Category Archives: eMailbag
Punter has been a topic of much debate since Ben Graham was released under the Mangini regime. While Steve Weatherford has the ability to punt, his average tells a much different story as he ranks low among his fellow bretheren in the NFL. We have been focusing most of our attention on the Jets bigger needs lately and haven’t given much thought to the annual punter search that normally pops during the offseason. One of our readers, John recently sent this e-Mail asking about Zoltan Mesko and how he could possibly help on Special Teams:
Though not a flashy position, the Jets have had issues with punters for as long as I can remember. This Mesko kid from UMich is supposed to be the best one in the draft, what do you know about him? Would it be a better move to use a draft pick on a young guy like this and hope he turns into the next Shane Lechler / Mike Scifres or test the free agent market and hope to find a diamond in the rough?
We will get to know young Mesko and perhaps find an answer for the Jets punting situation after the jump.
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Photo courtesy of Paul via TJB’s Gang GreenBerry Group!
The town was painted green tonight — if only for a moment. I’m sure there are going to be plenty of high-res pics in the coming days that were close to all of the action, but I’d like to see the electricity from the fan’s perspective, too.
So, if any of who were at the rally would like to share the moments you captured in a lens, feel free to email me your submissions for a collage post on Saturday. Consider it a service to your green-bleeding brethren who were unable to feel Times Square tremble for the J!E!T!S! chant. Myself included, sadly enough.
Grainy, low-res video submissions are also welcome. Its all about the atmosphere, folks.
We’re going to answer some more mailbag questions in the next day, so here’s the first batch …
COWHER POWER?
From Jay G. in Lafayette Hill, PA: “If Mangini is fired, do the Jets try to get Bill Cowher to come out of retirement and be the new coach? Remember, he runs the 3-4 defense also, so it seems like it could be a good fit.
Note, Both Bassett and Kirk Cassels have answered this, since so many are asking about The Chin.
KIRK CASSELS: It would be a treat for the Jets to get their second Super Bowl-winning coach since the Tuna. Our run offense and the potential our defense showed in flashes this season would be an ideal complement to the gruff, big-chinned, mustachioed Cower. The Jets may put themselves in the running by, like they did with players last year, offering the big bucks and passing the bill to fans but I don’t see it happening for two reasons.
It’s clear that a lot of you have questions tonight … so do we.
Tomorrow, some of the staff here are going to take your emails and answer them. Send us your questions to thejetsblog@gmail.com and we’ll pick the best ones and answer them for you.
TJB reader Eric Bieber has done some game charting and has sent in the rushing information, along with a Excel game chart of Bills passes. Here’s the short version of how the Jets blitzed on Sunday. (more…)
Alon S. wrote with some interesting thoughts about the Titans and how the Jets match them up.
Q: As I’m sure you guys have noticed the Titans have only let up 6 total sacks (1 of them was Vince Young) this season which is obviously ridiculously insane… Well in a discussion with my friend, I was starting to notice that the Titans haven’t really played any team with a pass rush NEARLY as good as ours has been this season. Check it out, these are the teams they’ve played in order and their sack rankings: Jags-18, Cinci-31, Houston-23, Minnesota-8, Baltimore-14, KC-32, Colts-28, Packers-23, Bears-23, Jags-18
Letting up no sacks against Minnesota and then Baltimore back to back is fairly impressive but just to put it in perspective, Baltimore is tied at 14th with the Bucs, Rams and Broncos and the Vikings at 8th still have eight sacks less than we do. Another point is that from week 1 through week 8 Kerry Collins had only been sacked one time. In the last three weeks 4 times … I think my boy Calvin Pace although he only has 4 sacks, puts on the most [consistent] pressure out of everybody game in and game out.
Somehow, Ian’s comment on the Etienne Boulay signing was lost, and I think that the substance of his point is worth discussing.
These types of signings are fine with me, as the team needs depth. But I am tired of the team’s front office and their in-house p.r. department trying to act as if signing Andre Wadsworth or Etienne Boulay or David Bowens will turn around the team’s fortunes. Truly, this franchise needs to be honest with its fans, and I beleive that the current regime is not honest with us.
