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D dept. : are we switching from a 3-4 front to a 4-3 ? ? ?


kelly

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A look at what's going on around the New York Jets :

~ ~   2. A defensive switch ?   We all know coach Todd Bowles prefers a 3-4 front, but based on the current personnel, it makes sense to consider a 4-3. Look at it from a numbers standpoint: With the additions of Steve McLendon and Jarvis Jenkins (their deals still haven't been made official by the team), the Jets have five starting-caliber defensive linemen. We're including the Big Three, of course -- Wilkerson, Richardson and Leonard Williams. At linebacker, the only experienced starter is David Harris, a classic "Mike" 'backer.

Bowles has a versatile group of linemen, all of whom are capable of playing multiple positions in a 4-3 front. What they don't have is a proven, speed-rushing end, which may explain why they flirted with free agent Olivier Vernon, who signed with the New York Giants. They could use second-year linebackerLorenzo Mauldin in that role or draft somebody. The decision-makers at One Jets Drive recognize that Wilkerson, Richardson and Williams are their best front-seven players, and they've discussed ways to get all three on the field -- i.e. a 4-3 front.Bowles isn't married to a traditional 3-4 -- he uses hybrid fronts as well -- but his preference was clear late last season, when he turned the 295-pound Richardson into an outside linebacker for the sake of running a 3-4. Look, it's early in the offseason and the roster is evolving. The draft could have an impact on which direction they choose, but know this: Good coaches adapt to their personnel.

3. Big Mac: The Jets lost a terrific run stuffer in nose tackle Damon Harrison, but McLendon isn't a shabby replacement. Consider: The Pittsburgh Steelersyielded 3.62 yards per carry without McLendon on the field, but only 2.31 yards with him, according to NFL stats. The +1.31 differential was the highest in the NFL last season among defensive linemen who played at least 300 snaps. In case you're wondering, Harrison's differential was +0.23.

rest of above article : 

>    http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/59127/jets-have-ammunition-to-be-major-offseason-players-in-2017

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more re our " D " dept.  : 

~ ~   Big Man from State of Alabama Saw His Role Grow in Six Seasons on Pittsburgh Steelers' Defense

The Jets have signed seventh-year nose tackle Steve McLendon.

McLendon (6'4", 320), an unrestricted free agent, had been a Steeler his entire NFL career and a regularstarter the past three seasons. He was signed by Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent out of Troy after the 2009 draft. He was waived from the Steelers active roster or released from their practice squad five times in '09-10, yet always returned either to the practice squad or the active roster and played in seven games in '10.From there he became a regular contributor to the Black & Gold defense, playing in 76 regular-season and playoff games (34 starts) from 2011-15. He had 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and eight QB hits out of the Steelers 3-4, including a strip-sack of Michael Vick in 2012, a sack of Panthers QB Cam Newton in '14, and 1.5 sacks of Bengals QB Andy Dalton (whom the Jets should be facing in '16).

 

McLendon, a 30-year-old Alabamian, drew some offseason headlines in 2013 for an off-beat off-field pursuit of his: ballet. He had been taking ballet lessons since his senior year at Troy for what he thought might be some "easy" college credits but also to help him with his football shape and physical health."It's harder than anything else I do," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about his hobby, which he pursued intermittently but as often as twice a week as a Steeler. "It keeps you injury-free, keeps your ankles, feet and toes strong, and you get away from knee injuries."He's light enough on his feet to have gotten to play some DE last midseason for Pittsburgh. And while his tackle numbers in the Steelers scheme weren't as high as those compiled by Damon "Snacks" Harrison, who left for the Giants at the start of free agency, his TFL and pass rush numbers are similar.

 

And as he competes on the Jets D-line, he just might bring some classical dance moves to the standard sack dance around the AFC East.

 

>     http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangefb/NT-Steve-McLendon-Joins-Jets-D-Line/2835812e-8ef1-4696-a604-003613432d05

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6 minutes ago, drdetroit said:

We have no edge rushers and our linebackers aren't fast enough how does this make sense? McClendon played nose in Pittsburgh 

They played both 3-4 and 4-3 last year. It's a hybrid defense. The team is still being put together and it's March.

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2 minutes ago, CrazyCarl40 said:

They played both 3-4 and 4-3 last year. It's a hybrid defense. The team is still being put together and it's March.

So where are we getting two edge rushing defensive ends, a Mike backer and oh btw David Harris is slow as crap

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2 minutes ago, nyjets782 said:

None of Mo, Sheldon or Williams project as 4-3 ends... doesn't mean they NEVER run 4-3 but their personnel does not fit...people are clearly running out of things to write in a slow offseason.

We can do a hybrid and have 4 man fronts or NASCAR formation but to be a base 4-3 with our roster would be Mangini-esque in ineptitude 

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The Jets have been fairly quiet in free agency this month, but the current—and still evolving—makeup of their roster has prompted a question about whether they're looking to change their base defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3.The Jets have added defensive linemen Jarvis Jenkins and Steve McLendon, and they still don't have a second starting-caliber inside linebacker to tandem with David Harris (though they are still negotiating with free agent Erin Henderson, who could possibly fill that role).

