Cimini: Sunday Notes

[flgreen]

Sunday notes: Mark studies West Coast 101

March, 31, 2013
Mar 31

7:00

AM ET

By Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com


Checking out the Jets and the rest of the NFL:

1. No reign in Southern California: Hoping to reclaim his starting job, Mark Sanchez has been working out in San Diego with former NFL QB Jeff Garcia, a former Marty Mornhinweg pupil. Sanchez is trying to get a jump on the competition, learning Mornhinweg's version of the West Coast offense from Garcia, a paid instructor. Sanchez drives two or three times a week from his home in Orange County to spend time with Garcia. They've had about nine sessions, with teammates Jordan White, Konrad Reuland and Vidal Hazelton stopping by to run routes and catch passes. Most of the work occurs in the classroom, as Sanchez attempts to learn an entirely new system.

This is Sanchez's third system in three years. In terms of Xs and Os, the transition from Tony Sparano to Mornhinweg will be harder than from Brian Schottenheimer to Sparano, simply because of the different terminology and the sophisticated footwork required at the quarterback position in the West Coast system. The extra work should give Sanchez a "leg up" (where have I heard that before?) when the team returns to Florham Park for the start of the offseason program, April 15. It runs through mid-June. In July, Sanchez may conduct his annual "Jets West" event in SoCal, but that has yet to be finalized.

Sanchez is making a sincere effort to fix his career, which could be termed "Jets South" after last season's 26-turnover debacle. He took extra steps last year, too, huddling with Chad Pennington to absorb some intel on Sparano. A lot of good that did. This time, Sanchez knows he's out of mulligans. If he butt-fumbles the season, he'll be looking for a job in 2014.

2. Shallow pockets: Teams aren't spending big money in free agency, and the Jets are certainly contributing to that trend. New GM John Idzik has signed eight free agents, doling out a combined total of only $3.4 million in bonus money. Consider: RB Mike Goodson ($1.9 million signing bonus), LB Antwan Barnes ($900,000 signing), G Willie Colon ($162,500 roster bonus), LS Tanner Purdum ($130,000 signing), QB David Garrard ($100,000 signing), DT Antonio Garay ($65,000 signing), FB Lex Hilliard ($65,000 signing) and PK Nick Folk ($50,000 signing). The Jets are low-balling their veteran free agents, which explains the Rex-odus.

3. Moore is less: No player has felt the salary-cap pinch more than free-agent G Brandon Moore. According to Scouts, Inc., which grades players on the ESPN free-agent tracker, Moore is the highest-rated offensive player still on the market. True, he's toward the end of his career at age 32, but he's a quality lineman with 137 consecutive starts. He'd be an ideal plug-and-play addition for a contending team -- and yet he's still searching. He's had nibbles from the Dolphins, Cowboys and Lions; obviously, no one has met his asking price. The chances of returning to the Jets are remote.

Former Jets G Matt Slauson, who signed a one-year contract Friday with the Bears, said it "puzzles me" that Moore still hasn't signed somewhere. "He's an older player," Slauson told me, "but he's had some really, really good years -- and I think he has a couple of good years left." But, in his next breath, Slauson acknowledged the free-agent market isn't the cash cow he expected.

"It's so much different than any other year," he said. "Talking to friends -- free agents -- around the league, things are tough. Long-term deals are just not happening. You have to jump on a good (one-year) offer when you get it."

4. High-rent district: Fourteen percent of the Jets' salary cap is devoted to one position -- quarterback. In fact, the figure is $17.5 million, the sixth-highest total in the league, according to an informative study by ESPN.com NFC West blogger Mike Sando. Considering the Jets finished 30th in passer rating, I think it's fair to question their resource allocation, wouldn't you say?

5. And then there was one: You want to know why the Jets are 14-18 over the last two seasons? I could list a dozen reasons, but here's a big one: They have only one player left from the 2008 and 2009 drafts -- Sanchez, one of nine picks over those two years. They lost Slauson (2009), RB Shonn Greene (2009) and TE Dustin Keller in free agency. The players from the '08 and '09 drafts are fifth- and sixth-year vets, the guys that should comprise the nucleus of your team. Instead of a nucleus, the Jets have a black hole.

