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April 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
1:43:00 AM EDT
With the NFL Draft now just days away, it's time to reveal what I would do this weekend if I were in Mike Tannenbaum's and Eric Magini's shoes. The Draft is an inexact science. It's impossible to tell who will go where. There's no telling whether the guys I'm about to pick will even be on the board by the time the Jets select. Any small glitch in the radar would probably end with me adjusting the entire Draft. The following is only conjecture of who will realistically be available if things break right.
With the 4th pick of the Draft, the Jets select Matt Leinart, quarterback from Southern California:
Chad Pennington is facing a real uphill battle in trying to come back from a second rotator cuff tear. Patrick Ramsey is a nice guy to have for depth, but he's not a franchise quarterback a team can build around. The Jets need to find a signal caller of the future. Who could be better than the best quarterback in the 2006 Draft? Leinart has it all. He's played in a pro style offense. He's intellingent and understands how to read a defense and take care of the football. He's also a proven winner who is at his best in pressure situations. Leinart won't be fazed by being a star athlete in the nation's biggest media market. He has already been a megastar in the nation's second biggest market. There are some knocks on his arm strength, but it is adequate for the NFL. What he lacks in natural ability, Matt makes up for in intangibles such as leadership. New York needs a quarterback of the future. The team would be crazy to pass on Leinart if he's available at 4.
With the 29th pick of the Draft, the Jets select DeAngelo Williams, running back from Memphis:
The Jets do not have to select a running back this weekend. Going into 2006 with a Curtis Martin/Derrick Blaylock/Cedric Houston rotation wouldn't be the worst thing at the world. However, if Williams is available at 29 (and indications are that he will be), the team has to take him. DeAngelo is the second best running back in the Draft behind Reggie Bush. He has very good speed, elusiveness, and vision. Williams is also very durable. It's absolutely baffling how his stock has fallen, but that will work to the Jets' benefit. Curtis Martin will have his heir apparent in Williams.
With the 35th pick of the Draft, the Jets select Marcus McNeill, offensive tackle from Auburn:
Now that the Jets have taken care of the skill positions, the team can turn its attention to an offensive line badly in need of an overhaul. In 2005, the biggest weakness was tackle as the dynamic duo of Jason Fabini and Scott Gragg was horrid. McNeill is a 336 pound beast. He is an athletic lineman effective in both pass protection and run blocking. Marcus will be able to play on either side of the line. He is a legitimate top 15 talent who probably will drop out of the first round because of injury concerns. Eric Mangini has been groomed by men who demand their players to be in top shape. There is no reason not to expect Eric to have a similar style. Staying in top condition will help keep McNeill healthy and make him a steal.
With the 71st pick of the Draft, the Jets select Greg Eslinger, center from Minnesota:
The Jets need to find a replacement for Kevin Mawae. There appear to only be two centers in this Draft who will be legitimate pro starters, and Nick Mangold will be long gone by the time this pick comes along. If DeAngelo Williams is gone at 29, New York should grab Mangold then. However, if the team selects Williams, Eslinger will do at 71. He has the kind of nasty streak that is key for a lineman and very good technique. Eslinger is a very intelligent lineman who understands blocking assignments. He's also athletic enough that in time he should be able to help pull in the running game like Mawae used to.
With the 97th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Jeremy Trueblood, offensive tackle from Boston College:
With Adrian Jones and Marcus McNeill now in place starting, it's time to get some depth at the tackle position. Trueblood is a guy who projects as a starter. He has the same nasty streak that Eslinger does and is another monster in terms of size. BC has a reputation for developing quality offensive linemen. I've seen a lot of Trueblood and have no doubt that he will be more than adequate on the NFL level as a starter. He will really be an asset to have as a backup.
With the 103rd pick in the Draft, the Jets select Jon Alston, linebacker from Stanford:
If the Jets are going to run a 3-4 defense, they will need players who fit in with that style. Alston is an outside linebacker with a lot of speed who can get to the quarterback. He's clearly intelligent having gone to Stanford and is a guy who works hard. If Eric Mangini is anything like his mentor, this is the kind of player he will value.
