NFL Offseason Series: New York Jets

New York Jets

Owner: Woody Johnson
Founded: 1960
Stadium: New Meadowlands Stadium
2010 record: 11-5
Last playoff appearance: 2010, 11-5, W17-16 IND, W28-21 NE, L24-19 PIT
General Manager: Mike Tannenbaum (2006 – current)
Head Coach: Rex Ryan (2009 – current, 20-12 as head coach)
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Pattine
Defensive alignment: 3-4
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 22.9 PTS (13th)        351.0 YDS (11th)               202.6 PASS (22nd)            148.4 RUSH (4th)
DEF: 19.0 PTS (6th)          291.5 YDS (3rd)                  200.6 PASS (6th)               90.9 RUSH (3rd)
Pro Bowlers: D’Brickashaw Ferguson OT, Nick Mangold C, Darrelle Revis CB
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 vs. Cowboys 8:20 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 vs. Jaguars 1:00 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 at Raiders 4:05 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 at Ravens 8:20 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 at Patriots 4:15 PM Tickets
6 Oct 17 vs. Dolphins 8:30 PM Tickets
7 Oct 23 vs. Chargers 1:00 PM Tickets
8 Bye
9 Nov 06 at Bills 1:00 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 vs. Patriots 8:20 PM Tickets
11 Nov 17 at Broncos 8:20 PM Tickets
12 Nov 27 vs. Bills 1:00 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 at Redskins 1:00 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 vs. Chiefs 1:00 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 at Eagles 4:15 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 vs. Giants 1:00 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 at Dolphins 1:00 PM Tickets

TEAM NEEDS: OLB, FS, SS

Potential Free Agents:
Tony Richardson FB
Santonio Holmes WR - re-signed – 5 yrs, 50 million
Wayne Hunter OT - re-signed –
Trevor Pryce DE
David Harris MLB – 4 yrs, 36 million, 29.5 guaranteed
Lance Laury MLB
Antonio Cromartie CB – re-signed – 4 yrs, 32 million
Brodney Pool FS
Eric Smith FS – re-signed –
James Ihedigbo SS
Nick Folk K – re-signed –

Free agent acquisitions:
Plaxico Burress WR (the hole) – 1 yr, 3.017 million
Derrick Mason WR (Ravens)
Nick Novak K (UFL)

Free agent losses:
Kellen Clemons QB – signed by Redskins
Braylon Edwards WR – signed with 49ers
Brad Smith WR – signed with Bills
Damien Woody OL
Shaun Ellis DEsigned with Patriots
Kris Jenkins DT
Vernon Gholston OLB – Signed with Bears
Jason Taylor OLB – signed with Dolphins
Drew Coleman CBSigned by Jaguars
Steve Weatherford PSigned by Giants

Picks in 2011 NFL Draft

(overall draft grade: B+): GM Mike Tannenbaum has done a terrific job of raising the Jets to a title contender in the AFC East. They’ve made the AFC Championship game the past two years but have come up short of a Super Bowl berth. Nevertheless, this roster is very impressive and some key pieces were added in Wilkerson and Ellis. Shaun Ellis is in the twilight of his career (not meaning that he’ll turn into a werewolf), so Wilkerson is a great fit. The Jets could lose a big part of their receiving corps, so drafting McKnight and Kerley makes sense, but drafting for need is dangerous.

(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 30 (30) Muhammad Wilkerson DL, Temple! – Good value here and he’ll be able to step up when Shaun Ellis retires. He’s a very active defensive lineman and he’ll fit right in with the Jets stingy defense.
Grade: A              Rated: 28

Rd 3, Pick 30 (94) Kenrick Ellis DL, Hampton! – Ellis has the potential to be the nose tackle in New York. He does have character concerns because he had to transfer from South Carolina after rules violations. Despite the character concerns, he’s a very good talent and looks to be a space eater in the middle of the Jets defense in future years.
Grade: A              Rated: 54

Rd 4, Pick 29 (126) Bilal Powell RB, Louisville! – physical runner who broke out in his senior season.
Grade: B              Rated: 157

