Jets in good position with 21 starters back

[SoFlaJets]

Fierro: Jets in good position with 21 starters back

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Eric Mangini not only shocked the NFL by guiding the New York Jets to the playoffs in his first year as coach, but he ticked off his former boss in New England in the process.

This is what's really warming the ****les of Jets fans' hearts.

Finally, someone in the AFC East who poses a legitimate threat to Bill Belichick, whose Patriots have won 27 of their 36 division games in this millennium, not to mention three Super Bowls.

The Jets still are pretty far from being the Patriots, but with Mangini in control, suddenly it's not so far-fetched to project them as at least being on equal footing in the near future.

Mangini, with the help of cerebral quarterback Chad Pennington and a defense that's looking more and more like the Patriots every week, coached the Jets to 10 wins in 2006. Obviously, he had some underrated talent at work for him.

Now, as Mangini approaches his second draft, he has a chance to make some serious upgrades, to add to the foundation. This also is the second draft for general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who was handed the reins last year by Terry Bradway, now the director of player personnel.

In a draft rich with defensive backs (among other spots), the Jets could well be drafting a cornerback or a safety with their first pick, which is 25th overall. But good luck getting anyone in the organization to reveal a clue.

Tannenbaum, Bradway and director of scouting Joey Clinkscales spent around 30 minutes dodging the draft at a press conference on Thursday. Their behavior was no different than any of their peers around the league at this time. Nobody except Jets rivals would benefit if anyone outside their war room knew their game plan going in.

"The object of the exercise for us," Tannenbaum said, "we wanted to have as much flexibility going into the draft. We have 21 of the 22 starters back. To sit here and say that we need position A or B, I couldn't tell you that except to say that we want to add a lot of players at every position.

"I don't anticipate taking a punter. But beyond that, I think everything is fair game."

The Jets were extremely pleased with their draft last season, even though top pick D'Brickashaw Ferguson was only so-so in his role as starting left tackle. Their second pick in the first round, center Nick Mangold, also started every game.

With running back Curtis Martin out, the Jets averaged just 3.5 yards per rush. Despite that, Pennington passed for 3,352 yards -- most of them gained by sterling receivers Laveranues Coles (91 receptions, 1,098 yards) and Jerricho Cotchery (82, 961). Given that the Jets took offensive players with their first three picks last season and then ranked just 20th in the league in yards allowed, they almost have to be leaning toward loading up on defense this year.

They would especially like to be better against the run, which has led to speculation that inside linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who took a giant step backward last season after a monster year in 2005, could be traded. Vilma struggled in making the transition from Herm Edwards' 4-3 front to Mangini's 3-4.

Ditto for nose tackle Dewayne Robertson, though both improved significantly as the season wore on.

Even in a best-case scenario, they could use some company.

So don't be surprised if the Jets pull the trigger on, say, someone like cornerback Aaron Ross of Texas or linebacker Paul Posluszny of Penn State, if either is available when they pick.

The Jets also are high on Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker, called a top character guy by Clinkscales. Carriker, according to NFL draft expert Mike Mayock, also can play inside.

"He would fit what we do," Clinkscales said. "So would a lot of other guys."

But the bottom line for the Jets is stability. They like their position entering this draft a whole lot better than they did at this time last year. Unlike a lot of other teams, they might be in the enviable position of just picking the best available athletes.

"Having 21 of the 22 starters back, we really don't have any preconceived notions," Tannenbaum said. "I really like it that way because historically, if you look at the draft over the last 10 years from a league-wide standpoint, I think the gross majority of the mistakes are when teams have reached for a specific need."

Nick Fierro can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at nfierro@express-times.com.

[CoachTsurfing]

Yeah, that is good to have so many back. The bad thing is, is that some of our guys aren't exactly pro bowlers. Looking at some draft stuff today, I'm realizing some guys that might have fallen to us in the second round probably won't. I was really hoping DT harrell was going to drop, but if we want him it's probably going to have to be with our first round. I really want Blalock in the first though. I have noticed the RB Bush is probably going to be available on day two. I thinking if he was still there in the 6th round, I'd take him. Yes, I know we have T. Jones, but this kid can play. Lets just hope he can come back from a pretty bad broken leg.

[chad2colesin06=---]

bush in the 6th, good joke, the guy is the 4th best rb in the draft he should go in round 2

[RSJ]

bush in the 6th, good joke, the guy is the 4th best rb in the draft he should go in round 2

He still has not fully recovered from his broken leg and I believe has not been able to work out fully. I also read he is now a 6th round pick. I would think he won't slip bast the 4th though personally.

[Jetlag]

I heard there's a chance M. Bush's can eventually turn career ending. I think that's why he's dropped so far.