too, but that won’t be very often.
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Would you agree the kid can carry another 20lbs on his frame? All is suggest is, that if given the chance under D-Rex, he might become a very good DE– If he doesn’t he will be one of the top 3 or 4 busts in history.
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Gholston will be an outside rusher with his hand on the ground – just like at OSU. I wouldn’t call that an OLB. Maybe after he develops as a pass rusher he can start playing some OLB.
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VG to be a TE, has a good ring to it . Brandon Moore made the transition.
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James–Hey, a 265 lb blocking TE….that’s fine with me– if he can catch, thats a plus! LOL
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LOL, the more I think about it the more I like it. I bet he can catch.
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I don’t want VG to carry any more weight and play DE. We drafted him to be a pass rusher and that is still what I want him to be, and he can be, as an OLB in this defense. DEs in the 3-4 are are not rushing the passer as their primary responsibility, a 2 gapping linemen must occupy blockers, and play the run well, freeing up the LBs to be playmakers. Richard Seymour is a perennial Pro Bowler as a 3-4 DE in New England and he averages 7 sacks a year.
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I just want VG to be a success, because if he is, the Jets & all of us benefit….be it OLB, DE, TE….can he punt? LOL
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Gholston is a 3-4 OLB, any of you who are hoping he can play DE in our defensive scheme are going to be disapointed. He is what everyone thought he was before the draft, a college end who seemed perfect as an OLB in a 3-4 defense. Any concern about him dropping back into coverage should have been discussed before he was considered such a high pick. He is an OLB, and wont play d-end.
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Kellen Clemens says:
Agree – no first round WR, please !! Gun to my head, I’d draft the best available LB, or lineman. Or if I could, I would trade down a few spots , and get Tyson Jackson to address a pure need. I think Parcell’s good old “planet Theory” applies to the Jets this year.
Keep in mind, LC was a 3rd rounder, and Cotchery was a 4th.
and I still remember in 2001, when everyone was wondering who was the better overall first choice at WR between 2 studs like some kind of a “Dan vs. Dave” McDonald’s Olympic commercial. And both David Terrell and Koren Robinson were about as productive as…well…Dan and Dave….and lasted about as long as a McDLT…(remember those?)
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woops!
Kellen Clemens = Bubby
sorry about that…
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zenlaw, to me WR is like QB, the top guys are obviously the top guys because they have awesome physical attributes (height, great speed, great hands, great route running). IMO, there’s no QB or WR in this draft that is an elite prospect that is worth a top 10 pick, but because of position scarcity, drafting a QB earlier than his intrinsic worth can be a smart move. But, this is a deep draft at WR, so why pick a second-tier prospect at 17? For instance, Pettigrew is probably a better TE prospect than any WR is a WR prospect. The Jets need both a big redzone target and a blocking TE. So, wouldn’t Pettigrew make more sense than Nicks or DHB or Harvin, who I like a lot? And, if Tyson Jackson is available, he’s the type of DE depth the Jets could use.
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Brad says:
Sackdance- believe the two highest bust rankings are QB and WR- just my speculation from what i always hear!
Here are my draft picks from the other day! Would be happy with any one of these guys. Get the best available! Of course once we pick someone in one position, not picking anyone in that position in future rounds, unless they are a steal!Rd 1- WR-Maclin, Heyward-Bey, RB- Chris Wells, DE- Tyson Jackson, TE- Pettigrew
Rd 2- DT- Ron Brace, DE- Jarron Gilbert, WR- Brian Robiskie
Rd 3 – WR- Ramses Barden, Louis Murphy, OT- Troy Kropog, OG- Kraig Urbik, DT/DE Fili Moala
Rd 4- RB- Rashad Jennings, OG- Trevor Canfield, Herman Johnson, TE- Anthony Hill
Rd 6- RB- Arian Foster, WR- Aaron Kelly, OT- Jason Watkins -best available (OT, TE)
Rd 7- RB- Rodney Ferguson, WR- Patrick Turner, Jaison Williams, Greg Carr, Michael Jones –
best available (OT, TE) -
Looking to the future, Faneca (too old & too expensive) &TJ (too old, contract up) will be gone by 2011 if not sooner. Ferguson will count $12.7MM on the cap and would have to show continued improvement. Woody would have outplayed his usefulness. Now is the time to start building for the future. Draft at least one OL and a primary RB. If Gholston doesn’t show he can be an OLB by the end of the season we will need two OLBs next off-season. The third round this year should have some good guard prospects. We draft high enough in Rd #3 that we should be in good position to pick one up. Rd#4 likely has two good blocking TEs. That leaves three holes to fill with the top 3 picks (WR, DE, RB). There is only one talented 3-4 DE (Tyson Jackson) so if he is there at 17 we have to take him, take a WR in #2 and get our RB next year. If Jackson is gone, then it’s probably RB in #1 and WR in #2.
