our last gm izadick sure had a plan

[nyjets782]

He did try to spend money, but outside of Decker -who took less than he was expected to get in free agency to sign with the big market Jets- he couldn't close on a single big free agent. For instance, having no backup plan when he whiffed on Vonte Davis. He talked to plenty of free agents, but no one was willing to sign the bargain contracts he was offering. Getting deals is great, but sometimes you have to pay retail. He was stubbornly against paying market price for any player. Again, the polar opposite of Tannenbaum, who was terrible himself on that opposite pole. 

I'm happy with Maccagnan and Bowles largely because they're not knee-jerk reactions to the previous regime. Especially with head coaches, the Jets have gone hard ass/soft touch with every other hire. They finally seem to've landed two well balanced guys. 

This post sums it up PERFECTLY!  Accumulating cap room is great if you actually intend to spend it at some point.  His approach was one where unless a slew of top tier free agents were going to accept less than market value, we would have no one to sign with all the cap room he was accumulating. 

[nyjets782]

It is when the 8-8 year was a sheer and utter abberation that any observation person could tell was a false result.  Won two games because the other team blew it on the last play, almost every win was a squeaker, almost every loss was a blow out.  Team gave up an ungodly number of long scoring plays.  If you have 30 million on the table it;s stupid to spend it if the guys you want are mid tier and want guarantee and term.  Accumulating lots of picks was a good thing after years and years of 4 or 5 picks.  His weakness on not moving at all is well documented, no argument there.

 

The 8-8 team was about a 5 win quality of team.  If Idzick did what you wanted him to do the team would have been 8-8 at best last year, with perhaps more Rex and his gang of lousy assistants and would have spent the wad on guys like DRC.

 

Idzick was slow on his feet and a terrible drafter but all he did the previous year set up the current regime for  success and not having to deal with a grand mess.

I'm no fan of Rex, so this has nothing to do with him.  I agree that the 8-8 was not a solid 8-8 but do not believe it was akin to a 5 win team.  Almost EVERY NFL win comes down to the wire so I don't buy into that.  The thing you are leaving out is that 8-8 was achieved with a rookie QB.  Obviously we know where Geno is in year 3 but putting our 2013 glasses on, you would have to assume that there would be some progress with a rookie moving into his 2nd year.  Plus you would assume to get some lift from your 12 draft picks that year.

In addition, it is not all about DRC, it is about guys like Revis and Talib and Dimitri Patterson + Percy Harvin would have equaled either of these guys in terms of the money last offseason and you would not have to give up a 6th.  With an inflated market this offseason, top tier CBs cost us more than they would have the year prior.  Emmanuel Sanders would have been great as well.  It is not an all or nothing proposition here.  If you disagree with what this moron did last offseason, that does not mean you are advocating a spending spree.  I never pushed for an all out spending spree, but I also do not agree that it's ever okay to tank a season with $30M in your pocket.

[#27TheDominator]

Why couldn't he just sign Cromartie back?  Cromartie wanted back on the Jets and signed for one year at $250k more than they gave Patterson.  Not exactly mortgaging the future there.  If you think they were a 5 win team in 2013, Idzik still lowered the talent level. The best thing he did was nothing.  How much money went to Vick, Johnson and Harvin?  For the 2015 season, they are paying Johnson almost as much as they are paying Bilal Powell.

[JustInFudge]

Saw Idzick at lunch today.  He was eating right across from me and we made eye contact.  I gave him the death stare.  He knew why.  Oh, he knew why. 

[Make me idSICK]

So... What I take from this thread is that nobody is mad at me about the billboards and towels anymore?

[#27TheDominator]

So... What I take from this thread is that nobody is mad at me about the billboards and towels anymore?

I thought we were mad about the planes towing banners.  I keep forgetting.