On Tuesday at the NFL Annual Meeting in Boca Raton, Fla., head coach Todd Bowles made a point of emphasizing how versatile both Jenkins and McLendon can be."McLendon ... he has some position [flexibility]; he can play defensive end, as well," Bowles said. "And Jarvis, Jarvis is a three-down player. He can move across the line of scrimmage. Good interior pass-rusher, has power, has some speed. We thought we upgraded there a little bit, from a backup standpoint."

So could the Jets be angling for a switch? Yes and no.

"There's a chance; I mean, we played some 4-3 last year," Bowles said. "We mix and match, depending on who we play and how we play them, and who's better for that game. There's always a chance we could play some 4-3."What Bowles was really saying was that the Jets want interchangeable parts. Last year, though the 3-4 was the Jets' base defense (just as it was under their previous head coach, Rex Ryan), they weren't at all married to that kind of formational setup.

The Jets frequently played nickel—slot corner Buster Skrine was on the field for 68.5 percent of their defensive snap counts—and on several occasions they did deploy a four-man front, depending on the opponent, just as Bowles said.Bowles even used end Sheldon Richardson at times as a stand-up outside linebacker, though he said Tuesday that experiment would not continue.

That kind of flexibility—molding the scheme to fit his personnel, and to fit the opponent—is what Bowles and coordinator Kacy Rodgers really want for the Jets' defense going forward. This offseason's roster moves so far reflect that.

>   http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/03/are_jets_considering_a_switch_to_a_4-3_defense.html#incart_river_index

 

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The Jets will obviously run hybrid looks but no they won't be a base 4-3 instead of 3-4.. Don't have the linebackers to do it 1 and 2 they would need smaller/faster DE's (Robert Quinn types) to be a base 4-3.. Soo no

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Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer 

At long last, Jarvis Jenkins' contract with the Jets is official, the team announced. On March 16, the veteran defensive end agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract. The Jets envision the ex-Bear and ex-Redskin as a rotational player who will have a prominent role off the bench.

 

>   http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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EA Q&A : Exploring the Defense's Changes

 

@eallenjets @nyjets with a year under their belts what type of modifications do you think Coach Bowles can make to his defense ?

 

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The Jets are still looking for depth at linebacker, and they’re bringing in a guy who could provide some experience.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Jets are bringing former Buccaneers linebacker Bruce Carter for a visit today.The Bucs cut him this offseason, one year into a four-year deal he signed the previous offseason. It was an easy cap call (saving $4.25 million) since Carter had lost the starting middle linebacker job to rookie Kwon Alexander.

A former second-rounder by the Cowboys, Carter has intriguing athleticism, but has never been able to make it translate.The Jets lost Demario Davis in free agency to the Browns, and signed veteran Erin Henderson last week, so there’s still a need for some depth inside.

>   http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/03/30/former-bucs-linebacker-bruce-carter-visiting-jets-today/

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The New York Jets filled one linebacker hole last week by re-signing Erin Henderson to a two-year, $3.1 million contract, but they apparently aren't finished with that position. On Wednesday, they hosted Bruce Carter on a free-agent visit, a league source confirmed.Chances are, the Jets are looking for depth at inside linebacker. They used four veteran inside linebackers last season -- David Harris, Demario Davis, Henderson and Jamari Lattimore -- and they're down to only two because Davis is gone (Cleveland Browns) and Lattimore is a free agent.

Carter, a second-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2011, was a three-year starter in Dallas. He was a free-agent bust last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, getting cut only one year into a four-year, $17 million contract. He lost the middle linebacker job in the preseason and, later, the strong-side position, becoming a backup.Carter (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) doesn't bring much as a pass-rusher (five career sacks), but he can be adept in pass coverage. He has five career interceptions, all in 2014.

In other free-agent news, the Jets finally announced the signing of formerChicago Bears defensive end Jarvis Jenkins, who agreed to terms two weeks ago on a two-year, $7 million deal.

>      http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/59373/source-former-bucs-lb-bruce-carter-visits-jets

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Free agent defensive lineman is coming to Florham Park to  visit  the Jets. Crawford was a fifth round pick by the Oakland Raiders out of Penn State in 2012. The Raiders waived him in the preseason of 2014, and he caught on with the Dallas Cowboys, where he played the last two years. He stands 6'5" and weighs 288 pounds.

Crawford played under half of Dallas' defensive snaps this year, and his career salaries have always been under one million dollars. This is to say Crawford would likely be a rotational player signed for depth purposes.The Steelers have also shown some degree of interest in the lineman.

rest of above article : 

>    http://www.ganggreennation.com/2016/4/1/11344238/jets-free-agency-tracker-jack-crawford-visiting

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saw this..

~ ~ The Bruce Carter free agency tour is coming to an end in New York.The ex-Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker is signing a one-year deal with the New York Jets on Saturday, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports, per a source.Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida first reported the signing.

The 28-year-old Carter visited with the Lions and Bills before settling on the Jets.Carter was cut earlier this month after flopping in his only season in Tampa. He agreed to a four-year contract in 2015, but never won the starting gig, losing to promising rookie Kwon Alexander. Carter played just 314 snaps, compiling 47 tackles and two sacks in three starts. The veteran has been a disappointment since his breakout season with the Cowboys in 2012.

Carter should provide the Jets depth at inside linebacker after the team lost Demario Davis to theCleveland Browns. It remains a position Gang Green could upgrade in the draft.

