MY WISH LIST FOR THE 2007 SEASON

[Sperm Edwards]

On an unrelated sidenote you are now higher than Sperm Edwards on the mod depth chart. Yes I just said it. When you look down, you see Sperm.

Max, not everyone is looking down at your chin.

[Jet27]

I agree with a lot of this. Not all of it though. Chad is the answer. I mean that. There are a lot of problems with this team. Chad is not one of them.

The guys heart was always a known quantity. But he proved he can stay healthy now. He proved he can lead the Jets. What do they need?

1. Chad to have his first offseason of normal rest in years. That alone will do tons for his arm strength.

2. Improve the interior run defense (NT - LB) they can fix this however they want. But this team has to get stronger. They can not line up and just simply stop people.

3. They need a new CB as well to play along side Dyson. Maybe it is Miller, I won't rule that out.

4. RT. I like Moore and RT is the only change I would make on the line.

5. RB. They need a # 1 RB. Leon is awesome. Keep him fresh. Keep him as the 3rd down back. They need a new guy.

Not complaining in any of this. This team made me so damn proud. Even in defeat. Today I am proud to be a Jets fan.

Guys, I wanted Chad to be the answer, but he will make a great backup next year for the Jets. We need to stretch the field, we cannot beat teams in the playoffs with tricky dicky plays, constant check-downs. You need to play football and you need to throw the ball down field. otherwise you get into a situation where your margin of error decreases (i.e. your team can't make 1 freakin mistake because you won't be able to overcome it). This is just crazy. We either trade up for a front line QB (using Vilma which i would hate to do) or you start the Clemens era.

I would hate to see Vilma go. In addition I think Baker has steadily improved so I would not get rid of Baker. But we need help on the D-line and in the LBs corps thats a given. And we need a KO specialist who could actually kick off the ball into the endzone..that killed us yesterday.

[stormshadow19]

Well, my plan here to break this down and see where it goes. Shall we?

1. Bench Chad.

Start Clemens, pick up someone else if he's that bad, but do something. I'm sick of the fear-of-worse. I'm sick of having little to no shot at overcoming a 2-TD deficit. I'm sick of seeing too many trick plays & WR screens & check-downs b/c our QB can't throw it even moderately deep without 10 yards of separation in single-coverage between the WR & the CB. I'm sick of our receivers having to worry about getting their clocks cleaned on every pass b/c of the floaters.

Basically I'm sick of usually-ok-to-pretty-good from Mr. Regular-Season.

Forget all the efficiency stats & such. And even the grit & heart & soul & hard work & smarts & other intangibles. Those things are GREAT if you've got them in someone who's physically gifted. Otherwise they just serve to mask deficiencies elsewhere & the overall product is still an average one.

He just doesn't put up enough points & is too easy to gameplan against by the types of good defenses that we'll have to beat to win a superbowl.

I'm not sure if benching Chad is the answer. There really isn't a much better option out there. I'm saying this without knowing if Kellen Clemens is the answer or not. Chad has won playoff games in the past. Yeah, he didn't win yesterday... but who wins in Foxboro besides Tom Brady? There really isn't a better option out there. Who are you going to get? Patrick Ramsey? Byron Leftwich? David Carr? Or any other QBs that have been mentioned in this therad or elsewhere on the board? Can Chad get us to the next level? So far, he's proven he can't. But, he's still our only option.

2. Rookies need to add some bulk.

Leon & D'Brick I'm looking in your general directions. If Leon can't, then we need another option; someone with some power who's not slower than Vinny.

Well yeah. For football players, they're scrawny.

3. Get a stud CB.

Dyson was excellent this year, but he other side was lacking big-time. Whatever one's opinion of Clements or Samuel, either one is a HUGE upgrade over what we've got. Worth the money for such a big hole. Don't look at the total passing yards or stats - look with your eyes at the ease with which 3rd-downs seem to be converted in big situations.

Asante Samuel seems to be popular. Dre Bly might be avalible too. Nate Clements is out there too. But.. the two FAs might get the franchise tag and Bly will cost a first rounder.

4. Kickoffs.

As amazing as Nugent has been on his FG's, he's been equally hideous on KO's. You don't just drop a money FG kicker, which he's turning into. But we've got 3 options: he either fixes this problem himself, Graham learns to do it, or we have to use an active roster spot every week for a KO specialist. You simply can't spot the opposition that many yards to start a drive.