6. Backs of the future: Even though the Jets signed Goodson, it wouldn't surprise me if they pick a running back on the second or third day of the draft. The consensus top back is Eddie Lacy (Alabama), a likely second-rounder, but I've heard some questions about his desire and focus. Here's a name to remember: Le'veon Bell (Michigan State), the fourth-rated back by Scouts, Inc. The Jets have conducted a private workout with Bell, and they're planning to bring him in for a top-30 visit. He rushed for nearly 1,800 yards last season and he can catch the ball.

7. All quiet on the Tebow front: To the surprise of many, QB Tim Tebow remains on the Jets' roster even though it has been reported for months that he doesn't fit into their 2013 plans. I hear Tebow is getting antsy, but it looks like the Jets will keep him through the draft, hoping they can find a trading partner. Good luck with that. It'll be interesting to see if he shows up April 15 for the start of the offseason program; that could be an awkward couple of weeks. Meanwhile, former Dolphins bust Pat White has drawn interest from the 49ers and Giants, an indication that teams are looking for read-option quarterbacks -- just not one named Tebow.

8. Bad news for Geno: The recent activity of teams picking in the top 10 reflect a lack of belief in the '13 quarterback class -- bad news for top prospect Geno Smith, who could slip out of the top 10. On Saturday night, the Bills (No. 8 overall) agreed to terms with Cards castoff Kevin Kolb. The Raiders (No. 3) reportedly are interested in trading for Seahawks backup Matt Flynn, an indication they're not sold on Smith. The Raiders are expected to cut Carson Palmer, who could end up with the Cards (No. 7), who would be out of the QB market. The Eagles (No. 4) are a potential landing spot for Smith, but that's hardly a gimme.

9. Romo built in a day: So let me get this straight. The Cowboys signed QB Tony Romo a six-year, $108 million extension, including $55 million in guarantees. I wonder how much they would've given him if he had actually, you know, won something. Somewhere, Aaron Rodgers is smiling.

10. Ground muck: Interesting nugget from ESPN Stats & Information: The four teams that paid the most in cap dollars per yard were a combined 19-45 last season. The Drab Four: Jaguars, $12,402 per yard; Panthers, $12,179; Raiders, $11,208; and Titans, $10,465.

[CrazyCarl40]

Wow. No mention of Revis at all. Not much noise on that front in a while. A little too quiet...

[Larz]

so you can write an article after going to scouts inc and espn.com

 

mmmmmk

[Darth Vader]

5. And then there was one: You want to know why the Jets are 14-18 over

the last two seasons? I could list a dozen reasons, but here's a big

one: They have only one player left from the 2008 and 2009 drafts --

Sanchez, one of nine picks over those two years. They lost Slauson

(2009), RB Shonn Greene (2009) and TE Dustin Keller in free agency. The

players from the '08 and '09 drafts are fifth- and sixth-year vets, the

guys that should comprise the nucleus of your team. Instead of a

nucleus, the Jets have a black hole.

sooo let me get this straight. The reason we were bad over the last two seasons is because we lost Greene, Slauson and Keller to Free Agency this off season???? Talk about logical statements.

[Stonehands]

If you pay the most cap dollars per yard, doesn't that just mean you don't have a lot of yards gained? Wouldn't it makes sense that you would stink? I guess to everyone, but Cimini.

[CrazyCarl40]

sooo let me get this straight. The reason we were bad over the last two seasons is because we lost Greene, Slauson and Keller to Free Agency this off season???? Talk about logical statements.

You missed the point. Basically, the Jets whiffed on the two drafts where their nucleus would be entering the prime of their careers right now. The fact they have no stars or above average players from those two years is the point. Basically, the Jets drafted horribly in those two seasons.

[Sperm Edwards]

sooo let me get this straight. The reason we were bad over the last two seasons is because we lost Greene, Slauson and Keller to Free Agency this off season???? Talk about logical statements.

 

Worded badly. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, he could just mean that while these players should be the nucleus of the team, either they suck and we unfortunately still have him (Sanchez) or they suck and they were unworthy of retaining (Keller, Greene, Gholston).