>     http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000649990/article/jets-agree-to-1year-deal-with-exbucs-lb-bruce-carter

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A look at what's happening around the New York Jets :

~ ~   3. Linebacker platoon: The addition of free-agent linebacker Bruce Carter, who agreed to terms Saturday, creates flexibility at inside linebacker. I could seeErin Henderson playing on first and second down, with Carter playing on third down in a sub package. Carter, 28, runs well and is solid in coverage, making him a good complement to the run-stuffing Henderson. This approach would be a departure from last season, when Demario Davis was an every-down player (for most of the year, anyway), as was fellow inside 'backer David Harris.

rest of above article : 

>     http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/59432/jets-ryan-fitzpatrick-standoff-could-be-reaching-crunch-time

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The Jets added depth at the linebacker position Saturday, reportedly signing former Cowboys and Buccaneers linebacker Bruce Carter.

Carter comes to the Jets off of a disappointing 2015 season with Tampa Bay after signing a hefty four year contract last offseason.Carter was supposed to step in a start at middle linebacker but was outperformed in training camp, and was used as a backup most of the season.While not being a marquee name, Carter has been in the NFL for five seasons and had a good amount of success, particularly with Dallas.

So who is Bruce Carter ? And what should you know about him  ?

He was a jack of all trades in high school

Carter attended Havelock High School in Havelock, North Carolina, where he starred on the gridiron.He played quarterback, safety and running back for the Rams on thefootball field. As a senior he rushed for 1,063 yards with 15 touchdowns as a running back while throwing for 585 yards and five touchdowns as a quarterback.

While he was tremendous on offense, colleges wanted him for his prowess as a defender. Carter was considered a three-star recruit byRivals.com and was listed as the number 33 safety prospect in the nation.He wound up switching to linebacker when he got to North Carolina.

He would’ve been a first round pick

Heading into his senior year at UNC, Carter was regarded as one of the top linebacker prospects in the nation, and was widely regarded as a first round pick.But an ACL injury to his left knee during his senior season halted any shot of that happening.

The Cowboys wound up drafting Carter 40th overall in the 2nd round and spend the majority of his rookie season recovering from surgery.He was activated to the 53 man roster in late October and subsequently played special teams.

He’s versatile

Carter has played just about every linebacker position in his five year NFL career to this points.While starring at North Carolina, Carter played mostly outside linebacker, but when the Cowboys got their hands on him, they moved him around quite a bit.

He played very well at “inside linebacker” in 2012, but when the Cowboys switched to a 4-3 defense under Monte Kiffin the following season, he was switched to “weak-side linebacker.”After struggling in 2013, Dallas moved Carter to the other side of the formation, slotting him as their starting strong side linebacker.

The Jets will ask him to play “inside linebacker” in their 3-4 scheme, just like he did when he thrived in the 2012 season.

Interception Leader at LB

Carter was fourth in the NFL in interceptions in 2014, despite only playing 13 games.His five interceptions led the Cowboys and were also the most of any linebacker in the NFL that season.He also returned on interception for a touchdown in a week three win at St. Louis.

Beware of injuries

Carter has never played a full season in the NFL to this point.We mentioned before that he entered the NFL nursing a torn ACL in his left knee, and has struggled with nagging injuries since.In 2012, he dislocated his left elbow on Thanksgiving Day and was played on injured reserve for the final five games.Carter also missed 3 games in 2014 with a right quadriceps injury.

In five seasons he has played a total of 63 out of a possible 80 games.

>      http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2016/04/03/5-things-to-know-about-new-jets-lb-bruce-carter/

 

 

 

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Our 2nd Draft Preview Focuses on D-Linemen and If There's an Edge Rusher for the Jets at #20

This is the second in a series of features on the 2016 NFL Draft, position by position. Today's position: Defensive line. The Jets' DL roster synopsis is followed by five players considered top candidates at the position, plus two "sleeper" picks who could be available when the Jets select in Rounds 3-7.

GM Mike Maccagnan has said he prefers to fill needs in free agency and draft the best available athlete in the draft, and that's been the case so far on the Jets' top-of-the-line D-line. Damon "Snacks" Harrison left for the Giants in free agency, but rather than wait to fill that need with a rookie big-body, the team landed stalwart free agent Steve McLendon, late of the Steelers.

 

Then with some questions at end (Muhammad Wilkerson being franchise-tagged, Leger Douzable andStephen Bowen still on the FA market), the team brought in Jarvis Jenkins, coming off his best pro season with the Bears.But as Maccagnan has said, "At the end of the day, yes, we would very much like to have Muhammad back in the organization." Wilkerson is coming off his best pro season (12 sacks, seven PDs, first Pro Bowl selection), Sheldon Richardson is a year removed from his first Pro Bowl, and sixth overall pickLeonard Williams started all season and contributed a team-leading 32 QB hits while learning the pro ropes.

 

Add Mike Catapano, who gave a taste of his edge-rushing dimension before departing with a season-ending injury, and strongman Deon Simon, who "redshirted" his rookie season as an inactive or on practice squad, and any rookie additions will have to compete hard for roster space and playing time.

 

Top Five D-Linemen in the Draft

 

JOEY BOSA

It's not unanimous, but Joey Bosa (6'5", 269) has the edge on DeForest Buckner as the draft's No. 1 defensive lineman and a top-five pick. Not surprising, as Bosa raked in multiple All-Big Ten and All-America honors the past two seasons for Ohio State. In his three Buckeyes seasons, he totaled 26 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss, the latter number leading FBS. His explosiveness showed up at the NFL combine with strong three-cone and 20-shuttle efforts. Jets fans may recall his dad, John, who played three years at DE for the Dolphins in the late Eighties.

