2788 replies to this topic

[RutgersJetFan]

Te'o isn't as good as AJ Hawk was, and Hawk has sucked in the pros.

They played two different positions and keep in mind that LB core around Hawk was insanely good. But when it comes to the draft MLBs get valued distinctly lower and Hawk managed to go very high in one of the deepest drafts ever.

I think Te'o should be fine in the pros. The difference between him and the classic busts is that kid's acumen is insanely high. He'll be able to step in and start and run a D very early (maybe day one) and that's huge for draft value.

[T0mShane]

They played two different positions and keep in mind that LB core around Hawk was insanely good. But when it comes to the draft MLBs get valued distinctly lower and Hawk managed to go very high in one of the deepest drafts ever.

I think Te'o should be fine in the pros. The difference between him and the classic busts is that kid's acumen is insanely high. He'll be able to step in and start and run a D very early (maybe day one) and that's huge for draft value.

I know it's semantics, but the idea of drafting Te'o with the 25th pick makes a lot more sense to me than drafting him with the 5th pick. It goes back to his lack of outstanding measurables and the position itself. He's actually the kind of player I like--tons of production, leader, character--but if the Jets end up with the 6th overall pick, I'll have an aneurysm if Te'o is the pick there. If they get him at the top of the second round, though? I'd be pleased.

[RutgersJetFan]

And? So what? Don't act like the SEC is some impenetrable force that can't be beaten.

It's not that they're unbeatable, it's just the gap that you're seeing in size, speed, talent...etc is much greater than anywhere else. By the time a team like Bama gets to the BCS their players have been playing NFL prospects week after week, so there's not going to be much adjustment. For a team like ND who's seeing that level of talent only once or twice a year it's much more difficult. Kelly's great but it's exactly why he got blown out in the Sugar Bowl two years back. Cinci was completely overwhelmed right from the start because they hadn't encountered anything like that all year.

[CrazyCarl40]

I know it's semantics, but the idea of drafting Te'o with the 25th pick makes a lot more sense to me than drafting him with the 5th pick. It goes back to his lack of outstanding measurables and the position itself. He's actually the kind of player I like--tons of production, leader, character--but if the Jets end up with the 6th overall pick, I'll have an aneurysm if Te'o is the pick there. If they get him at the top of the second round, though? I'd be pleased.

I agree that I wouldn't pick him that high, but he'll be a good pick no matter where he goes. I think he is more built for a 4-3.

[T0mShane]

I agree that I wouldn't pick him that high, but he'll be a good pick no matter where he goes. I think he is more built for a 4-3.

But is he a two-down linebacker in the 4-3? I know he's got nice instincts, but will he run well enough to play the middle in a passing league?

[RutgersJetFan]

I know it's semantics, but the idea of drafting Te'o with the 25th pick makes a lot more sense to me than drafting him with the 5th pick. It goes back to his lack of outstanding measurables and the position itself. He's actually the kind of player I like--tons of production, leader, character--but if the Jets end up with the 6th overall pick, I'll have an aneurysm if Te'o is the pick there. If they get him at the top of the second round, though? I'd be pleased.

Agreed. Jets don't have the luxury of going ILB early and even talking ILBs is pointless right now until we see who the next coach is, (though I'm certainly hoping we can hold on to Pettine). Jets will either go passrusher or shore up the line. Sucks but the QB concerns, Sanchez or no Sanchez, aren't going anywhere, meaning the only way we're moving the ball again is going back to investing that heavily up front again.

[RutgersJetFan]

But is he a two-down linebacker in the 4-3? I know he's got nice instincts, but will he run well enough to play the middle in a passing league?

Yes. Absolutely. Even Pauline has him pegged as 3-down player now, and the fact that he's so strong in coverage plays to that very well.

[CrazyCarl40]

But is he a two-down linebacker in the 4-3? I know he's got nice instincts, but will he run well enough to play the middle in a passing league?

He's great in pass coverage. Better than Bart Scott. Haha. He leads LBs in INTs.

[Matt39]

Probably should have given Henne a call this offseason.

[T0mShane]

Agreed. Jets don't have the luxury of going ILB early and even talking ILBs is pointless right now until we see who the next coach is, (though I'm certainly hoping we can hold on to Pettine). Jets will either go passrusher or shore up the line. Sucks but the QB concerns, Sanchez or no Sanchez, aren't going anywhere, meaning the only way we're moving the ball again is going back to investing that heavily up front again.

IIRC, Jason has been suggesting for months that both Bart and David Harris will/should be cut loose this off-season, so there might be some motivation there to bring in the star player from college football's most visible team. I have fears. I have fears.

[dbatesman]

IIRC, Jason has been suggesting for months that both Bart and David Harris will/should be cut loose this off-season, so there might be some motivation there to bring in the star player from college football's most visible team. I have fears. I have fears.

Between this and your recent Gruden-mongering, I can see why.

[T0mShane]

Probably should have given Henne a call this offseason.

He probably wanted no part of being anywhere near Sparano anyway. That Jags-Jets tilt will be fun if Henne is able to move the Jags while Sparano, er, Sparanoes.

[JFtoLong]

Testaverde was the premiere prospect coming out of college. He had something like 7 different offensive coordinators in his first 7 seasons. Tampa Bay was also a miracle of incompetence worse than the Jets. They made both Testaverde and Steve Young look like busts.

Looking back now, I see that after Vinny was taken #1 that Kelly Stouffer was taken #6 (about the same as Sanchez was when we reached for him). I guess Seattle mismanaged him because he was a top prospect who would have had a good, long career instead of a permanently ruined one, if only they developed him properly like Tampa Bay did with Testaverde then he would have shown them all.

Way to take what I said way out of context.

[RutgersJetFan]

IIRC, Jason has been suggesting for months that both Bart and David Harris will/should be cut loose this off-season, so there might be some motivation there to bring in the star player from college football's most visible team. I have fears. I have fears.

Jason got that from me fwiw. I don't see any way how this team can keep Harris. The money simply isn't there for it. Tannenbaum's second worst contract most def.

Way too early to even know if they'd look at Te'o. Like I said we have to see who they replace Rex with because if we're sticking with a 3-4 there is 0% chance they'd consider him. LB's will be top priority regardless. Definitely should see them make a play in FA and in the draft. IMO this offseason is going to be all LBs and OL.

[T0mShane]

Between this and your recent Gruden-mongering, I can see why.

They thought Galileo was nuts, too.

GrudenTe'o2013

[Maxman]

I am not sure what the biggest thread of all time is here. I have a feeling this one may get there some day though!

[GimmeShelter]

Testaverde is 6'4'-5" with a cannon for an arm. The one insight Ted Marchibroda and then Parcells had was if he threw the ball 40 yards upfield for an INT, it was no worse than a punt, so don't worry about it. And Testaverde was mentally tough, or at least way more than Sanchez. Nobody is calling Sanchez off his couch after his 40th birthday.

Testaverde was widely considered the dumbest QB in the NFL (thus his early JAG status)i until the light bulb clicked on later in his career. Sometimes we remember only what we want to.

[Matt39]

watching Freeman right now, he's a lot better than Mark

[Sperm Edwards]

Testaverde was widely considered the dumbest QB in the NFL (thus his early JAG status)i until the light bulb clicked on later in his career. Sometimes we remember only what we want to.

Vinny did have a high opinion of Herm Edwards...

[SMC]

watching Freeman right now, he's a lot better than Mark

Morgan Freeman is a lot better than Mark