[Darth Vader]

You missed the point. Basically, the Jets whiffed on the two drafts where their nucleus would be entering the prime of their careers right now. The fact they have no stars or above average players from those two years is the point. Basically, the Jets drafted horribly in those two seasons.

so again. what does losing the purported nucleus of players in the 'prime of their careers' have to do with the 14-18 record the past two years? i dont think the point he is trying to make at all - or rather exclusively - is that these players are not good.... the jets just lost - or rather, let go of - three starters from those drafts. these aren't the dwayne robertsons or worse, vernon gholstons of the world. they were the young core that they decided not to re-sign.

 

his statement makes no sense. compounded especially by the fact that these players were a huge part of the success of the prior two AFC Championship seasons. 

 

Worded badly. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, he could just mean that while these players should be the nucleus of the team, either they suck and we unfortunately still have him (Sanchez) or they suck and they were unworthy of retaining (Keller, Greene, Gholston).

his trade is words. no mulligans.

[slats]

5. And then there was one: You want to know why the Jets are 14-18 over the last two seasons? I could list a dozen reasons, but here's a big one: They have only one player left from the 2008 and 2009 drafts -- Sanchez, one of nine picks over those two years. They lost Slauson (2009), RB Shonn Greene (2009) and TE Dustin Keller in free agency. The players from the '08 and '09 drafts are fifth- and sixth-year vets, the guys that should comprise the nucleus of your team. Instead of a nucleus, the Jets have a black hole.

The Jets have sucked at drafting and traded away too many picks. Nine picks over two years? I guess spending seven picks on Sanchez, Greene, and Keller wasn't the best idea in retrospect.

8. Bad news for Geno: The recent activity of teams picking in the top 10 reflect a lack of belief in the '13 quarterback class -- bad news for top prospect Geno Smith, who could slip out of the top 10. On Saturday night, the Bills (No. 8 overall) agreed to terms with Cards castoff Kevin Kolb. The Raiders (No. 3) reportedly are interested in trading for Seahawks backup Matt Flynn, an indication they're not sold on Smith. The Raiders are expected to cut Carson Palmer, who could end up with the Cards (No. 7), who would be out of the QB market. The Eagles (No. 4) are a potential landing spot for Smith, but that's hardly a gimme.

This is interesting, too. Not only for where Geno Smith might land, but also the level of interest these teams might have in a QB in the second round. If the whole QB market is depressed, the Jets might be able to land the prospect they want in the second or third round.

[bitonti]

8. Bad news for Geno: The recent activity of teams picking in the top 10 reflect a lack of belief in the '13 quarterback class -- bad news for top prospect Geno Smith, who could slip out of the top 10. On Saturday night, the Bills (No. 8 overall) agreed to terms with Cards castoff Kevin Kolb. The Raiders (No. 3) reportedly are interested in trading for Seahawks backup Matt Flynn, an indication they're not sold on Smith. The Raiders are expected to cut Carson Palmer, who could end up with the Cards (No. 7), who would be out of the QB market. The Eagles (No. 4) are a potential landing spot for Smith, but that's hardly a gimme. 

 

 

This is Brady Quinn all over again. A senior Qb who was told by his agents he's gonna be a top pick, skips the senior bowl and falls to the 20's. 

[T0mShane]

This is Brady Quinn all over again. A senior Qb who was told by his agents he's gonna be a top pick, skips the senior bowl and falls to the 20's.

Or, Aaron Rodgers.

[LionelRichie]

This is Brady Quinn all over again. A senior Qb who was told by his agents he's gonna be a top pick, skips the senior bowl and falls to the 20's. 

 

Best thing for Geno is to sit for a year behind someone like Kolb or Flynn who likely isn't the long-term solution.    Geno to the Raiders or Bills is still a very real possibility.  

[Lizard King]

so again. what does losing the purported nucleus of players in the 'prime of their careers' have to do with the 14-18 record the past two years? i dont think the point he is trying to make at all - or rather exclusively - is that these players are not good.... the jets just lost - or rather, let go of - three starters from those drafts. these aren't the dwayne robertsons or worse, vernon gholstons of the world. they were the young core that they decided not to re-sign.

his statement makes no sense. compounded especially by the fact that these players were a huge part of the success of the prior two AFC Championship seasons.

his trade is words. no mulligans.

Hey Brilliance, he is saying that we draft like sh*t. Hope this helps clarify.