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*read as: 3 holes to fill with top 2 picks
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JerryB,
if Gholston doesnt show he can be an OLB by the end of this season why do we need 2 OLB’s? Is Pace not good? I agree with you on replacements for TJ, Faneca, and Woody, but I hope D’Brick is the Jets LT for the next 10 years. When you draft a LT #4 overall, the hope is he will be the cornerstone of your offensive line for a decade.
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igs says:
he he he, a number 1 wide receiver??? Maybe a 1st round QB??? I’m blushing a little bit.
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No reflection on Pace – It’s BT that would have a cap hit that exceeds his value.
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Im a jet fan since 1980, plese for once adquire a good quarter back, stay with ratliff, and tell good bye to clemens, and adquire jay cutler, or mat leinart, I dnt trust in clemens, for me its a bad option, we haved a chance to aquired a warne and cassel and we missed, cassel with the jets to the super bowl…. but….., adquire a good quarter back and a good wide receiver, we can do an offer to kc for cassel????, and for drew brees?, plese guys spend a smart money, we can adquire leinart or cutler, como on jets, do it for me, I suffered a lot…., I want a winner team
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If we stay in the 17th slot and K. Moreno or B. Wells is available I would take them. We will get better value for WR in 2nd round.
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JerryB, either way, why 2 OLB’s ? you said we would need to get 2 in free agency, but if we had Pace then couldnt we get a replacement for BT (backup) later in the draft?
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ian says:
a bit late to this, but nice to see some scouts agree with me about d’brick–maybe he’s not terrible, but he’s certainly not proved worthy of a #4 overall pick.
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ian – maybe hes not terrible? maybe is not a good word choice as we KNOW he is not terrible.
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JR – You need 3 OLB’s. They are the key to the 3-4 (after the nose).
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Jerry- Although BT isnt great, he doesnt get paid a fortune, and the way FA is going, all the good players are getting fortunes, so to only pay BT around 5mil isnt horrible, he was 3rd best in sacks last season for us, didnt do much towards the end, but no one did; BT and Pace started dropping back in coverage too much.
On your point of DE- Jarron Gilbert who is listed as DT is more built for us to be a DE- stock has been rising! I do like tyson Jackson- supposedly very versatile too, but some wonder about his work ethic, decline in play over the last wo seasons.
RB- We need a big bruiser to complement Leon washington- Rashard Jennings and Arian Foster fit that bill perfectly- should be available in mid-late rounds!We totally need to upgrade our Lines. Who knows what is going to happen with mangold and D’brick in a couple of years if they hit FA! Perfect situation to draft O-Line guys in 3rd and 4th rounds, have a couple of years to develop.
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Bent says:
Fonzie – Please refer to the Bowens heart in Cleveland thread for the reply to your comment.
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Jerry when, what year is D’brick due that 12 mil?
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JoeMustGo says:
I’ll bet there are just as many second round wrs who don’t pan out as first rounders. They may cost less if they bust but you’re still stuck with a useless commodity and a hole in your roster. Sometimes you have to swing for the fences if you want to hit a home run. If they don’t think Maclin, Nicks or Heyward-Bay can be a #1 receiver then by all means pass and take the BPA. If they do, then roll the dice.