[slats]

 

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John Idzik’s draft debacle finding new ways to debilitate Jets

By Brian Costello

September 2, 2015 | 2:41pm

 

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(Clockwise from top left) Jalen Saunders, Jace Amaro, IK Enemkpali, Shaq Evans, Tajh Boyd, Dakota DozierPhoto: Bill Kostroun (2), AP (2), Neil Miller, AP

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It was the draft that was supposed to set up the Jets for the next decade. General manager John Idzik had plotted since the day he took the job to line up as many picks as he could for the 2014 NFL Draft, hoping to restock the roster with a monster haul.

Instead, he totally blew it.

Idzik drafted 12 players, the so-called “Idzik 12,” and it was clear from the start not many of them were very good. A year later, that draft looks even worse. Only seven members of the 12 remain in the organization, and that number most likely will shrink this weekend when the Jets cut the roster down to 53.

There might be only four players from that 12-man draft class on this year’s active roster. The team placed tight end Jace Amaro, the second-round pick in 2014,on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday. Safety Calvin Pryor and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa appear to be locks to make the roster. Cornerback Dexter McDougle and linebacker Trevor Reilly are likely to join them, but still have to be considered on the bubble. Offensive lineman Dakota Dozier and wide receiver Shaq Evans are fighting for spots.

John Idzik and Jets owner Woody Johnson before Idzik’s last game as GM.Photo: Charles Wenzelberg

It is why “Idzik” is now a dirty word with Jets fans.

Idzik paid for his terrible draft with his job. It was not the only factor that led to his firing last December, but it played a big role. When Idzik was hired in January 2013, his plan was to let the Jets free agents walk that year to acquire 2014 compensatory picks, and he traded Darrelle Revis to pick up another pick that year. The plan was to stock the roster through the draft in 2013 and ’14, then fill in the holes through free agency in 2015 when he would have roughly $50 million in cap space.

When free agency hit in 2013, Idzik allowed Yeremiah Bell, LaRon Landry, Mike DeVito, Shonn Greene, Dustin Keller and Matt Slauson to walk. In their place, he signed Mike Goodson (a separate disaster) and Antwan Barnes. That gave the Jets four compensatory picks (one fourth-rounder, three sixth-rounders) in the 2014 Draft. The April 2013 trade of Revis to the Buccaneers gave him another fourth-round pick in 2014 in addition to the first-rounder in 2013.

Quincy Enunwa is one player from 2014 class who will be on this year’s roster.Photo: Bill Kostroun

The plan looked pretty solid when the 2014 Draft was hailed as one of the deepest in years, particularly at wide receiver, a position of need for the Jets. But Idzik seemed to freeze during the draft. He failed to make any trades and stayed put with the 12 picks instead of using the advantage of having multiple picks to move up. The results have been ugly.

Pryor and Amaro had disappointing rookie seasons. McDougle and Evans did not make it out of training camp and spent the season on injured reserve. Idzik cut linebacker Jeremiah George (fifth round), Enunwa (sixth round), cornerback Brandon Dixon (sixth round) and quarterback Tajh Boyd (sixth round) in the final round of 2014 roster cuts, bringing George and Enunwa back to the practice squad.

At the end of September, the team released Jalen Saunders (fourth round), who had been a return specialist. Sources said Saunders had been lying to the coaches and they grew frustrated with him. He also did not play very well. Saunders wound up getting picked up by the Saints, who traded him to the Patriots this week.

Perhaps the most famous member of the draft class is now linebacker IK Enemkpali, but it is not for his play. Enemkpali punched quarterback Geno Smith last month, breaking Smith’s jaw. Enemkpali was immediately released.

The 2014 Draft class was supposed to be the foundation of the Jets for years to come. That foundation crumbled almost immediately, setting the franchise back. New GM Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles are left to deal with the cleanup.

Where are they now?

John Idzik drafted 12 players in 2014. Half are already off the roster, and two more could be gone when the roster is trimmed to 53 this weekend. Here’s a look:

Calvin Pryor, first round

The safety had a disappointing rookie season and was benched midway through the year. He is back with the Jets this year, hoping to break out in Todd Bowles’ system.