[Il Mostro]

Best thing for Geno is to sit for a year behind someone like Kolb or Flynn who likely isn't the long-term solution.    Geno to the Raiders or Bills is still a very real possibility.  

 

 

Absolutely true.  These two organizations are not known for playing it smart, though.

[bitonti]

making these moves before the draft is not a sign they will draft a QB top 10 and sit him. That's the unlikely pick. The likely pick is a 1st rounder at a position of actual need. 

[LionelRichie]

making these moves before the draft is not a sign they will draft a QB top 10 and sit him. That's the unlikely pick. The likely pick is a 1st rounder at a position of actual need. 

 

Buffalo has not had stability at QB since Jim Kelly retired in '96.   Neither Kolb nor Jackson are long-term solutions and probably closer to JP Losman than Jim Kelly so QB is still a position of need.    

 

If Buffalo thinks Geno is the man for the next decade they take him.  

[Darth Vader]

whatevies

[bitonti]

Buffalo has not had stability at QB since Jim Kelly retired in '96.   Neither Kolb nor Jackson are long-term solutions and probably closer to JP Losman than Jim Kelly so QB is still a position of need.    

 

If Buffalo thinks Geno is the man for the next decade they take him.  

 

the GM of Buffalo doesn't have long term solutions on his mind. Buddy Nix is gonna get fired this year if they don't win. 

[SenorGato]

I just saw this on THE WIKIPEDIA:

 

Dante Scarnecchia is the father of former Denver Broncos video director Steve Scarnecchia, who was fired in November 2010 after he was found to have illegally videotaped a San Francisco 49ers walkthrough practice in October 2010.^[1] Steve had previously worked in the video departments for the New York Jets (2006–2007) and the Patriots (2001–2004).

 

It made me lol. 

[BroadwayJoe12]

Or, Aaron Rodgers.

 

Wrong. Don't you know that if multiple teams who are in need of a QB pass on a certain prospect, it means he will never amount to anything? Especially since teams like the Bills, Raiders, Eagles, Cardinals, Jaguars and Chiefs have never made a poor decision on QB personnel   

[Integrity28]

4. High-rent district: Fourteen percent of the Jets' salary cap is devoted to one position -- quarterback. In fact, the figure is $17.5 million, the sixth-highest total in the league, according to an informative study by ESPN.com NFC West blogger Mike Sando. Considering the Jets finished 30th in passer rating, I think it's fair to question their resource allocation, wouldn't you say?

 

 

 

This is disgusting. 

 

14% of the salary cap, and we don't have a starting caliber QB in the lot of 'em?

 

Revis would be a life-long Jets if that number wasn't what it is this off-season. He'd have a deal, and we'd have arguable the most talented Jet of all time for his whole career.

 

Instead, we've got to rob Peter to pay Paul, trade Revis in order to acquire the capital to address team needs, because the QB situations has hamstrung us in so many different ways. 

 

Disgusting.

[Larz]

This is disgusting. 

 

14% of the salary cap, and we don't have a starting caliber QB in the lot of 'em?

 

Revis would be a life-long Jets if that number wasn't what it is this off-season. He'd have a deal, and we'd have arguable the most talented Jet of all time for his whole career.

 

Instead, we've got to rob Peter to pay Paul, trade Revis in order to acquire the capital to address team needs, because the QB situations has hamstrung us in so many different ways. 

 

Disgusting.

 

 

it's only the 6th highest, which means is isn't that far off of what every other teams spends on the most important position on the team.  what it illustrates is if you want to have and keep a QB, you can't pay a corner 16 mill, and revis is welcome to stay at top DB money, just not top defender or QB money

 

teams can avoid revis, you can't avoid a QB

[SenorGato]

it's only the 6th highest, which means is isn't that far off of what every other teams spends on the most important position on the team.  what it illustrates is if you want to have and keep a QB, you can't pay a corner 16 mill, and revis is welcome to stay at top DB money, just not top defender or QB money

 

teams can avoid revis, you can't avoid a QB

 

Making a QB avoid the area of a field one player is covering on defense is a probably a significant step in avoiding the QB. At worst the defense has the advantage of being able to do more with the other 10 guys. 