 

DeFOREST BUCKNER

Had Oregon's defense not struggled in '15, Hawaiian-born DeForest Buckner (6'7", 291) might be getting most of the DL leis being tossed in this draft. Buckner still did plenty in returning for his senior season with the Ducks, racking up 10.5 sacks and 17.0 TFL in earning Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. He's active for a 5-technique type end and who has great size, including a 34 3/8" arm length — "vines for arms"in the phrasing of Dane Brugler of nfldraftscout.com. He's definitely top 10 in this draft and it will be interesting to see whether it's he or Joey Bosa if the Chargers go DE with their third overall pick.

 

 

SHAQ LAWSON

Shaq Lawson (6'3", 269) finally started and erupted in 2015 for Clemson, chalking up 12.5 sacks and an FBS-best 24.5 tackles for loss. He played in the National Championship Game vs. Alabama despite suffering a sprained MCL that he said was an 8 on the 1-to-10 pain scale. Then after that tough 45-40 loss, the redshirt junior declared," I enjoyed being at Clemson but it's time. I'm ready for the next level." A big question for the NFL team that drafts him: Where will he play — 3-4 or 4-3 end/tackle or a 3-4 OLB ?

 

A'SHAWN ROBINSON

A'Shawn Robinson (6'4", 307) is arguably the top strictly interior D-lineman in the draft, although fans of Louisville's Sheldon Rankins and Baylor's Andrew Billings may disagree. In his three Alabama seasons, he was a force along the defensive front, a big tackler with tree-trunk legs. He didn't have huge numbers (3.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL as a true junior last year, 9.0 and 22.0 in his three Tide seasons) and needs pass-rush polish, but there's a spot along some NFL defense's front line to plug holes against the run.

NOAH SPENCE

Noah Spence (6'2", 251) is trying to turn some red flags into draft gold. The edge rusher failed two drug tests at Ohio State and the Big Ten declared him permanently ineligible. But he graduated from a drug treatment program, transferred to Eastern Kentucky and lit it up for the Colonels (11.5 sacks, 22.5 TFLs, Ohio Valley Conference Defensive POY) last year. Then he said all the right things and thanked all the right people before heading for the draft. Many (but not all) analysts see him going in the top 20, among them Pat Kirwan, who picked him for the Jets at No. 20 in his and Jim Miller's first SiriusXM mock.

 

Two D-Line Draft Sleepers

 

SHILIQUE CALHOUN

Because this position is so packed, Shilique Calhoun (6'4", 251) isn't a sleeper as much as a Round 2 attraction. After all, the Michigan State DE made All-America squads all three of his Spartans seasons as he increased his sack totals from 7.5 to 8.0 to 10.5. The Jersey shore product was also a two-time MSU captain and returned for his redshirt senior season to try to help the Spartans win a national title (they lost to Alabama in the semis). Scouts want to see more aggressiveness in Calhoun's game at the pro level.

 

 

BRONSON KAUFUSI

Late on day two or early on day three, some team will tab Bronson Kaufusi (6'6", 285), the intriguing BYU end. He comes from an athletic family (his father, Steve, was his DL coach in college and his wife plays soccer at the school). After a two-year Mormon mission in New Zealand and a year of basketball, he played DT for a year behind future Lions top-five pick Ziggy Ansah. Kaufusi improved his sacks and tackles every year through last year's 11-sacks, 20-tackles-for-loss senior season.

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangefb/At-DL-Joey-Bosa-DeForest-Buckner-Are-1--1A/787f0180-36ba-4ae0-945e-7f8f9482d370

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14 minutes ago, kelly said:

Our 2nd Draft Preview Focuses on D-Linemen and If There's an Edge Rusher for the Jets at #20

This is the second in a series of features on the 2016 NFL Draft, position by position. Today's position: Defensive line. The Jets' DL roster synopsis is followed by five players considered top candidates at the position, plus two "sleeper" picks who could be available when the Jets select in Rounds 3-7.

GM Mike Maccagnan has said he prefers to fill needs in free agency and draft the best available athlete in the draft, and that's been the case so far on the Jets' top-of-the-line D-line. Damon "Snacks" Harrison left for the Giants in free agency, but rather than wait to fill that need with a rookie big-body, the team landed stalwart free agent Steve McLendon, late of the Steelers.

 

Then with some questions at end (Muhammad Wilkerson being franchise-tagged, Leger Douzable andStephen Bowen still on the FA market), the team brought in Jarvis Jenkins, coming off his best pro season with the Bears.But as Maccagnan has said, "At the end of the day, yes, we would very much like to have Muhammad back in the organization." Wilkerson is coming off his best pro season (12 sacks, seven PDs, first Pro Bowl selection), Sheldon Richardson is a year removed from his first Pro Bowl, and sixth overall pickLeonard Williams started all season and contributed a team-leading 32 QB hits while learning the pro ropes.

 

Add Mike Catapano, who gave a taste of his edge-rushing dimension before departing with a season-ending injury, and strongman Deon Simon, who "redshirted" his rookie season as an inactive or on practice squad, and any rookie additions will have to compete hard for roster space and playing time.