Rd 5, Pick 22 (153) Jeremy Kerley WR, TCU! – really quick, turned catches into big plays. Looks to best fit at slot.
Grade: B              Rated: 176

Rd 7, Pick 5 (208) Greg McElroy QB, Alabama – it had been reported prior to the draft that the Jets were looking for a backup QB to draft.
Grade: A              Rated: 146

Rd 7, Pick 24 (227) Scotty McKnight WR, Colorado – Mark Sanchez may have had something to do with this pick. Sanchez threw to McKnight at his pro day.
Grade: C-             Rated: NR

2010 Jets Draft review:
The Jets revealed that their staff visited 232 schools, evaluated 1,346 players, scouts wrote over 5,600 reports, and 366 players viewed at combine, office, and all-star games. They described their process a little bit: their scouts scout the college season, then after the college season they cross check by position. Next is when they scout the bowl games and all-star games, then they get coaches involved in evaluating the players (and probably finding out which players are best for their specific offense and defense). They assign grades to the players before combine and before the coaches get involved. The Jets make sure that grades aren’t affected too much by the combine and post-season workouts. General Manager Mike Tannenbaum mentioned two times that being able to take the best available player would be ideal. They were able to basically fill their team’s needs in free agency (LT, Jason Taylor, and Antonio Cromartie), so that’s why I assume that they allowed themselves to just go by their board and the best available players.  Assistant GM Scott Cohen said that they have players rated by rounds in colors. Head Coach Rex Ryan: First round pick Kyle Wilson was rated over some pass rushers (Texas’ Sergio Kindle and TCU’s Jerry Hughes). Tannenbaum: the board and the need aligned with the Wilson pick. It was a unanimous decision to pick Wilson. Tannenbaum stated two times that he asked Rex Ryan why Baltimore and their GM Ozzie Newsome have been so successful in the draft. Ryan said you just take the best player.

Rd 1, Pick 29 (29)              Kyle Wilson CB, Boise State – 16 games, 6 starts, 21 TCK, 5 PD, 2 KR, 22 YDS, 11 AVG, 15 PR, 7.4 AVG

Rd 2, Pick 29 (61)              Vlad Ducasse OT, Massachusetts – 2 games

Rd 4, Pick 14 (112)            Joe McKnight RB, USC – 9 games, 1 starts, 39 ATT, 189 YDS, 4.8 AVG, 3 REC, 20 YDS

Rd 5, Pick 8 (139)              John Conner FB, Kentucky – 16 games, 8 ATT, 44 YDS, 5.5 AVG, 1 TD, 2 REC, 9 YDS

Looking back at my grades for the 2010 Jets draft class: After the draft, I gave the Jets a B overall grade. I thought that Kyle Wilson was the next best corner in the draft behind Joe Haden, so getting him at 29 was great value. Ducasse and McKnight were solid picks, but I think the John Conner pick was a bit of a reach, even though it was their last pick and it was a need. There were lots of better players there. I wouldn’t change a thing about their grade. Ducasse could be moved to right tackle in 2011 and McKnight showed some nice flashes when he was given the opportunity in 2010. Wilson started six games and showed good value for where they got him.

First Round Picks From Last Five Years: Kyle Wilson CB, Mark Sanchez QB, Vernon Gholston OLB, Dustin Keller TE, Darrelle Revis CB, D’Brickashaw Ferguson OT, Nick Mangold C

2010 Stat Leaders
Mark Sanchez  278-507  54.8%  3291 YDS  6.5 YPA  17 TD  13 INT  75.3 RTG

LaDainian Tomlinson  219 ATT  914 YDS  4.2 AVG  31 LNG  6 TD

Braylon Edwards  53 REC  904 YDS  17.1 AVG  74 LNG  7 TD

Nick Folk  30-39  76.9%  56 LNG

David Harris  99 TCK

Bryan Thomas  6 SCK

Dwight Lowery, Antonio Cromartie  3 INT

Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
Sal Alosi Resigns

Follow me on Twitter!: @jermeeeheneghan

Short URL: http://su.pr/1BNbqR

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