In my opinion, I’m not sure that the front office is in fact leading us to believe these players are saviors … they’re clearly not and the types of low-risk contracts the team is signing them to indicates as such (future contracts, small total value deals, etc). I do agree that the franchise isn’t honest with the fans, in my opinion we only care about honesty because this team was 4-12 this past year.
Jags asks the following about the status of Justin Miller’s case:
I must have fallen of the earth. I have not seen one article, recently, pertaining to the fate of Justin Miller since his 4AM mishap. Does anyone have any news?
Good point. While a number of other cases have dominated headlines, Miller’s case hasn’t been as “sensational.” Having scoured headlines, I can’t seem to find anything. But since it’s a local case, it is probably being continued as late as possible by his attorney. I would expect that we will hear some more on this before the season ends, but it’s hard to say when exactly at present. When we hear more, we’ll be glad to let you know.
NUJet wrote an email to explain more about the Chris Patrick situation. As he’s got his finger on the pulse of what’s happening with Nebraska football, here’s what he writes.
Just a little insight and much heard rumor around “these” parts: Patrick was not in good standing with Coach Callahan and thus declared early. According to the Lincoln Journal Star and their “Life in the Red” blog, it was possibly due to a failed drug test while at NU that Callahan took his involvement on the team “under evaluation.”
I absolutely love the idiotic statement by his agent, Joe Linta, saying that ‘the film doesn’t lie. All you have to do is watch him against Auburn, Texas and USC.” Well, moron, I did watch those games and if a combined stat of 2.2 yards a carry against those teams is any indication of this guy’s ability, maybe his client should be happy with a free agent deal.
Keep in mind I’m a Husker homer here and I think, without a doubt, we can do better…..
Good points. I think as Tannenbaum said before the draft, the Jets want the “whole story” on a player, and I am sure if there are/were interested, they’ll have done their best to get it. Either way, I think passing on the players in the Supplemental Draft is just another indication they think they have Kendall’s replacement on the roster already.
I’ll be away from the computer for the remainder of the day, so behave!
Susan B. wrote asking about the Jets QB depth.
The Jets should try to sign a veteran Quarterback, what do you think?
First off, Susan, thanks for writing, I didn’t know if there were any female readers, so welcome and we’ll try to be on our best behavior. As far as signing a veteran QB, I am always in favor of better depth at any position, be it Special Teams or Quarterback. Chad’s single sixteen game season came at age 30, not good. I hope he stays healthy, but signing an insurance policy could be a good idea, but there are a few of mitigating factors to consider.
- Looking at the unsigned free agents list, it’s slim pickings, and that includes the lead-footed Drew Bledsoe. Other than that, Daunte is a possibility, but I don’t think he would do well with Schottenheimer’s offense. If Schottenheimer’s mentor Cam Cameron didn’t want him, the pupil probably wouldn’t either.
- Even if the Jets did bring in another QB, do you think Bledsoe, Brooks, Bouman, Lemon or Weinke would do a better job than Clemens or Tui?
- Where would the Jets slot the new QB? When the Jets dropped Patrick Ramsey, it was a clear indication to me that they wanted to get Kellen Clemens off scout team work, and more involved with learning the ins and outs of the Jets offense as the #2 QB. Demoting Ramsey to the scout team probably wouldn’t have gone over well, so bringing in a guy like Tui, he would know that’s probably going to be his role, and he should make the best of it.
- Not to be defeatist, but I think we’re far enough along to realize that Chad Pennington is a key thread that holds the team together for a playoff run. If the Jets lose Pennington, does it even matter? Shouldn’t we just give the heir apparent some more reps anyway?
Matt Y. wrote and asked about the Linebackers for the Jets this season. We’ll get into this in more detail through the Know Your Role Series of posts, but here’s some answers to Matt’s bolded questions.
I have been wondering what the jets linebacking corp will be next year. I have Vilma and Thomas penciled in as starters, the rest is unclear. Will Hobson be bumped in?
As far as Hobson, I don’t think so, he had a decent year and held his own on the outside. Ideally, I think they would like another player more of Bryan Thomas’ speed, size & frame (see my Open Competition article for more), but Hobson should be the top platooner on the outside. My thought was that if the Jets had gone after an OLB in the draft, Hobson might have found a spot on the inside, but picking up David Harris is a clear signal they don’t need him inside.
