Since Mike Tannenbaum was promoted to general manager of the New York Jets in 2006, the team has added a ton of talent through the draft and free agency. Whether it’s been Eric Mangini or Rex Ryan as Gang Green’s head coach, Tannenbaum has made very shrewd draft picks, compiling a core group of players that includes franchise quarterback Mark Sanchez, a load of a running back in Shonn Greene, a pass-catching tight end in Dustin Keller, an impact inside linebacker in David Harris, a multi-faceted contributor in Brad Smith, and Pro Bowlers in cornerback Darelle Revis, left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and center Nick Mangold. Tannenbaum has also done an outstanding job with his free agent pickups and trade acquisitions, which have included cornerback Antonio Cromartie, inside linebacker Bart Scott, nose tackle Kris Jenkins, running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Thomas Jones, and wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes.
Tannenbaum has had his busts—Vernon Gholston, most notably—but there aren’t many general managers in the NFL today who can match what he’s supplied for his coaching staffs over a five-year period. As one goes down the list of players Tannenbaum has picked in the last five drafts, however, it’s difficult to not find it alarming that the balding, overweight general manager has selected just two defensive linemen—Gholston, who was supposed be the Jets’ DeMarcus Ware but failed miserably, and 2006 seventh-round choice Titus Adams, who never played a down for Gang Green.
With Revis, Cromartie, Dwight Lowery, and 2010 first-round pick Kyle Wilson, the Jets had perhaps the best group of cornerbacks last season. Ryan is one of the preeminent defensive schemers, and Harris and Scott form a formidable tandem at inside linebacker. Put it all together, and Gang Green had a defense that was among the elite in the NFL for the second straight year in 2010. Even so, there has been a missing element: dominance from the three down linemen and two outside linebackers. And with the release of Gholston, Jenkins, and Jason Taylor this week, and with free agent defensive end Shaun Ellis turning 34 in June, the Jets are now thin on the defensive line. The only starting defensive linemen currently under contract are nose tackle Sione Pouha and defensive end Mike DeVito, neither of whom is worth writing home about. Thus, the Jets are in a bad spot up front.
Ask any football coach who knows what he’s talking about, and he’ll tell you that the battle is won in the trenches. Of course a team needs a good quarterback to be a consistent winner, but if the best passer won a championship every year, Eli Manning and the New York Giants wouldn’t have been triumphant over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. With Sanchez, the Jets seem to be set at quarterback for years, and their offensive line is among the best in the NFL. Now it’s time to find some defensive players who can get after the opposing quarterback.
If free agency ever begins this offseason, there are a couple defensive linemen the Jets can grab, including Shaun Rogers and Marcus Spears. But the top priority for Gang Green should be to retain their own players, as Cromartie, Ellis, Edwards, and Holmes had their contracts run out after last season, and Brad Smith, starting strong safety Eric Smith, and kicker Nick Folk were hit with the worthless restricted free agent tenders on Wednesday. That leaves the draft as the best place for the Jets to address their needs.
Draft
The Jets don’t have a second-round pick this April, as they traded it away to the San Diego Chargers for Cromartie last year. So, it’s imperative that Tannenbaum hits on his first-round selection. Although Texas A&M’s Von Miller, Alabama’s Marcell Dareus, Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan, North Carolina’s Robert Quinn, Cal’s Cameron Jordan, and Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt are all expected to go in the top 20, here are some defensive linemen and outside linebackers who may fall to the Jets at the 30th overall pick:
Baylor nose tackle Phil Taylor
It wasn’t long ago that Taylor was considered a second- or third-round talent. But when a defensive lineman is 6-3 1/2, 337 pounds and possesses the ability, strength, and technique Taylor does, chances are he’s going to be a first-round pick. And just like that, in recent mock drafts Taylor has gone as early as the 18th overall selection, to the San Diego Chargers.
According to Scott Wright’s NFL Draft Countdown, Taylor is “very strong, powerful and physical” and “does a terrific job of stuffing the run.” He is “stout at the point of attack and can anchor,” and is “able to take on and occupy multiple blockers.” He has “violent hands and uses them well,” and is “aggressive and plays with an edge.”
