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.
