New York Jets NFL Team Column

*Column available

2008 NFL Draft Recap

1. (6) DE/OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
1. (30) TE Dustin Keller, Purdue
4. (113) CB Dwight Lowery, San Jose State
5. (162) QB Erik Ainge, Tennessee
6. (171) WR Marcus Henry, Kansas
7. (211) OT Nate Garner, Arkansas

The Jets were hoping RB Darren McFadden or DT Glenn Dorsey would slip down to them, but they didn't get lucky, instead they settled on DE Vernon Gholston as their first pick. Golston is an explosive pass rusher, but will have to learn how to play standing up as he will be moved to outside linebacker in the Jets 3-4 defense. Gohlston is plenty strong and fast, but plays stiff and hasn't shown to be fluid in pass coverage.

TE Dustin Keller is an excellent pass catching tight end, but they had to give up draft picks to trade back into the first round to get him. Keller will be more of an H-back in the NFL as he doesn't have the size or strength to do much blocking in the running game. At 6' 3" 246 he is basically just a bulked up receiver, but he has receiver speed and can really stretch the field. He will be able to run away from any linebacker and most safeties.

CB Dwight Lowery wasn't a bad pick, he is a ball hawk and had a great junior season. As a senior he wasn't as productive or consistent and didn't run real well at the combine. He should make the team and might be able to contribute on special teams as a rookie. They could have gotten the much faster Orlando Scandrick later in the 4th round, who might eventually be the better player.

I really like the pick of Ainge in the 5th round. I think he was a steal anywhere after the 3rd. A tall kid with a strong arm, he understands the game of football, very experienced and is a winner. Ainge could emerge as one of the best quarterbacks of the 2008 NFL Draft class. Eventually he could start in the NFL, I don't see him as a career back up type, he could compete for a starting spot this year or next.

WR Marcus Henry was a nice pick up in the 6th round. He will be a developmental type, doesn't run real good routes and isn't real explosive but he is a very tall receiver (6' 4" 207 lbs)  with nice hands.

A lot of teams reach in the 7th round, their scouts see something in a player that the other scouts don't see. That's what happened with OT Nate Garner, he wasn't even rated as a draft-able player on most boards. They probably could have gotten him as a unrestricted free agent. Offensive Tackles Brandon Keith or Demetrius Bell would have been a better selection, they were both selected after Garner.

Back to the Top

Horse Shoes, Hand Grenades and the New York Jets

"Almost" only counts in three things: horseshoes, hand grenades and the Jet’s 2007 season.

Most of you could have guessed the first two, but why might you ask dare I include the third? The Jets season is over.  The Jets season has technically been over since October 27^th, 2007 when Jonathan Vilma was placed on the IR.  The Jet’s season, however, has unofficially been over for more than a year.  The 2006 Jets were not a good team.  Don’t gasp.  Don’t step in line to crucify me.  I am a fan.  I care about the Jets future, which is why I speak the truth.

The Jets almost beat the Pats.  Great, that means we showed what we were capable of.  The Jets lost to the Redskins in Overtime.  Great, that means we showed we were good enough, Clemens leading a game tying drive, without losing Draft pick status—which is the key, and I will cover later.  Almost matters most when you are trying to lose out.

The 2006 Jets profited off a weak division and an even weaker schedule.  But they had to play the Pats, you say.  Yes, a Patriots team that was superbly coached—you really have to admire Belichik and Brady all the more because of their success in ’06; I mean anyone, *cough* Peyton Manning and Derek Anderson, can be successful with a solid receiving core.

            While the Jets may have made the playoffs, they were not a playoff caliber team.  Granted, they made moves in the off-season; great moves in fact, Darelle Revis and David Harris have been absolutely phenomenal.  The Jets just do not have any impact players.  No one on the Jets roster makes opponents shiver in the same way, Randy Moss, LaDanian Tomlinson, Steve Smith and their equivalents do.

            This is as clear as anything because the Jets had no one make it to the Pro-Bowl.  Now, I am not saying that a team cannot be successful without individuals, but to send no one to the Pro Bowl—which is in large part a popularity contest, see Sean Taylor’s posthumous selection—is an indicator of the season as a whole.

            This isn’t even to say the Jets are not qualified Pro Bowl material.  On the contrary, Kerry Rhodes is an amazing safety and Leon Washington is arguably second only to Devin Hester in speed and overall agility.