Taylor does have some character concerns, as he was dismissed from the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2008 after being involved in a fight at a frat party, forcing him to transfer to Baylor. Wright also mentions that Taylor is “not very fast, quick, agile or explosive” and he “doesn’t always play with proper leverage,” which can explain why he’s “awfully limited as a pass-rusher.”
In 2010 Taylor had 62 tackles, seven of them coming in the backfield, and two sacks. As a guy who plays with swagger and a mean streak, one could say he’d be a perfect fit in Ryan’s defense.
Phil Taylor highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezk5xKe_vHg
Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward
Heyward was considered by many as a top-15 talent heading into last season. But as is the case with many highly-touted prospects going into their senior seasons with great expectations, Heyward didn’t live up to the hype. Previously thought of as an impact player from the defensive end position, Heyward posted just 3.5 sacks last fall, although he did have 13 tackles in the backfield. To be fair, however, he was bothered by an ankle injury most of the season, and after about a month of rest prior to the Sugar Bowl, he dominated the Arkansas Razorbacks by posting 3.5 tackles in the backfield, a sack, two quarterback hurries, and a pass breakup. Even so, his lack of production overall in 2010 has many believing he’ll go in the late first round, at the earliest.
At 6-5, 288 pounds the Ohio State defensive end was a four-year starter and team captain. He was named Second Team All-Big Ten in 2009 and First Team in 2010. He is the son of the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, a bruising running back who played 11 years in the NFL.
According to Wright, Heyward “will never be a dynamic sack artist…but [he] is an impressive physical specimen with the talent and intangibles to play in the NFL for a very long time. [He] profiles as a base end who can also move inside and play defensive tackle in the 4-3, but [his] best fit may come as a five technique in a 3-4. [He] is eerily similar in many ways to Tyson Jackson of the Kansas City Chiefs.”
Cameron Heyward 2010 Rose Bowl highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inKtdfodCak&feature=related
Heyward vs. Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjPsgcj2ufI
Look at the big fella move: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7qF6ioDj8U&NR=1
2011 Sugar Bowl highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHQSGzwLoWM
Temple defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson
After being considered a second-round choice in most mock drafts during the month of February, some are now predicting that Wilkerson will be selected by the New England Patriots at pick #28, and ESPN’s Todd McShay says Wilkerson is one of the five most underrated prospects.
At 6-4, 315 pounds Wilkerson is a versatile defensive lineman many believe can play either end or nose tackle. In 2010 he had 70 tackles, 13 of them in the backfield, and 9.5 sacks, which was a nice follow-up to his 2009 season: 62 tackles, 10.5 of them for losses, and seven sacks. According to McShay, Wilkerson “looked nimble and athletic during position drills” at the NFL Combine last weekend in Indianapolis.
Coming from a small school could lead to the preconceived notion that Wilkerson padded his stats against lesser competition, but nothing can be further from the truth. Against Penn State last September 25 Wilkerson was credited with nine tackles and a forced fumble, and last November 23 he had seven tackles, 1.5 of them coming in the backfield, a sack, a quarterback hurry, and a pass breakup versus the Miami Hurricanes.
Muhammad Wilkerson highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssOjK3D6fFQ
Georgia defensive end/outside linebacker Justin Houston
As one of the best pass-rushers in this draft, Houston is most likely best suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 system. In 2010 he recorded 10 sacks, 18 tackles in the backfield, and an interception while lining up at both defensive end and outside linebacker in Georgia’s system. At 6-3, 270 pounds Houston doesn’t appear to be strong enough to play defensive end in a 4-3, but he has the skills necessary to be a force at outside linebacker in a 3-4, which is one of the things the Jets are in need of.
Wright has the Jets taking Houston at pick #30 in his latest mock draft. Here’s what he has to say about the Bulldogs' product:
Despite the presence of some big names like Jason Taylor, Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace at outside linebacker, the Jets could still use another pass rusher and Georgia’s Justin Houston would be a perfect fit in their 3-4 scheme…An athletic pass rusher with great speed, Houston is a terror off the edge and will likely find a home somewhere in the first round.