[Integrity28]

it's only the 6th highest, which means is isn't that far off of what every other teams spends on the most important position on the team. what it illustrates is if you want to have and keep a QB, you can't pay a corner 16 mill, and revis is welcome to stay at top DB money, just not top defender or QB money

teams can avoid revis, you can't avoid a QB

You miss the point. We have all that money tied up at QB, and dont have a starter. Hence we have to move Revis to fix the team, because we have no cap for him, 4 terrible QBs, and fixing everything else.

[Lizard King]

You miss the point. We have all that money tied up at QB, and dont have a starter. Hence we have to move Revis to fix the team, because we have no cap for him, 4 terrible QBs, and fixing everything else.

Let's ignore the convenience of hindsight you're applying here (Sanchez already got paid/ Revis wouldnt take less than 16/this happened two years ago) and try to break your argument down so that simple folk like me can understand .

The argument you are making is, instead of having a great QB but since we have a really good cornerback, lets pay him the largest salary on the team. And then when we go look for a new QB next year, who are we cutting so that we can allocate a second QB's compensation to an actual QB, since that would already be filled on your team? In your calculations, does the Salary Cap exist, and do we have a bench

[slats]

Making a QB avoid the area of a field one player is covering on defense is a probably a significant step in avoiding the QB. At worst the defense has the advantage of being able to do more with the other 10 guys. 

Revis is a great player. He doesn't lock down half the field, though. He locks down one receiver. He does that better than anyone else in the league, but that's the extent of it. When the Jets face a team with a true #1 WR and few other options, Revis is a tremendous asset.

Unfortunately, Revis isn't nearly as effective when the Jets are matched up against their biggest rival, the Patsies.

When a team is capable of running the ball down the Jets throat, the pass defense as a whole becomes less important.

When the Jets offense can't score, the other team doesn't have to throw the ball much then, either. So again, the pass defense -and the league's greatest CB- become marginalized.

Having the greatest CB in the game is a luxury, not a necessity. This is why the trade market for this truly amazing CB is comprised of just a single team. And why Revis is on the block in the first place. The Jets can't afford this kind of luxury. Very few teams can.

[Larz]

You miss the point. We have all that money tied up at QB, and dont have a starter. Hence we have to move Revis to fix the team, because we have no cap for him, 4 terrible QBs, and fixing everything else.

 

 

no my friend you did.  every team locks up a lot of money at QB.  only 1 team locks up a lot of money at DB.  nobody does both.  the reason the jets might even consider trading revis is because he wants to be paid like a pass rusher or a QB.  neither position can be avoided like a DB.  revis can be avoided

 

he is welecome to stay at a fair deal

 

which is why we know he won't

 

it has nothing to do with the jets QB money

 

what stinks there is the jets are not getting value for the money

 

but we all knew that already

[Larz]

Making a QB avoid the area of a field one player is covering on defense is a probably a significant step in avoiding the QB. At worst the defense has the advantage of being able to do more with the other 10 guys. 

 

 

not a compelling reason to pay him as the top defender is it ?  he's good, but an NFL QB can squeeze a football into a 25 yard wide space even if revis is there.  all he does is take aweay a player, not the whole side of a field.

 

 making the offense double team a front 7 player has a much bigger impact. 

 

rolling a safety over helps with revis but lets face it, this league is so full of good TE's right now, and the jets LB's and S's will be bad again and so paying revis a new deal makes no sense on any level.  it will impact fantasy football, not real football

 

how will the jets cover gronk ?  does it matter if revis shuts down amendola ?  no.

 

the only prayer they have is to use some of the 10 or so picks thay may have next year and trade up for a QB, and if he pans out, lock him up to a 6 year 100 million deal.  you can't do that paying revis a 4 year 50 million dollar deal this year or even next

 

planning on giving up 14 pts a game because we have revis and hoping the offense scores 17 is not planning as much as praying

 

the focus needs to be scoring 28 a game

[Thai Jet]

Best thing for Geno is to sit for a year behind someone like Kolb or Flynn who likely isn't the long-term solution.    Geno to the Raiders or Bills is still a very real possibility.  

The word here in Buffalo is that since they signed Kolb there's no real urgency to draft a QB with that #8 pick in the 1st round. I can see them trading that pick for a later first rounder and grabbing the kid from Syracuse or waiting till next year when the QB class should be better.

