http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spkenjets0312,0,4989067.htmlstory?coll=ny-jets-print Build by keeping draft picks Beat writer Ken Berger puts forth his five-point plan BY KEN BERGER STAFF WRITER March 12, 2006 Even by Jets standards, this offseason has been one of monumental change. There's a new coach, new general manager, and supposedly a new vision for how to build a winning football team. Before coach Eric Mangini and general manager Mike Tannenbaum can do that, they must have a plan. Luckily, we have one for them. Actually, we have two: The right one on this side of the page, and the wrong one on the other. Bob Glauber says the Jets should trade up for Matt Leinart, shouldn't trade John Abraham, and should trade for Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey. Apparently, Glauber hasn't seen enough mediocre Jets quarterbacks over the years and wants to see another one just for fun. My five-point plan for fixing the Jets is about building a foundation while assuring some level of competitiveness this season. Above all, every player this team acquires must fit the vision of the coach -- because for better or worse, this is the coach the Jets believe has the right blueprint for long-term success. With so many needs on offense and the importance of adding defensive players who fit the Bill Belichick mold, every draft pick is crucial. Mangini needs as many picks as he can get his hands on, which is why the Jets shouldn't be trading them for journeyman quarterbacks. It is also why they should be trying to trade Abraham for a first-round pick. If Mangini really is like Belichick, he will place as much importance on finding a smart, tough nickel back to replace the unimpressive Derrick Strait as he will on higher-profile positions. (If the Jets use the extra first-round pick I'm suggesting they acquire on a defensive player, Virginia Tech cornerback Jimmy Williams could play nickel as a rookie and then replace David Barrett as a starter in '07). Mangini also won't allow the talent drain on the offensive line to continue; the line is a mess, partly because the Jets failed to draft a single offensive lineman last year -- an unforgivable mistake in Belichick's world. But there are bigger issues to tackle. Here is how I'd do it: 1. Trade Abraham The salary-cap ramifications of trading a franchise player are delicate, but it can be done. It's not entirely accurate to say Abraham is a one-dimensional player, but you need to be multi-dimensional to play the defensive system Mangini wants to implement. Abraham is not comfortable dropping into coverage, nor is he technically sound enough to handle the nuances of the hybrid scheme. Clearly, the Jets have been reluctant to commit long-term money to Abraham, and there's a reason for that. They're in the building phase, so they should begin with an extra first-round pick that will give them flexibility to address more than one need in the opening round. 2. Keep the fourth pick and have options The Jets have most people thinking they're drafting a quarterback first. My money is on Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler if they go that route. But with an additional first-rounder from the Abraham trade, the Jets would be in a position to seriously consider Cutler or Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. If they don't want Ferguson to start as a rookie, they could add a veteran left tackle such as Tom Ashworth, Kevin Shaffer, or Brad Hopkins through free agency. But the key to having two first-round picks is flexibility. If they play poker, the Jets could sucker a team into trading for the fourth pick and stockpile even more picks. Or, if it becomes apparent that the player they want will be gone, they would have ammunition to move up and get him. 3. Don't trade for Ramsey I can't emphasize enough the importance of the draft in building what Mangini is trying to build. Even a fifth-round pick is too valuable to trade for an unproven, stopgap quarterback. Keep your picks and sign a free agent. My suggestion is Sage Rosenfels, who was drafted by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. 4. Sign McGinest While they're clearly building for the future, the Jets can't afford to be non-competitive in Mangini's first year. The defense is much closer than the offense, but it needs an influx of veteran leadership. Even though he's 34, McGinest is the perfect player to plug into Abraham's spot as a true 3-4 hybrid end. He also will serve the invaluable role of respected veteran who is a "Mangini guy," teaching the defensive concepts and giving the new system instant credibility in the locker room. Signing a three-time Super Bowl champion like McGinest would send a message that the Jets are not mailing it in this year. Another suggestion that goes hand-in-hand with signing McGinest: The Jets need a big-time, run-stuffing nose tackle to make the second level of the defense work, and they could do a lot worse than Ted Washington, another "Mangini guy." 5. Draft a running back . . . . . . but not Reggie Bush: The Jets have too many needs to pay the price of moving up to take Bush, and there are plenty of running backs to go around. DeAngelo Williams, LenDale White, or Laurence Maroney would suit the Jets' needs just fine. Glauber and I agree that the Jets' problems are more complicated than any five-step plan can fix. Especially if they use his.
It would be nice to draft a RB, but I just don't see it happening when we already have three on the roster...
I like sugggestion #5--draft a top-flight RB. If I was in charge I'd use a top 15 selection to get one of the elite RBs. Then after July 1 I'd cut Martin AND BLaylock and go with Houston and our #1 pick at RB next year. Bradway and Edwards are gone, so let's sweep out their thoughts of playing the greybeards forever.
I would take Maroney with the Broncos pick, theres a good chance he'll be there, especially if its 22.
I liked what I was reading until I got to this: Everything after that, with the exception of drafting a RB, who isn't named Reggie Bush, was crap.
If we draft a runningback in the first round with all our other needs I would be pretty dissapointed. I do like the point about McGinest. It would certainly help the players gain respect for Mangini if Willie is there and on his side.