Well... I'm not exactly sure how to fix the problem, or how to teach kickoff techniques... but there must be someone the Jets can hire to help him with it.

5. ILB/OLB

I'm through saying Vilma's mediocre in this scheme. He's outright below average for a 3-4 ILB. He's puny. He gets blown out of the play by mediocre OG's. He makes tackles, but they're too often after the first-down marker. He still tries to run around blockers b/c he himself knows he's too small to engage them.

Now, he could put on an extra 10-15 lbs, but then he'd be slow. Besides, we have better options. Trade him to a 4-3 team DESPERATE for a durable MLB who can make plays (Carolina, etc). Don't knock his trade value - 115 tackles this year and his cap # is around $1M/yr for 2 years to anyone who acquires him. We should get a mid-first rounder at a minimum. We took him at #12 not knowing (for sure) if he'd be a bust. Surely someone would give up the same now that he's everything we thought he would be (& was even a pro-bowler by his 2nd season).

Put Hobson inside. He's MUCH better against the run than Vilma & doesn't get dragged by runners until help arrives nearly as much. Get a FA OLB (A.Thomas, etc) with the speed to get to the QB better than Hobson who really doesn't have real QB-pressure speed.

Hobson inside would solve a couple problems. Which him being too slow to be an outside backer in the NFL, and him being good against the run, it seems he's a perfect fit for the 3/4 MLB scheme.

Vilma seems to be a square peg trying to go into a round hole. But, he might be able to solve another problem. How? Well... some people have been wanting an elite corner. And, others have mentioned the Lions, with Cory Redding. Am I suggesting a Vilma for Redding trade? Obviously not, since Redding is a UFA. I''m suggesting a Vilma for Bly trade... with various odds and ends thrown about. It'd solve both teams problems, and allow the Jets to not break the bank on a FA CB. They could spend the money elsewhere... say two FA LB's. Lance Briggs, Na'il Diggs, Cato June, London Fletcher, and Adalius Thomas are the names I'd look at. They could get two of them, easy. I'd prefere Fletcher (to fill the other MLB spot) and Thomas. Obviously, Fletcher is older than some people would prefere, but he's a defensive leader, and it would hurt the Bills. If not Fletcher than Lance Briggs... he's got the size to line up in the middle, and would wreck havoc, teamed with Barton, Hobson, and Thomas.

6. DL

Ellis is going nowhere because of his contract.

DRob is going nowhere for 2007 and not staying in 2008 for the same reason.

That being said, try to groom someone more ideally suited for NT. Maybe it's one of our two IR guys; maybe it's a FA; maybe it's a surprise draftee.

And DE goes without saying. My ideal is if we can snag Carriker in round 2. Otherwise find some other option b/c KVO/BH are lousy.

The guy from the Raiders, Terdell Sands, seems like to be exactly what we, as fans, want. He's 6'9" and 335. He can fill up a hole and take on two or three guys.

And, I'd agree that the Jets need a DE who can actually pass the rusher. The best place to look would be the draft.

7. FB

Askew is no blocker. No detail is needed here. Draft one; find one in FA; trade for one; see if that Pociask kid is any good. Just anything other than what we've got.

Askew wasn't even a FB in college. He was a HB, in the Michigan scheme. He shouldn't have been drafted where he was. He's just not a FB. If the Jets are going to use a FB in the offense, they should get a true FB... not some crappy hybrid.

8. Right side of the OL

Clemens & Moore were pretty good at times. Basically they're great backups. Neither is a mauler blocker for the run. Neither is a particularly good pass-blocker.

Moore is already locked up long-term at a great contract for the team. He goes nowhere. Clement should be retained if we can get him for backup money.

Find a real OG in FA to start for '07. There are a few outstanding ones available. Draft one to replace Kendall in '08 or so. RT - depends on what's available to us in FA or the draft. I wouldn't cry if we took Levi or Blaylock in round one, even if it's unglamorous again.

