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Despite Poor Record, Jets May Have a Few Gems of Their Own


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By Glenn Naughton

 

When the NEP and their HC secured their fourth Super Bowl victory just a few days ago, the games final play served as a reminder to football fans everywhere of the importance of having bargain players on a 53-man roster.  Undrafted rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler’s spectacular interception of Russell Wilson’s pass sealed the victory and turned him from a relative unknown, to a household name.

With this in mind, JetNation.com decided to take a look at notable undrafted players on the Jets current roster who have made significant contributions to date, while taking a look at some who may have a bright future in green and white.

NT Damon Harrison- Any discussion about the Jets undrafted free agents would have to start with nose tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison.  The 350 defensive lineman has been front and center in the Jets 3-4 defense for each of the past two seasons.  A product of William Penn, Harrison came to camp with the Jets in 2012 but saw the field for only 22 snaps that season.  In 2013, he was unleashed as a full-time player and graded out as the fourth rated NT in the NFL according to PFF.com.  This past season, Harrison anchored the Jets front once again and is widely considered to be among the top NT’s in the league.

TE Jeff Cumberland- Another undrafted starter for the Jets, Cumberland has become somewhat of an anomaly.  At 6′ 4” /260 pounds, the former college wide receiver has all of the physical tools one would want.  He’s has been clocked in the 4.4 40 range and one would think that his years as a wide receiver would lead to big numbers for the fifth year player.  While Cumberland has often been referred to as being on the verge of breaking out, things just haven’t materialized thus far.

CB Marcus Williams- Let’s face it, there wasn’t a whole lot to get excited about this season as the Jets struggled to a 4-12 finish and consistently failed to find a way to slow down opposing quarterbacks.  The cornerback position was somewhat of a revolving door for a large portion of the season, but the arrival of Marcus Williams brought some stability to the position.  After getting his first start in week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Williams never looked back.  He started every game from that point on and earned the praise of teammates and coaches.  As they say, in today’s NFL you can never have too many good cornerbacks. If the Jets load up at the position in free agency and through the draft as expected, Williams could go a long way in helping round out what will hopefully be a fairly deep group.

NT/DE TJ Barnes- Two seasons ago the Jets carried Barnes on their practice squad for the duration of the season.  Another massive defensive lineman who was originally listed at 6′ 7” and 364 pounds out of college managed to slim down and make the final 53 man roster this season.  The Georgia Tech product didn’t see the field all that much in 2014, but the fact that the Jets moved him from the practice squad to the 53 despite their defensive line being the strongest unit on the roster could speak volumes.  As new head coach Todd Bowles determines what defensive alignment he’ll use as his base, it should be interesting to see if Barnes finds a way to impress the new regime.

MLB Nick Bellore- Bellore is an often under appreciated special teams ace.  The four-year veteran out of Central Michigan joined the Jets with a reputation as a fundamentally sound player who played well against the run.  He’s been a mainstay on kick coverage tems and was second on the Jets in special teams tackles last season with 10 after tying for the team lead with 13 in 2013.

C Dalton Freeman- Of all the undrafted players on the roster, Freeman is the most likely player whose resume would lead fans to wonder why he wasn’t selected to begin with.  Freeman played at a big program (Clemson), and received some very impressive accolades during his time there.  He started a school record 49 games and was twice nominated for the Rimington award, given each year to the nation’s top center.  Freeman is obviously stuck behind perennial pro-bowler Nick Mangold, but did perform will in weeks sixteen and seventeen last year when Mangold was out with an ankle injury.  Given the Jets question marks at the guard position, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Freeman get an audition somewhere else on the offensive line next season.

CB Darrin Walls- Thrust into a starting role due to multiple injuries at the cornerback position, Walls played a career high 774 snaps in 2014 teaming with the aforementioned Marcus Williams to form the Jets’ starting tandem for much of the season.  A Notre Dame alum, Walls could be another player who adds much-needed depth the position moving forward.

 

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Okay. I have zero use for Cumberland, who to me is a bogus football player.  A big body with a small heart.  Walls, to me, is below average.  Is Freeman a bit on the small side?  He does not look real big.  I checked his college scout profile and it said he was 6'5" and 291.  Odd frame for a center.  And maybe too light for a guard?  He may be heaver now.  But that might be why he was not taken?  Just wondering.

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Okay. I have zero use for Cumberland, who to me is a bogus football player.  A big body with a small heart.  Walls, to me, is below average.  Is Freeman a bit on the small side?  He does not look real big.  I checked his college scout profile and it said he was 6'5" and 291.  Odd frame for a center.  And maybe too light for a guard?  He may be heaver now.  But that might be why he was not taken?  Just wondering.