 

Top Five D-Linemen in the Draft

 

JOEY BOSA

It's not unanimous, but Joey Bosa (6'5", 269) has the edge on DeForest Buckner as the draft's No. 1 defensive lineman and a top-five pick. Not surprising, as Bosa raked in multiple All-Big Ten and All-America honors the past two seasons for Ohio State. In his three Buckeyes seasons, he totaled 26 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss, the latter number leading FBS. His explosiveness showed up at the NFL combine with strong three-cone and 20-shuttle efforts. Jets fans may recall his dad, John, who played three years at DE for the Dolphins in the late Eighties.

 

DeFOREST BUCKNER

Had Oregon's defense not struggled in '15, Hawaiian-born DeForest Buckner (6'7", 291) might be getting most of the DL leis being tossed in this draft. Buckner still did plenty in returning for his senior season with the Ducks, racking up 10.5 sacks and 17.0 TFL in earning Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. He's active for a 5-technique type end and who has great size, including a 34 3/8" arm length — "vines for arms"in the phrasing of Dane Brugler of nfldraftscout.com. He's definitely top 10 in this draft and it will be interesting to see whether it's he or Joey Bosa if the Chargers go DE with their third overall pick.

 

 

SHAQ LAWSON

Shaq Lawson (6'3", 269) finally started and erupted in 2015 for Clemson, chalking up 12.5 sacks and an FBS-best 24.5 tackles for loss. He played in the National Championship Game vs. Alabama despite suffering a sprained MCL that he said was an 8 on the 1-to-10 pain scale. Then after that tough 45-40 loss, the redshirt junior declared," I enjoyed being at Clemson but it's time. I'm ready for the next level." A big question for the NFL team that drafts him: Where will he play — 3-4 or 4-3 end/tackle or a 3-4 OLB ?

 

A'SHAWN ROBINSON

A'Shawn Robinson (6'4", 307) is arguably the top strictly interior D-lineman in the draft, although fans of Louisville's Sheldon Rankins and Baylor's Andrew Billings may disagree. In his three Alabama seasons, he was a force along the defensive front, a big tackler with tree-trunk legs. He didn't have huge numbers (3.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL as a true junior last year, 9.0 and 22.0 in his three Tide seasons) and needs pass-rush polish, but there's a spot along some NFL defense's front line to plug holes against the run.

NOAH SPENCE

Noah Spence (6'2", 251) is trying to turn some red flags into draft gold. The edge rusher failed two drug tests at Ohio State and the Big Ten declared him permanently ineligible. But he graduated from a drug treatment program, transferred to Eastern Kentucky and lit it up for the Colonels (11.5 sacks, 22.5 TFLs, Ohio Valley Conference Defensive POY) last year. Then he said all the right things and thanked all the right people before heading for the draft. Many (but not all) analysts see him going in the top 20, among them Pat Kirwan, who picked him for the Jets at No. 20 in his and Jim Miller's first SiriusXM mock.

 

Two D-Line Draft Sleepers

 

SHILIQUE CALHOUN

Because this position is so packed, Shilique Calhoun (6'4", 251) isn't a sleeper as much as a Round 2 attraction. After all, the Michigan State DE made All-America squads all three of his Spartans seasons as he increased his sack totals from 7.5 to 8.0 to 10.5. The Jersey shore product was also a two-time MSU captain and returned for his redshirt senior season to try to help the Spartans win a national title (they lost to Alabama in the semis). Scouts want to see more aggressiveness in Calhoun's game at the pro level.

 

 

BRONSON KAUFUSI

Late on day two or early on day three, some team will tab Bronson Kaufusi (6'6", 285), the intriguing BYU end. He comes from an athletic family (his father, Steve, was his DL coach in college and his wife plays soccer at the school). After a two-year Mormon mission in New Zealand and a year of basketball, he played DT for a year behind future Lions top-five pick Ziggy Ansah. Kaufusi improved his sacks and tackles every year through last year's 11-sacks, 20-tackles-for-loss senior season.

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangefb/At-DL-Joey-Bosa-DeForest-Buckner-Are-1--1A/787f0180-36ba-4ae0-945e-7f8f9482d370

How old is this Kaufusi character, 26?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Both literally and figuratively, the Jets biggest loss of the offseason came when Damon Harrison was signed away by the cross-town rival Giants in the opening days of free agency.While Gang Green wanted Harrison back, and made him an offer they believed was competitive, the Giants showed they wanted him even more. With little cap space to begin with, the Jets simplycouldn’t match the Giants five-year, $46.25 million deal.

So, with Harrison now an Ex-Jet, is New York’s defense significantly worse? Jets Wire took a look at that, and the answer may surprise you. . .

>     http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2016/04/14/watch-can-jets-defense-survive-without-damon-harrison/

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  • 2 weeks later...

This is the seventh installment of our position-by-position breakdown for theNew York Jets as we head to the April 28-30 draft:

Position: Linebacker

Current personnel: David Harris, Erin Henderson, Lorenzo Mauldin, Mike Catapano, Bruce Carter, Freddie Bishop, Josh Martin, Trevor Reilly, Taiwan Jones, Deion Barnes, Julian Stanford.

Key newcomers: Carter, Bishop.

Departures: Demario Davis (free agent/Cleveland Browns), Calvin Pace (free agent), Jamari Lattimore (free agent)

Projected starters: Harris, Henderson, Mauldin.

