Thursday, April 5, 2012

Time For The Young Jets To Show And IMPROVE.

     This Off-Season the New York Jets have been pretty quiet with Free-Agent signings.  Entering this years NFL Draft the Jets have plenty of holes to fill.  You could say that the Jets traded for a back up QB when they traded for one Timothy Tebow.  Their signings this year have included LaRon Landry SS, Chaz Chilens WR and  that is it for new Jets.
     The Jets have 10 draft picks and QB is the only position that should not be drafted.  The Jets need a RT, a #2 Wide Receiver, a complimentary Running Back, a starting Free Safety, a pass rushing Outside Linebacker, a blocking Tight-End, and depth along the Offensive Line and Cornerback positions.  Their are a wide view of which position is the most important and needs to be addressed in the early rounds.  Which positions need to be filled at all though and which ones already have young players ready to take over if given the chance?
     Ladanian Tomlinson has not been brought back and his replacement has not been signed as of yet, but don't the Jets have a young explosive RB named Joe Mcknight on their roster?  Mcknight was an embarrassement entering his Rookie season when reporters caught the young player vomiting during drills.  He shined at the end of that season against the Buffalo Bills and continued the excitement in his Sophemore year when he took over duties as the Kick Returner.  Many Jets fans called for the "Night-Rider" to get more playing time and I am in full support of Mcknight taking over as Shonn Green's partner in the back field.  If the Jets are going to Draft a RB I hope it will be a late round pick and more so for a camp body to push Bilal Powell.
     The Jets last year were going to run a simular double Tight-End as the New England Patriots with Dustin Keller and Jeff Cumberland.  Cumberland blew out his achilles tendon early on in the season and that idea was scrapped.  The injury caused the Jets to elivate Josh Baker from the practice squad and he proved to be a servicable TE/FB hybrid.  With a full Off-Season under Cumberland and Baker the Jets now have 3 TE that can contribute to the team.  None are capable blockers , but that is a part of the position that they can learn and improve on.  The Jets are also on the verge of signing a young Rugby player and using him as a TE.  The player in questioning is reported to be 6'7 and 265 lbs.  There goes your blocker.  I dont believe the Jets should use any of their 10 picks on a TE.
     Wayne Hunter earned a contract due to the play he showed in practice and the great job he did when starter Damien Woody was injured during the 2012-2011 season.  Somehow he was anything but great last season entering the year as the starter.  It was a very bad year, but was it just that, a bad year?  If it is more than that the Jets do have a young Offensive Lineman named Vladamir Ducasse who has been shuffled all across the Offensive Line during practice and showed promise being called in as an extra Lineman during running plays last year.  How good can Big Vlad be at one position of the Jets ask him to learn just ONE position?  The Jets are going to need to draft a tackle for depth, but Vlad and Hunter should be given a chance to duke it out for the starting RT position and a player should be drafted in the middle to late rounds to develope for the future.
     Last year the Jets signed a Buffalo bust TWICE and Arron Maybin who just got a 1st round tender is hoping that the 3rd time is the charm.  Last year Maybin introduced "Mayhem" to Jets Nation.  Aaron "Mayhem" Maybin lead the Jets in Sacks and Forced Fumbles.  The Coaching staff gave Maybin keys to work on during the Off-Season and he will enter this year knowing the system and looking to increase his role.  With Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas being nothing but run stuffers at this point in their careers the Jets do need to Draft an Ouside Linebackker of the future.  Even if Maybin turns into an every down player the Jets are gonna need an OLB on the opposite side.  Many draft Gurus have the Jets drafting either Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama, or Melvin Ingram OLB/DE S. Carolina with the #16 pick.  If Ingram is available when the Jets pick it should be the quickest card heading to the podium as Ingram is regarded as the best pass rusher in this years draft.  Their are players like Vinny Curry OLB/DE Marshall and Bruce Irvin OLB NC State in the 2nd round.  The Jets are going to have to draft an OLB with one or both of their first 2 picks.
     The Jets signed LaRon Landry, but he should just be able to do a better job than Eric Smith, but neither player is elite in pass coverage.  The door isnt closed for Jim Leanord, but he is comig off of his 2nd straight season ending injury.  Barron Davis S Alabama would be a stretch with the 16th pick, but the Jets could trade back to select him while picking up and additiona draft pick.  When you have the New England Patriots in your divison it is essentia to your Playoff chances to have Safeties to cover their TE's.  Barron is by far the best S in this years Draft, but the Jets finished last year 5th in total defense.  Do the Jets really need to focus on the defensive side of the ball?
     The Jets have a chance to pick up the #1 reciever in this years draft with #16 pick.  Michael Floyd is quickly showing that he may be the best WR this year, but character issues may make a few teams pass on him.  The Jets want to run the ball this year and establish the Ground & Pound that was so dominant the first year of the Rex Ryan era.  You need a threat in the passing game to keep defenses honest, and the team just invested a lot of money in Mark Sanchez, so it would be beneficial for the GM to back up the investment with play makers to help out his young QB.  If it comes down to Floyd and any other player I feel that the Jets have no choice but to pick up the young WR.
     Where do you think the Jets should go with the #16 pick and which Jet do you think will step up this year?

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