If [Hobson moves in], does Bowens become a starter?.
Bowens does fit that prototypical edge-setter with a 6’3″+ 260 lbs+ frame, but even though Hobson could ideally be a little faster, I think he’s better all around. I don’t know enough about Bowens’ style, but he seems to be a situational player. I do think Bowens might be the player you see on long second or third downs as he has some good speed and has a habit of getting after the QB, so even though Hobson did well last year at pressuring the QB, I think Bowens brings better pressure in pure pass situations. The one question that I do have about Bowens, is whether he was crowded behind some pretty good players in the Miami front seven, and is this his chance to emerge?
Will Harris start in the middle? If so, is Bowens or Hobson on the outside?
That’s the real question. I think Harris’ progress will determine the pace of everything else. I think the Jets will want him to start the season, but I wonder if it’s a situation where he gains the job by the end of the season. Remember, Vilma didn’t even start at the beginning of his rookie season in 2004, and it wasn’t until Cowart was injured that he got to take over. Like I noted, I think Hobson might be the first to be yanked off the field for a replacement in situations, but unless Bowens really turns heads during camp and the preseason, I expect him to fill in as a situational pass-rusher.
If he stays on the team is Barton still starting material?
That’s a tough one, and it gets back to Harris’ progress. Having watched some highlights of Harris, he LOVES stopping the run, which the Jets desperately need, and I think it’s something that will help (over time) blend well with Vilma. Also, Harris is working with his old Michigan DC .. Jets’ current LB Coach Jim Hermann, so I think there’s a nice chance for him to contribute early. If you haven’t seen the clip of him at Mangini’s kids camp, you can tell he is a smart player, all factors that point to him being able to start soon.
The Jets liked him enough to jump up to get him, so I expect they would like to see him on the field against the Pats. That being said, they know what they have with Barton, so while being this far under the cap, why fix it if it ain’t broke? Harris is the upside, Barton is the steady performer.
Personally, I do think that Barton could still start, but it’s tight on this roster for linebackers. If the Jets can get something for him they like, I don’t think they’ll hesitate, but I don’t think they are afraid to let the situation play out. The great thing is, the Jets are so deep with experienced players, whoever stays on the roster will have fought one of the toughest roster battles of their career, so don’t forget about guys like Kassell, Chatham & Wadsworth … anything could happen.
I think it’s going to be interesting, last year the LBs mostly looked like this
Thomas — Barton — Vilma — Hobson
I expect to see this for the Jets in 2007
Thomas — Harris — Vilma — Hobson
Wine and the Jets are not something that you automatically put together … that’s more for those Wall Street ballwashers that we like to call Giants fans. When I think of wine, I generally think of this … but with the wise and erudite audience that TJB has, you might be suprised who’s drinking a nice cabernet sauvignon with their steak. Regardless, I got this email from Andrew and thought you might be interested:
I read an article in the New York Magazine about a NJ born and bred Jets fan and wine drinker (me, me and me) so I thought i’d pass it along …
Wine is something that’s very over my head, but I must say, my trip to Sonoma a few years back gave me a broader appreciation. The article is fun, and if you haven’t ever watched the subject of the article’s video posts on Wine Library TV, you are missing out. Gary is very entertaining (his little bro is of former JetsTV fame), and helpful to finding wines in any range. What’s hard is that with so many vineyards, I find that the bottles he is talking about aren’t often in my local wine shop. I then asked Andrew if he could give me the equivalent of the Jets in wine. Here was his answer:
… comparing the Jets to wine, thats a tough one! Its tough to pick a favorite but sentimentally i would go with a nice Argentine Malbec – bold with a strong finish! (I had a great time in Buenos Aires and the women are hot!) Although to be honest I think the Jets and their fans are more of a beer team, don’t you? I’d like to see them continue to be hard-working and consistent, like a Bud.
We’re with you, Andrew if Bud is one thing … it’s consistent. Maybe some of you wine snobs can give us beer swillers a proper lesson.
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