 

That could be it.  Looks like he was listed at 285 in college and currently showing at 291.  Thing is, teams seem to list ht/wt when they sign a player and then never change it.  Jets site still shows Barnes at 364 despite having said during the year that he's lost 30ish pounds since they signed him.

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That could be it.  Looks like he was listed at 285 in college and currently showing at 291.  Thing is, teams seem to list ht/wt when they sign a player and then never change it.  Jets site still shows Barnes at 364 despite having said during the year that he's lost 30ish pounds since they signed him.

 

Yeah.  I don't think they have changed Coples weight despite articles about him gaining and then losing weight to play Dline and then OLB. 

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We have to be able to upgrade on Cumberland.

 

Bellore everyone seems to love but he is ST's only and a lot of k/r are touchbacks anyway.  Need st paleyr but I would like a guy who can play st's and be a possible future starter.

 

Walls will be gone this coming season.  Seems like a nice guy and all but he simply failed to produce any starter like play when he was given the chance unlike Williams.

 

Harrsion, Barnes and Freeman are good.  Freeman did a nice job when taking over from Mangold for a wee bit this past year.

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We have to be able to upgrade on Cumberland.

Bellore everyone seems to love but he is ST's only and a lot of k/r are touchbacks anyway. Need st paleyr but I would like a guy who can play st's and be a possible future starter.

Walls will be gone this coming season. Seems like a nice guy and all but he simply failed to produce any starter like play when he was given the chance unlike Williams.

Harrsion, Barnes and Freeman are good. Freeman did a nice job when taking over from Mangold for a wee bit this past year.

If Mangold mentors and he listens he could be a clone when Mangold retires.
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We have to be able to upgrade on Cumberland.

Bellore everyone seems to love but he is ST's only and a lot of k/r are touchbacks anyway. Need st paleyr but I would like a guy who can play st's and be a possible future starter.

Walls will be gone this coming season. Seems like a nice guy and all but he simply failed to produce any starter like play when he was given the chance unlike Williams.

Harrsion, Barnes and Freeman are good. Freeman did a nice job when taking over from Mangold for a wee bit this past year.

Walls isn't going anywhere. He was the best corner by far on the Jets last season. Not saying much, but he's cheap and worth keeping around. No need to create another hole at a questionable position.

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Cumberland is the biggest waste of a roster spot.

Cumberland is the biggest waste of a roster spot.

Dump Cumberland & steal Clay from the Fins. Improves our team, hurts them. Amaro & Clay would make a nice dual threat at TE for the 2015 Jets.

Amaro likes to play over the middle & Clay does nice work outside the hash marks. Win/win.

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Walls isn't going anywhere. He was the best corner by far on the Jets last season. Not saying much, but he's cheap and worth keeping around. No need to create another hole at a questionable position.

No, just no.  He was lousy, Williams was better than him from day one.  And as you said it, that ain't saying much.  Being cheap means nothing if you can't play.  I will be willing to bet he is either cut or doesn't see the field once next year.  The Jets are going after Cb upgrades in FA or the draft plus they have Milliner and m,cdougall coming back from injury, Williams is already better.

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How many snaps did Barnes have?  I liked what I saw, but I'm not sure what they will do with him.  I guess he takes the spot of Kenrick Ellis assuming they don't sign him back.  I don't think Walls or Cumberland are so bad, but I hope we find guys that get them both cut.  Williams too.  They need to get some corners in case Milliner and McDougle don't recover.  Then we can hope those guys do and Williams and Walls become casualties. Cumberland would be okay as a 3rd TE, but we don't want him starting.  I guess they didn't either considering they went after Pettigrew and then Amaro.

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No, just no.  He was lousy, Williams was better than him from day one.  And as you said it, that ain't saying much.  Being cheap means nothing if you can't play.  I will be willing to bet he is either cut or doesn't see the field once next year.  The Jets are going after Cb upgrades in FA or the draft plus they have Milliner and m,cdougall coming back from injury, Williams is already better.

 

According to PFF he was a top 50 cornerback. So, yeah. You're wrong. About everything. Watch the games.

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According to PFF he was a top 50 cornerback. So, yeah. You're wrong. About everything. Watch the games.

Ah yes, PFF. Is that the same PFF who put Calvin Pryor on their All-Rookie team?

Yeah, they're OK, but thier word isn't gospel.