The Jets have always needed that road grading OG, for the right side. That's why many of us were calling for MJ Giles in the previous draft. Mostly because we were enamored with his size. And, they can use a good RT. As it's been said, most of the top junior linemen have decided to return for school... so this year might not be the year to draft a tackle. They might be better off trying to find a FA on the cheap. And, this might be the year to do it, considering the lack of top flight OL talent avalible. I just dunno who I'd want.

9. TE

I'd like an upgrade over Baker, but I consider all of the above to be more important. If a Tony Gonzalez becomes available, then grab him if the price is not insane. Or if a highly-touted rookie prospect falls a round or two later than expected. Baker is so-so & in the presence of other improvements I think we can get by with so-so at this position. Or maybe a FA like Dan Graham or Eric Johnson (though he hasn't been the most reliable injury-wise). Cap room is something we definitely have & TE's aren't usually that expensive so we can go FA here.

Eric Johnson and Jerramy Stevens are two FA TE's also avalible. Or we can resume the Kyle Brady experiment. Or there's that Tony Gonzalez guy. But, the price will be insane. I think comparable to the top paid WR's. But, then again, I don't think TE is the problem. Or any problem.

Now, this might go back to point one, but as I said last year, the Jets don't lack playmakers. They lack the people to get them the ball. Be it on the offensive line or the QB, they never seem to get the ball to their playmakers, in space. That's always been their problem. They have to find a way to improve that, and improve their run defense. They always seem to lack that big play ability on defense. One name I mentioned, Dre Bly, always has that ability. None of the corners the Jets have (or any player on that defense, for that matter) has the ability to make the big tackle, make the big INT, or come up with the huge sack. Most of you wanted to keep John Abraham for that reason. He wasn't the answer. Yeah, he put up numbers, but he was never there when the team absolutely needed him.

They don't really lack homerun threats on offense. Leon Washington, Laveranues Cole, and Jerricho Cotchery have more than proven that they're capable of taking the ball to the house. Do they still need more? Of course. More weapons the better. I'd love a running back that can take the ball for 20 carries a game, giving LW 15 or so touches (passing or running). Then with 90 and 80 catches for Cotch and Coles, that would be ideal. But, my point is they still need someone to get the ball in their hands, to give them a fair chance at doing damage. Chad isn't that person, but sadly, there isn't a better option. Unless you wanna give Damon Huard a try. He's avalible.

[nj meadowlands]

No way I'd ever trade Jonathan Vilma for Dre Bly

[stormshadow19]

No way I'd ever trade Jonathan Vilma for Dre Bly

Well, good thing it wasn't directed at you then, eh?

[madmike1]

No way I'd ever trade Jonathan Vilma for Dre Bly

Yeah thats a really really bad idea.

[Sperm Edwards]

SS, I think we can get more than Dre Bly for Vilma.

In a year with a couple of top corners in FA, and the Jets having so much cap room, it doesn't really make much sense going after one that would cost us a player like Vilma.

A top-half first rounder would be the absolute minimum, and we really should get more than only a pick ~#15.

I think Gibbon had it right. This may have been their plan all along. Mangini brought in Cassell, which he had to know would piss off his mentor. Then we burned our early 3rd-round pick on another ILB. If it only ended with Cassell, then I might think differently. But reaching so badly to burn a pick that high on Schlegel tells me that this isn't so out-of-the-question. Doesn't mean I think Schlegel is the answer - more that our HC was clearly looking for something else. With Schlegel's speed, he certainly wasn't drafted with the hopes of only being a ST's contributor.

[stormshadow19]

SS, I think we can get more than Dre Bly for Vilma.

In a year with a couple of top corners in FA, and the Jets having so much cap room, it doesn't really make much sense going after one that would cost us a player like Vilma.

A top-half first rounder would be the absolute minimum, and we really should get more than only a pick ~#15.

I think Gibbon had it right. This may have been their plan all along. Mangini brought in Cassell, which he had to know would piss off his mentor. Then we burned our early 3rd-round pick on another ILB. If it only ended with Cassell, then I might think differently. But reaching so badly to burn a pick that high on Schlegel tells me that this isn't so out-of-the-question. Doesn't mean I think Schlegel is the answer - more that our HC was clearly looking for something else. With Schlegel's speed, he certainly wasn't drafted with the hopes of only being a ST's contributor.