With the 117th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Babatunde Oshinowo, defensive tackle from Stanford:
Keeping with the trend of selecting Stanford defenders, the Jets go with Oshinowo with the pick they received in compensation for Herman Edwards. Babatunde is another intellingent, hard worker. He's also a defensive tackle who is capable of taking up multiple blockers. He would fit well into either the 3-4 or the 4-3. His game translates well to the NFL. Oshinowo could rotate with Simone Pouha at nose tackle as the Jets try to develop the pair.
With the 138th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Jason Spitz, offensive guard from Louisville:
Spitz is a fundamentally sound guy with good size who handles his assignments well. He has a quick burst off the line. Spitz should be a quality backup right off the bat and in time is capable of developing into a solid starter. Adding Jason will only improve depth on the revamped offensive line and gives the Jets someone to eventually take over for Pete Kendall.
In a trade the Jets acquire the 207th pick from the Bengals in exchange for Brooks Bollinger:
With Carson Palmer's situation up in the air, Cincinnati needs quarterback depth. Brooks proved that he can be a servicable depth guy last season. Since Matt Leinart is in New York, the Jets have no need for Bollinger, but since the price is only a 7th round selection, the Bengals are more than willing to bring Brooks into the mix.
With the 207th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Michael Robinson, quarterback from Penn State:
Robinson will not be a quarterback on the pro level. However, he does have a future in the NFL. M-Rob is an excellent athlete with great leadership skills. He played wide receiver in college, actually leading Penn State in receiving in 2004. This experience should ease the transition. Robinson can be developed into a good NFL receiver. He will be an asset to have when running trick plays given his ability to throw the football.
With the 211th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Quadtrine Hill, fullback from Miami:
Hill is a good blocker, athlete, and receiver. He's also a guy who can contributeon special teams. Quadtrine will be able to push B.J. Askew for the starting fullback job vacated by Jerald Sowell.
With this Draft, the Jets will have addressed holes at quarterback, running back, offensive line, nose tackle, and linebacker and added athletes with a lot of potential. These moves will not bring the team to the Super Bowl in 2006. They probably won't get the team into legitimate Playoff contention. However, they will lay a foundation. This Draft is a big one for the rebuilding process. If the Jets make the right decisions, a major step will have been taken.
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1:43:00 AM EDT
Coztanza On The Clock
With the 4th pick of the Draft, the Jets select Matt Leinart, quarterback from Southern California:
Chad Pennington is facing a real uphill battle in trying to come back from a second rotator cuff tear. Patrick Ramsey is a nice guy to have for depth, but he's not a franchise quarterback a team can build around. The Jets need to find a signal caller of the future. Who could be better than the best quarterback in the 2006 Draft? Leinart has it all. He's played in a pro style offense. He's intellingent and understands how to read a defense and take care of the football. He's also a proven winner who is at his best in pressure situations. Leinart won't be fazed by being a star athlete in the nation's biggest media market. He has already been a megastar in the nation's second biggest market. There are some knocks on his arm strength, but it is adequate for the NFL. What he lacks in natural ability, Matt makes up for in intangibles such as leadership. New York needs a quarterback of the future. The team would be crazy to pass on Leinart if he's available at 4.
With the 29th pick of the Draft, the Jets select DeAngelo Williams, running back from Memphis:
The Jets do not have to select a running back this weekend. Going into 2006 with a Curtis Martin/Derrick Blaylock/Cedric Houston rotation wouldn't be the worst thing at the world. However, if Williams is available at 29 (and indications are that he will be), the team has to take him. DeAngelo is the second best running back in the Draft behind Reggie Bush. He has very good speed, elusiveness, and vision. Williams is also very durable. It's absolutely baffling how his stock has fallen, but that will work to the Jets' benefit. Curtis Martin will have his heir apparent in Williams.
With the 35th pick of the Draft, the Jets select Marcus McNeill, offensive tackle from Auburn:
Now that the Jets have taken care of the skill positions, the team can turn its attention to an offensive line badly in need of an overhaul. In 2005, the biggest weakness was tackle as the dynamic duo of Jason Fabini and Scott Gragg was horrid. McNeill is a 336 pound beast. He is an athletic lineman effective in both pass protection and run blocking. Marcus will be able to play on either side of the line. He is a legitimate top 15 talent who probably will drop out of the first round because of injury concerns. Eric Mangini has been groomed by men who demand their players to be in top shape. There is no reason not to expect Eric to have a similar style. Staying in top condition will help keep McNeill healthy and make him a steal.