Overview: You'll notice there are only three starters, not enough for a 3-4 base defense. The reason for this is because the Jets don't have two starting-caliber outside linebackers. Mauldin probably will get one of the spots, but there's a gaping hole on the other side. A concern? Yeah, you bet it is. The entire linebacking corps is under construction. By opening day, they could have three new starters, with Harris the only holdover. He's 32 years old, so they need to think about an heir apparent in the middle. It wouldn't be a surprise if they draft two linebackers, one inside and one outside. The Jets had only 12.5 sacks from players lining up as linebackers.

The last linebacker drafted: Mauldin was picked last year in the third round. He was used as a pass-rushing specialist over the second half of the season, but he's expected to graduate into a full-time role.

Potential targets (projected round)

 

  • Leonard Floyd, Georgia (first round): He fits the profile of what the Jets covet -- an explosive edge rusher with a high ceiling. He wasn't dominant in college (4.5 sacks, only eight QB hits last season), but his burst and versatility have scouts excited. Floyd lined up on the edge (61 percent), as an off-ball linebacker (29 percent) and in the slot (10 percent), according to Pro Football Focus. He's fast enough to cover receivers downfield. The downside is that he's built like a basketball player (6-foot-6, 244 pounds) and struggles at times against the run. The Jets are showing a lot of interest, but he probably won't be on the board with the 20th pick.

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  • Reggie Ragland, Alabama (first round): He's a younger version of Harris -- a tough, heady, inside 'backer who plays downhill. Ragland (6-foot-1, 247 pounds) was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a national champion, recording 60 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The biggest question is his pass coverage; scouts are mixed on whether he's a three-down linebacker. The way the NFL is currently, he'd be a reach at 20 if the team plans to take him off the field on third down. If the Jets draft him, could he start alongside Harris this season, learning from a pro's pro.

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  • Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky (first/second round): He's one of the most polarizing players in the draft. He has the talent to be a very good edge rusher (11.5 sacks last season), but there are red flags. He flunked two drug tests at Ohio State (both for Ecstasy) and was banned from the Big Ten. He'd be a huge gamble at 20.

  •  

  • Kyler Fackrell, Utah State (second round): He's not a household name but is drawing plenty of interest from teams, including the Jets. He's 6-foot-5, 245 pounds and can play every down. There's no projection here; he was an outside linebacker in college. His production wasn't great -- only four sacks last season. He needs to gain strength, as he managed only 15 reps on the 220-pound bench press.

  •  

  • Kamalei Correa, Boise State (second round): He was an athletic and productive edge player in college, recording eight sacks last season. Correa (6-foot-3, 243 pounds) played only 84 snaps against Power-5 competition, according to PFF. He relies on speed and quickness, traits the Jets need on defense. They've been doing a lot of recent work on him, a sign of interest.

Need factor (based on a scale of 1 to 10): 10.

>      http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/59953/jets-living-dangerously-on-edge-without-outside-pass-rusher

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This is the eighth installment of our position-by-position breakdown for theNew York Jets as we head to the April 28-30 draft:

Position: Secondary

Current personnel: Darrelle Revis, Buster Skrine, Calvin Pryor, Marcus Gilchrist, Marcus Williams, Dee Milliner, Darryl Morris, Dexter McDougle,Rontez Miles, Ronald Martin, Dion Bailey, Kevin Short, Kendall James.

Key newcomers: Morris.

Departures: Antonio Cromartie (cut), Darrin Walls (free agent/Detroit Lions).

Projected starters: Revis, Skrine, Pryor, Gilchrist, Williams (nickel).

Overview: The Jets have poured a lot of money into the cornerback position. In fact, they have a league-high $30.9 million committed to the salary cap, according to ESPN salary data. So they don't need to add a corner, right? Well, look again; there's a hidden need. Right now, Skrine is the leading candidate to replace Cromartie, but his best position is covering the slot. Also remember Revis will turn 31 in July, so they may need a No. 1 corner in a year or two. It makes sense to create a pipeline, especially since the position is so important to Todd Bowles' defense. The Jets could wait until the second or third day to address it, but there could be two or three intriguing options on the board in the first round (20th overall).

The last defensive back drafted: They picked three defensive backs in 2014, the year of the Idzik 12 -- Pryor (first round), McDougle (third) andBrandon Dixon (sixth). Pryor is an ascending player with star potential. Dixon is gone and McDougle has been slowed by injuries.

Potential targets (projected round)

 

  • Eli Apple, Ohio State (first round): This would be a homecoming for Apple, who was raised in Voorhees, New Jersey. Apple, generally regarded as the third- or fourth-best corner in the draft, is 6-foot-1 and has an extensive background in press-man coverage, meaning he fits the Jets' profile. He played only two years at Ohio State (both as a starter), but he has big-game experience. In fact, he intercepted Marcus Mariota's final pass as a collegian, helping Ohio State beat Oregon in the College Football Playoff National Championship in January 2015. Apple played better in 2014 than 2015, raising some questions. He needs to improve his ball skills; he had only one interception and eight pass breakups last year.

  •  

  • William Jackson III, Houston (first round): He's gaining momentum around the league and could be off the board before the Jets' pick. Teams love his measureables; he's 6-foot and ran the 40 in 4.37 seconds. Jackson gets his hands on a lot of balls, as he recorded 23 pass breakups and five interceptions last season. He excels in man coverage, so he checks that box, too. On the downside, he's not particularly physical and was flagged seven times for 73 yards.