[JiFtheOracle]

 

5. And then there was one: You want to know why the Jets are 14-18 over the last two seasons? I could list a dozen reasons, but here's a big one: They have only one player left from the 2008 and 2009 drafts -- Sanchez, one of nine picks over those two years. They lost Slauson (2009), RB Shonn Greene (2009) and TE Dustin Keller in free agency. The players from the '08 and '09 drafts are fifth- and sixth-year vets, the guys that should comprise the nucleus of your team. Instead of a nucleus, the Jets have a black hole.

 

 

So the Jets are 14-18 over the last 2 season because of players who they lost this offseason.

 

Brilliant!!!!

 

[Integrity28]

Let's ignore the convenience of hindsight you're applying here (Sanchez already got paid/ Revis wouldnt take less than 16/this happened two years ago) and try to break your argument down so that simple folk like me can understand .

The argument you are making is, instead of having a great QB but since we have a really good cornerback, lets pay him the largest salary on the team. And then when we go look for a new QB next year, who are we cutting so that we can allocate a second QB's compensation to an actual QB, since that would already be filled on your team? In your calculations, does the Salary Cap exist, and do we have a bench

 

No, the POINT I'm making is that because we've whiffed on QB multiple times, and because of the sh*t contracts of Tannenbaum that has so much money tied up in non-starting QBs, we don't have the cap space to both add FA's to fix all our holes AND extend Revis. So, we have to actually trade Revis to over-compensate for the dead money tied up at QB.

 

It's not an argument, it's pretty much exactly what is happening. All I'm voicing is frustration that our inability to find a QB, and the irresponsibility of our former GM is going to unnecessarily cost us Revis. The only reason trading him is considered by many a "must" is because there's dead money all over this team that can't be put into both his salary and the rest of the roster.

 

I'm not sure I even follow the angle you are taking here, you are putting words in my mouth and shaping it as opposing arguments. I thought my initial post was pretty much pure outrage about the realities of what we have right now, not the hypotheticals you are projecting. 

[#27TheDominator]

Or, Aaron Rodgers.

 

 

I hope it's that one!

 

[Integrity28]

no my friend you did.  every team locks up a lot of money at QB.  only 1 team locks up a lot of money at DB.  nobody does both.  the reason the jets might even consider trading revis is because he wants to be paid like a pass rusher or a QB.  neither position can be avoided like a DB.  revis can be avoided

 

he is welecome to stay at a fair deal

 

which is why we know he won't

 

it has nothing to do with the jets QB money

 

what stinks there is the jets are not getting value for the money

 

but we all knew that already

 

 

You continue to miss the point. We locked up a lot of money at QB and DO NOT HAVE A STARTER. Every team does NOT do that. It is the wasted 14% of the salary cap spent on 4 backup QBs that has us in the predicament where we can't build out the rest of our roster and we can't retain the best player we've ever drafted.

 

IF we had one QB in that lot, we could afford to use our draft entirely on position players. The reality is we have to rebuild a whole roster AND find a QB, and that is what will ultimately cost us Revis. If our team wasn't in shambles, we'd find a way to keep him. 

 

The mess at QB is a HUGE part of why we ultimately have to sacrifice Revis to address the rest of the team, plus continue to address QB.

 

Tannenbaum pretty much got nothing right, and will ultimately cost us that great player he's so quick to point out that he drafted. 

[bitonti]

 we don't have the cap space to both add FA's to fix all our holes AND extend Revis.  

 

The Jets are fixing holes with bargain basement FA and are still 13 Mil under cap. 

 

Mark is off the books after this year. Holmes just restructured.

 

They can extend Revis. They choose not to. 

[Integrity28]

The Jets are fixing holes with bargain basement FA and are still 13 Mil under cap. 

 

Mark is off the books after this year. Holmes just restructured.

 

They can extend Revis. They choose not to. 

 

You might be right, you might be wrong. No way of knowing. Either way it makes me furious knowing how much money is locked up at QB and we don't have a starter. 

 

This was a frugal man's offseason. Many good players could have been had for great prices, and we got in on NONE of it. 

 

Just bums me out.