New York Jets 53 Man Roster Projection, Draft Grades-offseason Review

We continue our nearly one a day look at a team’s off-season today with the New York Jets. Clearly the Jets love the spotlight. How else could you explain a team that was one of the best teams in the league last year in short yardage situations and has a quarterback who was lethal on the ground adding a run-first quarterback who excels in those two situations? The Jets say they knew what the Tim Tebow addition would bring, but I think they are going to find out that they did not understand what kind of attention Tebow really grabs–well see if this leader can help fix a locker room that was in dismay a year ago, or if his presence will undermine the Sanchize.

The Jets entered free agency with three major holes–pass rusher, safety, and offensive line help (specifically RT) and after the draft they still have a major hole at RT. Let’s break down their draft before we get into their total roster.

1st round-Quinton Coples, DL/OLB UNC

I’m not sure if the Jets plan on playing Coples at OLB or DE. I think his best position would be as a 34 DE, which would give them two first round picks at that position in consecutive years and still a major hole at OLB. Coples has the talent of a top ten pick and can be as good as he wants to be on the field. Coples got a wrap for playing to not get injured in the 2011 College Football Season. This is a risky pick any way you slice it. Do you trust the Jets, of all teams, to get the most out of Coples? That remains to be seen. Risky, risky pick. I thought Melvin Ingram was a better decision, but that Riley Reiff would be the best decision of all. C+

2nd round-Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

The Jets have watched Jerry Reese and the Giants go to two superbowls in recent years with a draft philosophy that seems to focus on taking freak athletes and then trying to coach them up. The difference though the Giants have tremendous leadership at the Quarterback position, and a coach who gets a lot out of young players (even if he doesn’t play them a ton early). In order for this pick to be successful Rex Ryan will have to showcase the same ability to develop young players. There is a lot I like about this pick, actually. The value is solid, not great–Stephen Hill was  a mid 2nd round pick on our board–but for the Jets he’s a good fit. He can block, and he can stretch the field. I like the pick, though I’d expected limited returns early. B+

3rd round Demario Davis, LB, Arkansas State

The Jets took an athletic freak with short arms and smallish hands in the third round. I can’t say I watched every Davis game so Im’ not sure how often the team asked him to blitz, but he did only rack up 3 sacks this year. It’s a weird pick and I”m not sure Davis is much different than what they have in Maybin either. We’ll have to see, but this screams “need pick” to me with a dash of falling in love with a player form a small school, which is clearly was as the Jets weren’t going to be picking in rounds four or five and it’s unlikely Davis would have been available in round 6. C-

6th round-Josh Bush S Wake Forest

I actually like this pick a bit. Bush is a smart safety–which is important in Rex Ryan’s complicated defense that relies a lot on a smart safety play. At the very least he should help out on special teams. With that being said-I’m not sure Bush would have been drafted by anyone else. B-

6th round-Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor

I like the player, but it’s a weird pick for me as well. I don’t see what Ganaway’s role is on the Jets–the Jets are hoping he’s Shonn Greene good, but they are similar players and with the addition of Tebow to do short yardage carries (most likely) it seems like Ganaway was an unnecessary pick. I like the value though and think Ganaway could have been drafted a round earlier. B+ (because in the end what matters is the value of the player).

6th round Robert T. Griffin, OL, Baylor

The un-famous Robert Griffin that played for Baylor. I’m stunned the Jets waited to long to address an OL that lacks quality depth and might not even have a reliable right tackle to start. Griffin is a size and strength player. He measured in at 6’6 335 pounds and should be a quality backup offensive linemen in a heavy run blocking scheme. Is he a better OL than Andrew Datko though who was still available? No way. C-

7th round-

I actually liked what the Jets did with both of their 7th round picks.