Jace Amaro, second round
After struggling to get on the field as a rookie, Amaro will miss the entire season due to shoulder surgery.

Dexter McDougle, third round

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Dexter McDougle

Missed his rookie season with a torn ACL. It looks as if he will be the team’s fourth or fifth cornerback to start the season.

Jalen Saunders, fourth round

The Jets cut Saunders, a return specialist, last September after the coaching staff soured on him. He was traded this week by the Saints to the Patriots.

Shaq Evans, fourth round

Evans missed last season with a shoulder injury. He could make the roster as the sixth wide receiver.

Dakota Dozier, fourth round

Did not play a snap as a rookie. Had a bad preseason this year and likely will be cut.

Jeremiah George, fifth round

Signed by the Jaguars off the Jets’ practice squad last September. He remains a backup with Jacksonville.

Brandon Dixon, sixth round

Cut by the Jets after training camp last year. He spent last season with the Buccaneers and is trying to hang on with Tampa Bay.

Quincy Enunwa, sixth round

Played in one game as a rookie, but has emerged as the favorite to be the Jets’ third receiver to start this year.

IK Enemkpali, sixth round

Played mostly special teams as a rookie. He threw the punch heard round the world to break Geno Smith’s jaw and was cut last month. Fighting for a roster spot with Rex Ryan’s Bills.

Tajh Boyd, sixth round

Don’t blame Idzik on this one. Ryan’s pick. He was cut before the season last year and is out of football.

Trevor Reilly, seventh round

The pleasant surprise of the group. He has become a reliable backup linebacker and special-teams contributor.

[kelticwizard]

It takes three years to evaluate a draft class, so we have at least another couple of years to start threads.

Getting traded for a conditional pick on cut-down day does not make it look like he might have an NFL career.  It means he was being cut by the Saints.  The Pats also claimed DaVaris Daniels.  The kid showed questionable character and was taken over guys like Bryant and Ellington who actually have the size to play in the NFL.

Exactly.  It's not that Idzik drafted a guy who turned out to be a scrub who bounces in and out of the league.  That happens to every GM.  It's that the scrub who bounces  in and out of the league is having one of the better careers of the people Idzik drafted.

[Larz]

ugh

 

the billboards and towels were a waste of money.  they both were dead men walking.  you should have spent the money on a charity

[Saul Goodman]

Looking over some of the posts in this thread, I have to say that while I don't think Tannenbaum was a great GM, not sure how is he mentioned with Idzik. Gave out some bad contracts and had some awful draft picks, most notably the whole 2009 draft. But he was MILES better than Idzik as a GM, it's not even close. The 2006 and 2007 drafts set us up for some really good seasons, and he picked up some excellent/solid free agents like Damian Woody, Alan Faneca, Tony Richardson, Braylon Edwards, LT, Calvin Pace.

Idzik did nothing good, nothing at all. He set this franchise back years.

[Ex-Rex]

I lost any and all respect for izadick when he decided to keep Rex. That cut it for me. Calvin Pryor was another huge mistake when we needed a CB and failed to take Kyle Fuller from Va Tech.

[Jet9]

I lost any and all respect for izadick when he decided to keep Rex. That cut it for me. Calvin Pryor was another huge mistake when we needed a CB and failed to take Kyle Fuller from Va Tech.

In fairness, Woody kept Rex.

[Doggin94it]

He had a plan and a good one at that.

Get rid of old dead wood.

Try and accumulate extra picks

Do not over pay and over term medium players just to get to .500 (see DRC)

Have a lot of cap room at the ready to be used once the dead wood was gone.

Stand up to Fat mouth Rex when it comes to having a say in who we keep.

His drafts were sheer trash and that is by far the most important thing a GM does so he deserves to get hammered for that.

If some of you guys had your way Rex would still be the coach, tyrod taylor would be our new starter, we would have over paid for DMR and a malcontent like whts his face from washington and we would be looking at a 500 record at best.