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Yeah I watched the games.  He sucked.  Can't play off and can't press.  I'll stand by my comment, he won't see a snap next year.

 

You're right. The new coach called him personally and said he couldn't wait to work with him because he won't see the field. Cool.

 

The whole secondary sucked. Walls was one of the better players in it. There's no reason and no way he gets cut. Period.

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You're right. The new coach called him personally and said he couldn't wait to work with him because he won't see the field. Cool.

 

The whole secondary sucked. Walls was one of the better players in it. There's no reason and no way he gets cut. Period.

This guy was getting bumped in favor of undrafted rookies and box safeties.  We will see who is right come next year.  You can dig this thread up and rub my nose in it if he sees any appreciable playing time at all.

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Also, Carl is wrong.  Walls is ranked the 45th best FREE AGENT corner by PFF.  He was given a -1.6 rating. 

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/01/01/2014-free-agent-cornerbacks/

 

No. No I'm not:

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/44983/under-the-spotlight-oday-aboushi-and-darrin-walls

 

Right now, Walls is the Jets' No. 1 corner. Such is the state of the secondary. He's the 47th-rated corner in the league, according to Pro Football Focus -- which isn't half-bad.

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No. No I'm not:

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/44983/under-the-spotlight-oday-aboushi-and-darrin-walls

 

Right now, Walls is the Jets' No. 1 corner. Such is the state of the secondary. He's the 47th-rated corner in the league, according to Pro Football Focus -- which isn't half-bad.

 

I pulled my info straight from PFF.  Where is Cimini/ESPN getting that number? 

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This guy was getting bumped in favor of undrafted rookies and box safeties.  We will see who is right come next year.  You can dig this thread up and rub my nose in it if he sees any appreciable playing time at all.

 

Week 16:

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/47668/jets-playing-time-breakdown-week-16

 

DEFENSE (Based on 64 snaps)

Line -- Muhammad Wilkerson 59, Sheldon Richardson 51, Damon Harrison 28, Leger Douzable 21, Kenrick Ellis 8.

Linebacker -- David Harris 64, Demario Davis 62, Calvin Pace 54, Quinton Coples 39, Jason Babin 28, IK Enemkpali 4.

Secondary -- Calvin Pryor 64, Dawan Landry 64, Darrin Walls 61, Marcus Williams 61, Antonio Allen 34, Kyle Wilson 4.

 

Week 17:

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/48077/jets-playing-time-breakdown-week-17

 

DEFENSE (Based on 70 snaps)

Line -- Muhammad Wilkerson 57, Leger Douzable 34, Sheldon Richardson 32, Damon Harrison 27, Kenrick Ellis 14.

Linebacker -- David Harris 70, Demario Davis 70, Calvin Pace 57, Quinton Coples 43, Jason Babin 29, IK Enemkpali 12, Trevor Reilly 7.

Secondary -- Dawan Landry 69, Calvin Pryor 69, Darrin Walls 63, Marcus Williams 52, Antonio Allen 40, Phillip Adams 25.

 

 

 

So. Yeah. No.

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Week 16:

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/47668/jets-playing-time-breakdown-week-16

 

DEFENSE (Based on 64 snaps)

Line -- Muhammad Wilkerson 59, Sheldon Richardson 51, Damon Harrison 28, Leger Douzable 21, Kenrick Ellis 8.

Linebacker -- David Harris 64, Demario Davis 62, Calvin Pace 54, Quinton Coples 39, Jason Babin 28, IK Enemkpali 4.

Secondary -- Calvin Pryor 64, Dawan Landry 64, Darrin Walls 61, Marcus Williams 61, Antonio Allen 34, Kyle Wilson 4.

 

Week 17:

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/48077/jets-playing-time-breakdown-week-17

 

DEFENSE (Based on 70 snaps)

Line -- Muhammad Wilkerson 57, Leger Douzable 34, Sheldon Richardson 32, Damon Harrison 27, Kenrick Ellis 14.

Linebacker -- David Harris 70, Demario Davis 70, Calvin Pace 57, Quinton Coples 43, Jason Babin 29, IK Enemkpali 12, Trevor Reilly 7.

Secondary -- Dawan Landry 69, Calvin Pryor 69, Darrin Walls 63, Marcus Williams 52, Antonio Allen 40, Phillip Adams 25.

One of the top 3 Jets metrics for 2014 - 

Kyle Wilson with 4 snaps in week 16 and 0 in week 17  - unless he was hurt and unable to play.

A phenomenal way to close out his career in green and white - phasing him into the nothing he always was.  

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