Need factor (based on a scale of 1 to 10): 6.

>     http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/59976/if-jets-go-corner-in-round-1-they-could-bring-eli-apple-to-big-apple

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 — Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee, whom the Jets selected in the first round with the No. 20 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft on Thursday night, has a unique skill set that fits what head coach Todd Bowles likes to do. Watch the video above for an explanation.

video..

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/04/watch_jets_envision_deone_bucannon_role_for_darron.html#incart_river_index

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5 Things We Didn't Know About Darron Lee

New Jets Linebacker Is Fast, Has a Nose for the Ball, Hits Hard & Doesn't Lack for Confidence

Here are five things you should know about the newest member of Green & White :

 

Jack of All Trades

In high school, Lee played quarterback, receiver and defensive back and even spent some time on special teams returning punts and kicks. In his senior year at New Albany High in Ohio, he recorded over 1,700 total yards on offense to go along with his five interceptions on defense. Lee was a three-star athlete coming out of high school, according to 247sports.

 

Can’t Run from Momma

Lee’s mother, Candice, is an anchor for WCMH-TV in Columbus and took to Twitter when Verne Lundquist mispronounced her son’s name. She tweeted, “#43 for ohio state..his name is Darron (darren, like the Darren in bewitched) tell Verne they r messing with my sons name.” Even though he has yet to play a down in the NFL, Lee said he could see himself following his mother’s footsteps and becoming a part of the broadcasting industry after his playing career is over.

 

Undersized ? Not So Fast

As a freshman, Lee enrolled in the Ohio State football program as a 195-pound safety. After putting on weight, he moved to linebacker for the Buckeyes, filling the shoes of Ryan Shazier. Lee’s current 232-pound frame is still considered to be undersized for his position by many NFL draft experts, but he makes up for his size with speed.His 4.47 40-yard dash was the best among linebackers at this year’s combine and the best since 2007. In fact, the NFL Network simulcasted the combine 40s of Lee and Broncos LB Von Miller — Lee won. Furthermore, Lee’s size may actually be one of the reasons head coach Todd Bowles believes he will be a good fit for the Jets. When Bowles was the defensive coordinator in Arizona, he moved Deone Bucannon from safety to linebacker. Bucannon is the same height as Lee and weighs 16 pounds lighter.

 

Fortune Teller

Something Lee does not lack is confidence. He had offers to be a dual-threat quarterback from Boston College, Duke, and Illinois but wanted to be a Buckeye. However, it was not mutual at the time.“The most impressive thing about Darron is he came to camp looking for a scholarship offer from Ohio State,” said head coach Urban Meyer. “We decided not to offer him yet. Told him to come back. Came back. I think we did it at least four times. And most kids move on and go to a smaller school. And this kid said, 'No, this is what I want. I want to play at Ohio State. I'm going to come back again and I'm going to show you.' " Lee also told roommate Joey Bosa, the third pick of tonight's first round by the Chargers, that he was going to be the next Ryan Shazier, the Steelers' first-rounder in 2014.

 

Fast Start

Lee started off his career at Ohio State with a bang. In his first game as a starting linebacker, he returned a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown. Fast-forward a few months to his 14th game, where Lee was named the Sugar Bowl MVP. He recorded 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in Ohio State’s win over the top-ranked team in the country, Alabama. In the National Championship Game, he had 8 tackles and 1 pass breakup in the victory over Oregon.

>       http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/5-Things-We-Didnt-Know-About-Darron-Lee/6ce462a3-6894-4030-a505-bcb28223037d

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 -- Five things you need to know about former Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee, the New York Jets' first-round pick :

1. He played quarterback in high school: Lee grew up in an affluent suburb of Columbus, Ohio, a town called New Albany -- not known for producing a lot of football talent. He was the best athlete on the team, so he was used at quarterback, accumulating more than 1,700 yards in total offense. He loved it. Actually, he grew up playing the position, once saying, "Quarterback is like ... was literally like breathing to me. I always had a feel for it. I was always throwing the ball around." He played a little safety, too. When he graduated high school in 2013, he was listed by recruiting services as an "athlete."

2. Oh, those socks: Not heavily recruited, Lee attracted attention from Ohio State by showing up to one of their football camps -- not once, not twice, but three times, according to defensive coordinator Luke Fickell. You see, Lee wasn't an instant standout; he kind of grew on the Ohio State coaching staff. "He kept coming back again and again and again to compete," Fickell said Friday in a phone interview. It wasn't love at first sight for coach Urban Meyer, who recalled last year: "A New Albany quarterback wearing tie-dyed socks. That's not what I'm looking for." Fickell said he never saw the tie-dyed socks, adding with a laugh, "It might have been something Coach noticed. Darron is from New Albany, so it wouldn't be abnormal. He comes from a nice, well-off, cake-eating area." His mother, Candice Lee, is a reporter and weekend anchor for the NBC affiliate in Columbus. Previously, she spent seven years in the U.S. Navy as a Navy journalist. Once, when she heard Verne Lundquist mispronounce Darron's name during a telecast, she tweeted at him to "stop messing with my son's name."

