From the Saints game on Coples play greatly improved for us. He struggled early in the season due to learning a new position and getting hurt in the process. He's more then fine as a hybrid DE/OLB. Wilkerson does a good job creating a rush and Richardson will continue to develop in that area. I agree with you on Pace but, if Pace can have "success" rushing the QB I have no doubt a full year of a healthy Barnes could produce at worst, the same result, most likely better results. I'm not saying that we couldn't use another player on the outside. But it's not a huge need. We are much better off looking to add a young player in the middle rounds of the draft then we are going out and throwing big money at a guy like D-Ware who is past his prime, or someone like that. Our secondary was exposed because our secondary wasn't that good. The pass rush as a whole last year was more then adequate. It's not great but it's not in dire needs of being addressed is all im saying. The Jets have huge, massive holes to fill on offense. The pass rush is not a huge concern.
I know we've been talking about the OLB position for a few years now. I think it's best we address it in the draft (3rd or 4th round). Pace is getting old and Barnes should hopefully return to form, Coples understands the role well now, Macintire is okay. Maybe this year we will FINALLY draft an OLB. I know most had it on the top of their draft wish list since the 2011 draft. It's not like the pass rush was bad last year or anything, it was decent but our corners and safeties didn't really start clicking until late season. You can only have so much pass rush, a good QB will find the open man fast. I don't think we need a premium OLB, just a young guy to develop. If we go premium for any player for defense it should be Byrd as it will fill an important hole. Our line is good enough that we don't need a premium OLB, but I feel Coples improved substantially at the position and will continue to blossom this year.
Out of the draft one OLB i really like is Jeremiah Attaochu. He has a lot of burst, and good size to attack the qb, broke georgia tech sacks record. I think coples will be great next year projecting a breakout, but i think attaochu would provide a the quick burst off the edge to coples' strength and force. The kid is 6'3 and fiery, feel like definitely a Rex type of player because he has an attackmode.
Did I even mention D-Ware? What I was talking about was basically addressing the position in the draft, and said that Idzik may look to sign a cheap FA.
While I think pass rush is very important, one of Rex's faults is his refusal to play a zone once in a while. Many other teams get coverage sacks, the jets don't get them because Rex insist on sending the house on 3rd down and hence the defense gets burned and can't get off the field. If Rex did not gamble as much on 3rd downs as he did, we could focus on improving the offense and get an OLB at a later round and not with the 18th pick. JMO
I didn't say you mentioned D-Ware. Just using him as an example because addressing the position early in the draft (as in first 2 rounds) would be ridiculous IMO. Unless of course we really go out and spend big on the offensive side of the ball via FA. If your talking about addressing it in the middle rounds then we agree. I'd have no problem going with an OLB in rounds 3 or up but by all accounts this is suppose to be a deep offensive draft class. We can't afford to pass on good, young, offensive players early for more defense when we have one of the best defensive minds in the game as our HC.
I'll take a flyer on someone cheap but I'd rather see Coples develop into that role then pay someone big bucks. He's a physical beast and we saw him start to come on towards the end of last season. ( See the Saints game if you need an example ) source: http://thejetsblog.com/bga/bga-saints-at-jets-part-two-defensest/ You have to remember that he was not only recovering from a major injury but was also switching positions last year. I expect big things from him this year.
I agree with this. Richardson is already a beast and if he makes the normal jump a second yr player makes him and Mo will be getting after QB's all day. There's a reason why pace had nice sack totals last year and that's because these two have to be accounted for and that opens things up. Throw Coples and some young talent via the draft or udfa's in the mix there and we should be fine. More importantly sure up the back end so these QB's have to hold onto the ball an extra second.
In my opinion the jets should TRADE Coples for a decent draft pick, and draft an OLB with it. Rex the idiot will keep trying to convince himself that 290 lbs. LB (like Coples) is the new thing in the NFL--Can you imagine Coples trying to keep up with Gronkowski?
You obviously scheme around things like this and you would never have him on a faster guy like that. Jets handle this often with the strong safety covering and ILB playing a zone underneath. But there are plenty of slower tight ends that Coples could do a decent enough job covering if needed. In reverse, Could you imagine a TE trying to block Coples 1 on 1? http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/33011/quinton-coples-gaining-job-security Short little article about his learning process and working on coverage.
People forget that in Wilks first year he wasn't much of a pass rusher either. Richardson in his college years, was very good at getting to the QB. It was a more of a shock that he was so good against the run his first year and not as good at creating a rush. I expect Richardson's pass rushing to greatly improve by next year.
I totally understand your perspective about taking yet another defensive player in the first round instead of an offensive player, particularly a WR. Idzik should be able to put together a quality D that is even better than it is now, without having to use 3-4 more 1st round picks. The riches need to be spread to the offensive side of the ball too. I'm not saying that we should take an OLB in the first round, just that I wouldn't be shocked if we did, and don't think it's a terrible idea if one is the bpa at #18 and they take him. For better or for worse, we can say with some degree of certainty that Idzik will go bpa in the 1st round. In general, that's the best way to approach the draft. Trading down isn't always an option, but if the bpa at #18 is an OLB or S, then perhaps we should hope that the Jets will trade down and then take a WR. I just want them to add a quality young prospect at OLB at some point in the draft that has some speed and real promise. I'm sick of the slow plodders the Jets have had at OLB for the last 10 years that can't rush the passer and can't cover. The problem is that the lower one goes in the draft, the slower, and less skilled players get. That can make all the difference for an OLB. While I'd love to add Mack, Barr or Ford, the first two are almost guaranteed not to be a possibility, and I'd be quite happy waiting until the 2nd round or first pick in the 3rd round and take Attaochu and have the other two picks be 2 WRs or a WR and a TE.
IMO he's too heavy and too slow to ever be a truly effective OLB. This is mad-scientist Rex at his worst imo.
Most of the time, that's not even a concern for opposing teams as the pass is away before Coples is anywhere near the QB. He's just too slow.
He's one of the few marketable players they have, but I'm not sure if they could get anywhere near value for him. It would hurt to talk to other teams and see what they'd offer.
Did you read the article posted previous? "By my count, he beat his man nine times, many of them on the outside, quieting those doubters who felt he wouldn’t have the speed to get pressure off the edge. "
Well, we also tried Coples and I still like him, but we don't have a pass rush to be feared. I feel like this is brought up every damn offseason.
No, not totally serious. Production outweighs everything. I forget what game it was, but it felt like Houston got a million sacks, and since I don't root for his team, it got really annoying to watch after a while. I mean, c'mon, change it up once in a while.
I hear you. I don't like the showboating, either. It isn't professional or mature, but as you know, many football players do it, including many really good ones. Unfortunately, it's just something we have to live with.