 

Pretty much.  His first year was actually a really good job, dealing with the Revis trade and clearing cap room.  He set the team up to dominate the 2014 draft, and had he been able to make that work, the entire organization would look very different today.  Shame.

[Miss Lonelyhearts]

I lost any and all respect for izadick when he decided to keep Rex. That cut it for me. Calvin Pryor was another huge mistake when we needed a CB and failed to take Kyle Fuller from Va Tech.

The Jets were all over Fuller. He was off the board. Otherwise he'd have been the pick there for sure.

[JerryK]

Imo this conversation is like politics...everyone loves their opinion and there's no middle ground.

I'm not an Idzik fan. His tenure was disappointing.  Nevertheless:

• He was hired by a boob, and saddled with an HC who is a boob. 
• We were in cap *hell*, and now we are not.
• He didn't intentionally fall on a sword, but that's how it ended up. And fiscally he left this new group with a huge Christmas present.
• Local fans spend a large portion of their disposable income going to these games.  You can't just tell them you're going to suck for a few years.  Publicly held companies have the same problem with stockholders. Gotta be disappointing for sure.
• There's a chance we'll do well this year for 1 reason.  The first year after we clean house, some of the prior picks suddenly show up...and we have a good season.  

I'm patient, and hopeful.   But it helps that Im out of state and I keep my investment low.  If we continue to suck, please stop talking about Idzik.  There's a new group "buying the groceries", and John left them a big wad of cash to do it.

[#27TheDominator]

The Jets were all over Fuller. He was off the board. Otherwise he'd have been the pick there for sure.

Can you believe that they passed on Fuller and ODBJr in the same draft?

[Make me idSICK]

ugh

 

the billboards and towels were a waste of money.  they both were dead men walking.  you should have spent the money on a charity

Revisionist history. Idzik was not a "dead man walking" when we started the campaign AT ALL. As a matter of fact, when we first started it people were saying "waste of time… GM's don't get fired after 2 years."

Further, why are you worried how adults spend their money? You can't call it a waste of money unless you donated and feel like you didn't get your money's worth. We did not get one complaint from ANYBODY who donated. 

And last - you do realize that we did donate the excess funds to pediatric cancer research, right? And before you go and say "excess funds - you should have donated ALL of it to pediatric cancer research", you should probably realize that without the campaign NOBODY would have been giving us any money to do ANYTHING. And if we took the money we raised for a billboard and instead donated it to charity, that is called stealing. You can't tell people you are raising money for one thing and spending it on something else. 

 

 

[ylekram]

I cant remember which idzik excuse was used more. both were top 10 in jetnation history

1." you don't spend money until you have a franchise qb"

2." was idzik supposed to over pay for the likes of drc?"

honorable mention

"idzik has a plan and is sticking to it" &

"stop your whining. idzik knows what he is doing"

home cookin' idzik living in a microwave world

[Scott Dierking]

Revisionist history. Idzik was not a "dead man walking" when we started the campaign AT ALL. As a matter of fact, when we first started it people were saying "waste of time… GM's don't get fired after 2 years."

Further, why are you worried how adults spend their money? You can't call it a waste of money unless you donated and feel like you didn't get your money's worth. We did not get one complaint from ANYBODY who donated. 

And last - you do realize that we did donate the excess funds to pediatric cancer research, right? And before you go and say "excess funds - you should have donated ALL of it to pediatric cancer research", you should probably realize that without the campaign NOBODY would have been giving us any money to do ANYTHING. And if we took the money we raised for a billboard and instead donated it to charity, that is called stealing. You can't tell people you are raising money for one thing and spending it on something else. 

 

 

How you and your campaign are not in the Jets Hall of Fame is baffling to me. 

[Dcat]

Can you believe that they passed on Fuller and ODBJr in the same draft?

the Jets didn't pass on ODB. ODB was drafted by the Giants several picks before the Jets 1st round pick.

You must be referring to Brandin Cooks, who I was sure would be our pick. I nearly cried when they selected Pryor over Cooks.