With the 71st pick of the Draft, the Jets select Greg Eslinger, center from Minnesota:
The Jets need to find a replacement for Kevin Mawae. There appear to only be two centers in this Draft who will be legitimate pro starters, and Nick Mangold will be long gone by the time this pick comes along. If DeAngelo Williams is gone at 29, New York should grab Mangold then. However, if the team selects Williams, Eslinger will do at 71. He has the kind of nasty streak that is key for a lineman and very good technique. Eslinger is a very intelligent lineman who understands blocking assignments. He's also athletic enough that in time he should be able to help pull in the running game like Mawae used to.
With the 97th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Jeremy Trueblood, offensive tackle from Boston College:
With Adrian Jones and Marcus McNeill now in place starting, it's time to get some depth at the tackle position. Trueblood is a guy who projects as a starter. He has the same nasty streak that Eslinger does and is another monster in terms of size. BC has a reputation for developing quality offensive linemen. I've seen a lot of Trueblood and have no doubt that he will be more than adequate on the NFL level as a starter. He will really be an asset to have as a backup.
With the 103rd pick in the Draft, the Jets select Jon Alston, linebacker from Stanford:
If the Jets are going to run a 3-4 defense, they will need players who fit in with that style. Alston is an outside linebacker with a lot of speed who can get to the quarterback. He's clearly intelligent having gone to Stanford and is a guy who works hard. If Eric Mangini is anything like his mentor, this is the kind of player he will value.
With the 117th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Babatunde Oshinowo, defensive tackle from Stanford:
Keeping with the trend of selecting Stanford defenders, the Jets go with Oshinowo with the pick they received in compensation for Herman Edwards. Babatunde is another intellingent, hard worker. He's also a defensive tackle who is capable of taking up multiple blockers. He would fit well into either the 3-4 or the 4-3. His game translates well to the NFL. Oshinowo could rotate with Simone Pouha at nose tackle as the Jets try to develop the pair.
With the 138th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Jason Spitz, offensive guard from Louisville:
Spitz is a fundamentally sound guy with good size who handles his assignments well. He has a quick burst off the line. Spitz should be a quality backup right off the bat and in time is capable of developing into a solid starter. Adding Jason will only improve depth on the revamped offensive line and gives the Jets someone to eventually take over for Pete Kendall.
In a trade the Jets acquire the 207th pick from the Bengals in exchange for Brooks Bollinger:
With Carson Palmer's situation up in the air, Cincinnati needs quarterback depth. Brooks proved that he can be a servicable depth guy last season. Since Matt Leinart is in New York, the Jets have no need for Bollinger, but since the price is only a 7th round selection, the Bengals are more than willing to bring Brooks into the mix.
With the 207th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Michael Robinson, quarterback from Penn State:
Robinson will not be a quarterback on the pro level. However, he does have a future in the NFL. M-Rob is an excellent athlete with great leadership skills. He played wide receiver in college, actually leading Penn State in receiving in 2004. This experience should ease the transition. Robinson can be developed into a good NFL receiver. He will be an asset to have when running trick plays given his ability to throw the football.
With the 211th pick in the Draft, the Jets select Quadtrine Hill, fullback from Miami:
Hill is a good blocker, athlete, and receiver. He's also a guy who can contributeon special teams. Quadtrine will be able to push B.J. Askew for the starting fullback job vacated by Jerald Sowell.
With this Draft, the Jets will have addressed holes at quarterback, running back, offensive line, nose tackle, and linebacker and added athletes with a lot of potential. These moves will not bring the team to the Super Bowl in 2006. They probably won't get the team into legitimate Playoff contention. However, they will lay a foundation. This Draft is a big one for the rebuilding process. If the Jets make the right decisions, a major step will have been taken.
Written by georgecoztanza Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | digg this