3. Picking apart his game: Lee arrived on campus at only 197 pounds, so you can see why wasn't heavily recruited as a linebacker. Fickell saw something in Lee -- the competitiveness, the athleticism -- and converted him into a linebacker. After redshirting as a freshman, Lee started his final two seasons. He was productive (27.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks), but he didn't win over the analytics crowd. Pro Football Focus called him one of the most overrated prospects in the draft, criticizing his pass coverage and tackling. He was ranked 110th among linebackers in tackling efficiency (12 missed tackles in 2015), according to PFF, which said: "The scary part about Lee is that he almost never played as a true linebacker and thus lacked instincts when forced to play in the box. (In 2015), 492 of his 879 snaps came in the slot out wide of the tackles. Even when he was asked to make plays in space, he frequently took bad angles and overran plays."

4. Coach rebuttal: Fickell scoffed at the criticisms, saying, "For us, he wasn't inside the box a ton. If he came back [to school], he would've moved to 'Will' linebacker and would've made 200 tackles. For us, and what we needed him to do, he was great." Fickell highlighted Lee's sideline-to-sideline range, claiming, "There were no lateral runs against our defense. Why? Because of Darron Lee." Before Lee's arrival, the Buckeyes struggled against Clemson's Sammy Watkins, who gashed them on jet sweeps. Dynamic receivers weren't able to do that on Lee's watch, Fickell said.

5. Loves the spotlight: Lee has a tendency to perform his best in big moments. In his first college game, he scored on a 61-yard fumble return against Navy. Near the end of his first year, he was named the MVP in the Sugar Bowl, helping the Buckeyes to an upset over No. 1 Alabama. At the scouting combine in February, Lee turned heads by blazing the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds. One of his star teammates, Joey Bosa, struggled with a 4.86. Fickell wasn't surprised. "He's a very confident guy," he said of Lee. "He wasn't going to tense up, whereas Joey maybe felt the pressure. When the light comes on, the bigger the stage, the bigger the game, the more Darron shines. He has charisma, the gift of gab, that smile. New York will love him. The sky's the limit."

>      http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/60077/jets-pick-darron-lee-likes-tie-dyed-socks-the-big-stage-and-quarterback

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Heading into the NFL draft, the Jets biggest position of need was outside linebacker.It took them a couple of rounds, but the Jets finally got one. In the third round, New York selected Georgia outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins.While not the “pass rusher” New York might have been hoping for, there’s no denying Jenkins has a skillset the Jets desire. A run-stuffer and edge-setter during his time with the Bull Dogs, Jenkins should slide right in as a starter on the Jets defense opposite Lorenzo Mauldin.

So, taking that into consideration, was the Jets selection of Jenkins a good one or a bad one? Here’s the report card :

Overall Grade : A

Grade justification : 


A pass rusher was what many associated with the Jets wanted entering the draft– Someone like Kamalei Correa, or maybe Noah Spence.But truthfully, what the Jets got in Jenkins may have been exactly what the doctor ordered: A run-stuffing outside linebacker that will be a force on the line and sufficient enough as a rusher.

See, New York has guys that can get the quarterback, a lot of them. There’s Mauldin, the team’s third-round pick a year ago, who the Jets have high expectations for. Then there’s obviously Leonard Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson as defensive ends. What the Jets really needed was a player to replace Calvin Pace, and they got that in Jenkins.

Expect Jenkins to be New York’s starter at outside linebacker come the start of camp, and a serviceable player for years to come. He’s not the flashiest pick, but efficient.

>   http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2016/04/30/nfl-draft-report-card-grading-jets-3rd-round-pick-jordan-jenkins/

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more re " D " dept.  : 

~ ~   In the fourth round, the New York Jets went defense -- again. They selected North Carolina State's Juston Burris, the 18th cornerback picked in the draft.

My take : Frankly, it's a little surprising they waited this long to pick a cornerback. They passed on some good ones in each of the first three rounds, settling on a former three-year starter who produced only five interceptions in college. Burris went off the board where most experts expected, so it's hard to quibble with the value. They had to add a young corner to the pipline. Consider: Darrelle Revis is turning 31 soon, Antonio Cromartie is gone and former No. 1 pick Dee Milliner is a non-factor. Coach Todd Bowles loves him some corners, and he has a new one in the mix.

Scheme fit : Burris played a man-to-man scheme at North Carolina State, so it should be a relatively easy transition into the Jets' man-heavy system. Bowles said, "He's big, he's got long arms and he's very good at the line of scrimmage. He's a press corner. He's got great eyes and ball skills." Burris is 6-feet, 212 pounds, so he has ideal size for the position. His statistics don't support Bowles' claim about his ball skills -- only three interceptions the last two seasons. Then again, he was targeted only 44 times last season, according to Pro Football Focus. The completion percentage against him was only 34 percent -- impressive work. Bowles said Burris has the ability to play the slot, but it sounds like they start him off outside. The big question is his speed -- only a 4.55 in the 40. His short-shuttle time (4.40) is below average for a corner.

Competition at corner : It'll be hard for Burris to crack the rotation. Revis will start on one side, with Buster Skrine projected as the other starter. They also have Marcus Williams, Milliner, Dexter McDougle and Darryl Morris. Ideally, they'd like to use Skrine in the slot, so there could be some competition for the No. 2 job on the outside. The positive about Burris is that he played a lot of football (51 career games) against top competition.

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/60134/jets-add-to-cornerback-pipeline-by-drafting-juston-burris-in-fourth

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