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Jerry, I fully understand all of the concepts of the 3-4 defense and how it relies on the Linebacker position, but that doesnt mean that your point is fully understood. Bryan Thomas is not nearly as bad as peope on this board make him out to be, and his salay isnt obnoxiously high.
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D’Brick is due $10MM in salary plus $2.7MM in bonuses (including signing) for a $12.7MM cap figure in 2011. His cap figure is only $7.2MM in 2010.
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Bent says:
Brad – D’Brick’s contract is reasonable for this year and next, then his salary rises to $10m in 2011. It’s inevitable that they will restructure his deal at that point and probably give him a big money extension.
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thanks for the info Jerry and Bent!
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RK says:
I think because Ferguson isn’t going around pancaking people he gets a bad rap as soft but he is doing exactly what he needs currently as is shown by the running game this past season. Sacks happen in the NFL and with a younger QB that can move there may be a few less sacks this next season. In my opinion he only had one bad season in 2007 and we all know how poor the line was as a whole then.
I think a RB will be taken first as well. I can’t see it as likely that the Jets will draft another TE in the first although I understand the point about it being a solid and safe pick (Rex Ryan doesn’t seem like the conservative type).
Maybe this year they will hit with their 3rd rounder and they’ll get a solid OL not some project.
It’s possible they go DL in first I suppose if they love T. Jackson and he’s available.
Likewise they may grab Sanchez but I don’t think they’ll fold to any pressure from the media about that if they believe in their current crop. If anything I think they’ll try for Freeman in the 2nd and hope he falls to them or even possibly trade up for Freeman if they can trade down in round 1 for an extra pick. They haven’t shied away from making picks where they stand so I don’t think they’ll trade down unless a whopper deal comes along.
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Harvlis says:
We have forgotten about our Offense, so far. We should have signed Byron Leftwich, Deuce McAllister, Tra Thomas, and Marvin Harrison. If we did this, we could be going into the draft looking for the best athlete available. If Rex doesn’t give some thought to his Offense, his defense is going to be on the field for most of the game.
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Dajetz says:
You don’t need a great QB to compete in the NFL. Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Kerry Collins, Tavarius Jackson, Pennington and even Eli Manning made the playoffs last year with less than stellar #s. With the exception of Roddy White in Atlanta, none of these teams even have a stud WR. Look at the RBs… A. Peterson, M. Turner, Chris Johnson & Lendale White, Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams, Earth, Wind & Fire. WR is a luxury in the NFL, a solid running game is a need. Moreno or Wells would be the smart pick at 17 if available.
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wsf says:
I’d like to see sanchez fall. Then trade with one of the nfc north teams behind you to get extra picks.
First round, take the OSU TE, (iglles will take him at 21)
Second round, take the qb fron WVU (third if you think he’ll drop). Buddy took Randall Cunningham in the second round. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Rex take his Randall.
Third round, they can take a wr or rb.
Rex knows defense. He can use later picks to find defensive players.
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Joe B. says:
We need a #1 WR badly. Anybody who thinks this team can get by this season with Cotchery and some fourth-round pick is delusional. I don’t buy the whole “high bust %” argument for WR’s, I just think we notice the busts like Mike Williams more because it’s a skill position and WR’s are expected to make a huge, immediate impact.
We may not (and don’t need to) draft the next Randy Moss, but if we can snag the next Lee Evans or Roddy White, that will fill a crucial, unaddressed hole that this team has had since Keyshawn bounced.
I believe in KC or Ratty, but if you saddle the starter with Cotch as his #1 WR (and I love Cotch), you’re setting them up to fail. Draft a Heyward-Bey, Maclin or Nicks and see what the boys under center can really do!
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Reprocity says:
About Gholston beefing up to play DE in a 3-4… He can’t add any more muscle weight! and 20lbs of fat wont help him either!
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Also didn’t we draft Moss ~ the 17th pic?
Agreed. Their take is pretty good, but the OL assessment is about as accurate as a Brett Favre deep out.