Kerry Rhodes is Pro Bowl caliber and in no uncertain terms should have been chosen over Troy Polamalu.   His stats, sixty-two tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and five interceptions prove that he is more than a simple coverage safety.  Rhodes can hit, last year recording five sacks, and plays all over the field.  Troy had ten tackles less then Kerry, a similar number of forced fumbles, and no sacks or interceptions.  Did I mention he missed four games?  But no, this is not a popularity contest.  Besides, he’s only 25.

Did I mention Little Leon is the quickest cat the NFL has seen?  Okay, so the quickest 5’8 running back in the League.  The next quickest is Devin Hester, but he’s 5’11 and under 190 pounds.  Leon at 201 is certainly a stronger back, but no one catches Hester so it doesn’t matter.

The one bright spot on the Jets otherwise dismal offense, Leon Washington regularly burns teams.  In case you missed the 49 yard option from Brad Smith last Sunday against, admittedly a slow linebacker group, let me reiterate: Leon is good.  In his second year in the league, Leon is already showing signs that he will be a Jet mainstay.  One really couldn’t ask for a better change of pace back, or third down option, for that matter.  A Quarterback?  Yes, the Jets could ask for that.  A better receiving option?  The Jets could ask for that too.  An explosive threat?  God, I was hoping someone would say that.

Having spent the last two years in the NFL draft making picks based on necessity and maintenance, it is time for the New York Jets to think about the fans.  Yes, the fans.

Do you remember at the 2006 Draft when everyone in Radio City Music Hall was chanting the name of the 2004 Heisman Trophy Winner?  Matt Leinhart dropped to pick 10 and the Cards were only too happy to pick him up.  Now imagine they had taken Peterson with pick 5.  Can you think of a scarier offense?  Okay, so you pick the Patriots.  Fine.  Can you think of a scarier offense that might hold together more than a year?  A dual running back combination of Peterson and Edge, receiving threats of Boldin and Fitzgerald and Leinhart, Warner after he gets injured bringing up the rear.  Wow.  Now that is scary.

Sorry, I know Leinhart hasn’t proved anything yet.  I know Da Brick was the right decision.  I know, I know, I know, but…The Jets have no one that can be defined as a Top Dog.  The Jets most offensively exciting player is 5’8.  If a reader knows of any sub 5’8 players in the league, let me know.  I’d love to see how they compete.  My point is that without someone to get excited about, who cares how much rebuilding the Jets do.  New York teams need to win now and they need to win well.  If the Jets can pick up anyone in Free Agency they should.  At the very least, as good as Pennington is, they should shop Chad and try to pick up a third rounder.  This brings me to my final point, and what I said at the beginning: the Jets season is over.

            It is no longer about wins.  It is about losses.  The New York Jets now are the Fourth pick in the NFL draft.  Atlanta (pick 3) plays Arizona in week 16 and then closes with Seattle.  St. Louis (pick 2) plays Pittsburgh next week and then closes with Arizona.  Arizona could be a win for both teams and would essentially catapult the Jets, if they fail to beat Tennessee and Kansas City, into the number 2 pick.  Now let’s share some knowledge, who do the Jets get if they pick 2^nd?

            Darren McFadden, Running Back.  Everything points to him.  He even has the spectacular pro-athlete touted double capital letter name.  Look at LeBron James, or LaDanian Tomlinson, or Donovan McNaab…I mean, I’m not saying only look at that, his stats speak volumes.  If it hadn’t been for Tim Tebow setting records at the Quarterback position, McFadden would have carried the voting.  He still almost did, Tebow being a sophomore.

            If they take a Defensive player and with the way Mangini works, coming from the mold of Boston’s Bill it is entirely possible, Chris Long is not a bad choice.  Shaun Ellis, the Jets best Defensive End option, would benefit so much from an explosive counterpart such as Long.  Already familiar with the 3-4, Long would be an instant starter; the only potential problem would be contract negotiations, but something tells me the Jets would want this guy on the field as soon as possible.

            They might pass on McFadden for other reasons.  He’s a running back.  Thomas Jones is a running back.  Leon is a running back.  But, consider this.  Chester Taylor is a running back.  Do you thin Brad Childress minds taking Peterson?  I don’t.

            So that’s where it is.  I dream about days where Kerry Rhodes comes down from the top of a box on a blitz.  I dream of David Harris and Jonathan Vilma forming up to become one of the leagues hardest hitting LineBacker duos.  I dream of Little Leon streaking down the field, Brad Smith right behind him ready for a lateral.  I dream of the ManGenius ManHandling Belichick.  I dream of success. 

By Chris Mixon

Back to the Top