Well, then you'd be suprised. And, if you guys could actually read, I didn't suggest Vilma for Bly, straight up. I said Vilma for Bly, with odds and ends added to even it out. And the idea was thrown around to trade Vilma. Might as well get an area of concern out of the way, and not spend as much money. Bly is still in his prime and is the best CB in the NFC North, and top three in the NFC, and top 10 in the whole league. Multiple time Pro Bowler and a top CB... not that I have to defend my position. I'd say that most of you on this board haven't seen the Lions play, save for every Thanksgiving. It was just a suggestion anyway. Bly would be cheaper, cap wise, than Samuel and Clements. He brings more to the table, than either of them. He's a playmaker the defense needs. I don't see where this is a bad idea. Yeah, you give up Vilma, but you get a top notch CB, and probably more. Hell, they offered Bly, the 2nd overall, and a 3rd for Clinton Portis and the 6th overall. What's to say they don't offer Bly and the 2nd for Vilma, the Jets first (late 20's), and a 4th or something? Would you turn that down? And, don't think it's out of the relm of possibility. Matt Millen is in charge of the Lions, and they're desperate.

[Jet27]

Well, then you'd be suprised. And, if you guys could actually read, I didn't suggest Vilma for Bly, straight up. I said Vilma for Bly, with odds and ends added to even it out. And the idea was thrown around to trade Vilma. Might as well get an area of concern out of the way, and not spend as much money. Bly is still in his prime and is the best CB in the NFC North, and top three in the NFC, and top 10 in the whole league. Multiple time Pro Bowler and a top CB... not that I have to defend my position. I'd say that most of you on this board haven't seen the Lions play, save for every Thanksgiving. It was just a suggestion anyway. Bly would be cheaper, cap wise, than Samuel and Clements. He brings more to the table, than either of them. He's a playmaker the defense needs. I don't see where this is a bad idea. Yeah, you give up Vilma, but you get a top notch CB, and probably more. Hell, they offered Bly, the 2nd overall, and a 3rd for Clinton Portis and the 6th overall. What's to say they don't offer Bly and the 2nd for Vilma, the Jets first (late 20's), and a 4th or something? Would you turn that down? And, don't think it's out of the relm of possibility. Matt Millen is in charge of the Lions, and they're desperate.

Stormy...if it comes down to Bly or samuel (forget the money)...sammy gets it hands down. But you do make a valid points....In my humble opinion...the d was good enough to win....the problem is the offense is and has been at times offensive and that starts with the QB play. There is no way any team in this league wins in the playoffs with out throwing the ball down field (never). And if by chance you are the one in a lifetime defense (i.e. 2000 Ravens) then you can win a SB.

Bottom line, the impact of a CB in the scheme of things relative to the current Jets D is small. Our hope lies in 2007 in two things.....Will the Jets trade for a Bigtime QB or will Clemens be ready...Chad won't lead us to a SB appearance (please take a good look at his playoff stats).

[Sperm Edwards]

Well, then you'd be suprised. And, if you guys could actually read, I didn't suggest Vilma for Bly, straight up. I said Vilma for Bly, with odds and ends added to even it out. And the idea was thrown around to trade Vilma. Might as well get an area of concern out of the way, and not spend as much money. Bly is still in his prime and is the best CB in the NFC North, and top three in the NFC, and top 10 in the whole league. Multiple time Pro Bowler and a top CB... not that I have to defend my position. I'd say that most of you on this board haven't seen the Lions play, save for every Thanksgiving. It was just a suggestion anyway. Bly would be cheaper, cap wise, than Samuel and Clements. He brings more to the table, than either of them. He's a playmaker the defense needs. I don't see where this is a bad idea. Yeah, you give up Vilma, but you get a top notch CB, and probably more. Hell, they offered Bly, the 2nd overall, and a 3rd for Clinton Portis and the 6th overall. What's to say they don't offer Bly and the 2nd for Vilma, the Jets first (late 20's), and a 4th or something? Would you turn that down? And, don't think it's out of the relm of possibility. Matt Millen is in charge of the Lions, and they're desperate.

Fair enough. While I think that's a longshot, one should never make the mistake of overestimating Matt Millen.

But the difference is that it's not necessary to give up a player with value to acquire a huge & immediate upgrade at CB. This is the luxury of having a good cap situation.