Antonio Allen, S, South Carolina

Allen is more talented than the safety the Jets drafted earlier-Josh Bush, but he had some consistency issues. Allen is more of a in the box safety at the N.F.L. level, or a safety that can be used for a big Nickel package-where he could be a big factor in the run game which is his strength, but still provide more speed and coverage ability than a linebacker. Allen, if he wants to, should also excel on special teams. Allen could even eventually develop into a starter with a lot of refinement in his technique. B

Jordan White, WR, Western Michigan

This is easily my favorite pick for the New York Jets. Jordan White was a player I thought could have gone 2-3 rounds higher. White has enough size at 6′ and plays even bigger than his listed size. White is a really good route runner–which is even more impressive considering he’s coming from Western Michigan. White has plus body control and isn’t afraid to make a catch over the middle. Good pick. A-

Overall-

The Jets draft was a big “boom” or “bust” type of draft–even though I don’t love those expressions they are fitting for this draft. Coples is a risk anyway you slice it. Even if Coples was just trying to protect his body that irks you. If he loves football why isn’t he going all out?  Poor effort will always trump pure talent.  The Stephen Hill pick was also risky. Everyone knows that he didn’t have a ton of production this year and burst onto the scene with a big combine (though anyone paying attention knew that he was big and fast), but he has a lot of work he still needs in order to succeed in the N.F.L. And then Demario Davis is a player the Jets would probably rather have drafted in the fourth round, but they didn’t have the pick so they just grabbed him in the third round. He’s very athletic at the very least. The rest of the draft are 6th and 7th round pick and I’m not going to fuss over that one way or the other in general. C+. I did not love the Jets draft.

Off-season recap

Jets sign S Yeremiah Bell
Jets waive G Trevor Canfield
Jets sign K Josh Brown
Jets announce retirement of QB Mark Brunell
Jets re-sign DE/OLB Aaron Maybin
Jets re-sign WR Patrick Turner
Rams sign TE Matthew Mulligan
Colts acquire QB Drew Stanton and 7th-rounder from Jets for 6th-rounder
Jets acquire QB Tim Tebow and 7th-rounder from Broncos for 4th- and 6th-rounders
Patriots sign CB Marquice Cole
Jets sign SS LaRon Landry
Jets sign WR Chaz Schilens
Jets sign QB Drew Stanton
Dolphins sign DE/OLB Jamaal Westerman
Cowboys sign S Brodney Pool
Jets cut S Gerald Alexander
Jets re-sign K Nick Folk
Jets re-sign DE/OLB Bryan Thomas
Jets re-sign NT Sione Pouha

53 Roster Projection

QB (3): Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Greg McElroy

RB (5): Shonn Greene, Joe McKnight, Bilal Powell, Terrance Ganaway, John Conner

WR (6): Santonio Holmes, Stephen Hill, Chaz Schillens, Jeremy Kerley, Jordan White, Patrick Turner

TE (3): Dustin Keller, Jeff Cumberland, Dedrick Epps

OL (8):  D’brickshawFerguson, Matt Slauson, Nick Mangold, Brandon Moore, Wayne Hunter, Vladimir Ducasse, Austin Howard, Terrance Campbell

DEFENSE

DL (5): Muhammad Wilkerson, Siona Puha, Quinton Coples, Kenrick Ellis, Mike Devito

OLB (4): Bryan Thomas, Calvin Pace, DeMario Davis, Aaron Maybin

ILB (4): Bart Scott, David Harris, Josh Mauga, Nick Bellore

CB (6): Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Kyle Wilson, Isaiah Trufant, Julian Posey, Royce Adams

S (5): Yeremiah Bell, Laron Landry, Eric Smith, Josh Bush,  Antonio Allen

K (1): Josh Brown

P (1): TJ Conley

LS (1): Tanner Purdham

Positions of Strength:

Cornerback-Revis is one of the best in the game and Cromartie is no slouch either. The depth is scary, but Kyle Wilson was much better last year than he was the year prior and I think he’ll improve one again. Rex Ryan knows defensive backs and I expect them to unearth a gem during this 0ff-season as well.

Defensive line: I really like the depth here. Ellis is a talented player, Coples is very talented. Devito is a try hard guy who makes some plays and Puha was one of the best at his position in the league last year. I like their depth here and think that unit should be much improved with the continued improvement of Wilkerson I expect as well.

Positions of weakness:

Right Tackle-Wayne Hunter was not good last year. It’s mind boggling they didn’t try to upgrade this position. This could be the downfall of the team this year.

Running back-Greene can’t stay on the field. McKnight hasn’t shown enough and what does Powell and Ganaway bring to the team this year? That remains to be seen. The Jets want to ground and pound, but they might not have the running backs to do it.

What do you think Jets fans? Or Jets haters?

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