As a trio, Pace, Thomas, and Jason Taylor combined for 17 sacks last season. That’s not nearly enough for a complete defense, and Houston may be the player the Jets need to give them the pass-rushing presence they’ve lacked for years.
Justin Houston highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR0L2RVId90
Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn
Following a dominant 2009 season, in which he posted 11.5 sacks, 20 tackles in the backfield and was named MVP of the FedEx Orange Bowl, Clayborn was considered a top prospect for the 2010 draft. But Clayborn opted to remain in school for his senior season last fall, and one could say it turned out to be a mistake, what with his stats dropping to just seven tackles in the backfield and 3.5 sacks in 2010.
In addition to his poor 2010 season, Clayborn has character concerns, stemming from a January 2009 incident in which he had an altercation with a taxicab driver. Clayborn eventually pled guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. To cap it off, he also was born with Erb’s Palsy, a condition that resulted in nerve damage to his right shoulder, which leads to weakness and restriction of motion.
Clayborn has shown he can dominate on numerous occasions, though, and many believe he’s still a first-round talent. There are still more than a few mock drafts having him go between picks #16 and #25. In WalterFootball.com’s latest mock draft (March 3), it has Clayborn selected by Tampa Bay at pick #20. Here’s what it has to say about him:
Forget the fact that teams will be worried about Adrian Clayborn's character issues for a second; he just wasn't very good this season. Once considered a top-10 talent, Clayborn will likely come off the board in the late teens or early 20s unless he has a dynamic pre-draft workout.
The 6-2 5/8, 281-pound Clayborn was a three-year starter and team captain for the Hawkeyes. He was named First Team All-Big Ten in 2009 and 2010. If he’s still available at pick #30, the Jets have to decide if he’s a player who will perform at the maximum of his ability in the NFL.
Adrian Clayborn MVP Orange Bowl highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNpMdwtbLv0
Clayborn vs. Carimi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zin3JvllXm0&feature=related
Illinois defensive tackle Cory Liuget
At 6-2 1/8, 298 pounds Liuget is another defensive lineman whose stock has risen tremendously over the last month. He’s entering the draft a year early, thanks to a stellar junior year that saw him produce 63 tackles, 12.5 of them coming in the backfield, and 4.5 sacks. In his final game with the Fighting Illini, against Baylor in the 2010 Texas Bowl, Liuget went out on a high note, as he finished the contest with five tackles, 2.5 for losses, and a sack.
According to WalterFootball.com, which has Liuget going 24th overall to the New Orleans Saints, the Illinois defensive tackle is “quick off the snap, strong against the run, able to bull rush with power, and very versatile.” On the other hand, he “needs to develop pass-rushing moves, does not possess closing speed, and [is] still working on his stamina and conditioning.”
And while Liuget may lack experience when compared to the other prospects at his position, one NFL defensive line coach told ESPN that he ranks Liuget as the second-best defensive tackle in this draft, behind Alabama’s Marcell Dareus. If Liuget is sitting there for the Jets at pick #30, he’ll be very difficult to pass up.
Corey Liuget highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlprPUyKL8M
Other prospects the Jets could consider later on in the draft: Nevada defensive end/outside linebacker Dontay Moch, Arizona defensive end/outside linebacker Brooks Reed, Miami defensive end Allen Bailey, Iowa defensive end Christian Ballard, North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin.
The Jets have made the last two AFC Championship games, so they’ve been very close to winning their first Super Bowl title since the 1968 season. But while they have a lot of talent on the roster, they can’t allow their defensive line or pass rush become a huge weakness. It’s time for Tannenbaum and Ryan to find the next dominant defensive player up front.
The Jets definitely have to take care of the DL but they need a pass rusher too. With only 2 picks in the top 3 rounds they are going to have to address both needs. They could use some help in their secondary too if they let Cromartie go.
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