If we were to move Vilma, I'd rather get a first-rounder, take Lynch & Levi/Blaylock in the first round, Carriker with the 'skins pick, and go from there.

[nj meadowlands]

Well, good thing it wasn't directed at you then, eh?

Wah?

[The Troll]

Dre Bly will be 30 next season. Not in favor of trading a 25-year old linebacker for a 30-year old corner.

[bitonti]

this thread is founded in overreactions

if chad doesn't throw that lateral and the Jets win the game do you make this thread about wholesale changes?

maybe you do but it's next week after they get spanked by the chargers

things aren't this bad when they lose and they aren't super great when they win

the Jets had an excellent 2006 when we consider this was a 7 win team at best and we watched them in the playoffs.

They are very young and have alot of cap room. They have the best young head coach in footbal. The future is bright.

[LionelRichie]

this thread is founded in overreactions

if chad doesn't throw that lateral and the Jets win the game do you make this thread about wholesale changes?

maybe you do but it's next week after they get spanked by the chargers

things aren't this bad when they lose and they aren't super great when they win

the Jets had an excellent 2006 when we consider this was a 7 win team at best and we watched them in the playoffs.

They are very young and have alot of cap room. They have the best young head coach in footbal. The future is bright.

bit - i think that's a great point. this game was the first game all season where i realized how overmatched the jets were at just about every position. this coaching staff pieced together 10 wins with smoke, mirrors, mis-direction, and blitzes.

the biggest thing for the jets is to get bigger up front on both sides of the ball. the afcE is going to continue to go through NE and the jets just cannot handle NE up front. 10 wins is a real testament to mangini b/c this truly was a 7 win team.

[Sperm Edwards]

bit - i think that's a great point. this game was the first game all season where i realized how overmatched the jets were at just about every position. this coaching staff pieced together 10 wins with smoke, mirrors, mis-direction, and blitzes.

the biggest thing for the jets is to get bigger up front on both sides of the ball. the afcE is going to continue to go through NE and the jets just cannot handle NE up front. 10 wins is a real testament to mangini b/c this truly was a 7 win team.

This was my point. It's not that there are too many smoke & mirrors plays; it's that too many were needed to compensate for lesser personnel.

Bit it's not overreacting to one game. We could do with an upgrade like Samuel/Clements opposite Dyson. Chad ended up having an average season with a comparatively soft schedule. D'Brick is too light & easily has the frame to put on weight without becoming a fat blob. Vilma is ill-suited to the 3-4. Thomas isn't fast enough to be a permanent fixture at OLB. DRob is not going to see his scheduled $8M salary in 2008. We need a massive upgrade over KVO/BH at DE. Nugent's kickoffs are atrocious. Our run-blocking needs to improve big-time other than Mangold.

While I am ecstatic that we won as many games as we did, the thing NOT to do (and I don't think Mangini will) is sit back on a 10-win season as though we've reached some sort of pinnacle & say "we're fine" at a lot of areas where we are not. Or convince ourselves that we're so close or, figuratively speaking, only a kicker away.

The idea is to get BETTER than 10-6 and our schedule next year doesn't appear to be as kind. We are in good shape to make some improvements.

[The Troll]

this thread is founded in overreactions

if chad doesn't throw that lateral and the Jets win the game do you make this thread about wholesale changes?

maybe you do but it's next week after they get spanked by the chargers

things aren't this bad when they lose and they aren't super great when they win

the Jets had an excellent 2006 when we consider this was a 7 win team at best and we watched them in the playoffs.

They are very young and have alot of cap room. They have the best young head coach in footbal. The future is bright.

How is it over-reaction? Wasn't this season supposed to be about Mangini evaluating the personnel and finding out which players would fit into his system? Whether we won 10 games or 4 games, that is what this season was supposed to about.

[Sperm Edwards]

How is it over-reaction? Wasn't this season supposed to be about Mangini evaluating the personnel and finding out which players would fit into his system? Whether we won 10 games or 4 games, that is what this season was supposed to about.

Bingo, Troll. A favorable schedule and some spirited play with some good coaching & a couple of good breaks (Leon's 60-yd TD vs Miami, the lack of injuries, beating a Buffalo team that outplayed us, etc) doesn't mean we've "arrived" and don't touch a thing other than add/draft some depth.