I didn't start this thread to say this draft is a bust. It is to early to say. HOWEVER, it is extremely alarming that not one of these guys has a role on this team. I can't recall a rookie class with not at least one player having a somewhat important role on the team.
McKnight's a gunner, that's important. Wilson did see snaps against Chicago. I know I saw him out there. There isn't anywhere for them to go on the depth chart. There are veteran everywhere that won't allow them to move up. It was a depth draft, and they need two more of those to keep this team in contention every year.
I think calling Wilson a project to this point is fair. I hadn't heard any work ethic issues with him, so if that's true, then I guess that would explain it. I'm no scout, but to me it looks like he just has poor awareness is all. Hopefully that improves with time - would be a shame otherwise.
I can't find the post where I broke down Kyle Wilson's success against solid opponents, so I'll do my best to throw some shit together: Wilson held Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes to 4 catches for 24 yards and 0 TDs. He was the only corner that kept Barnes completely locked down. I know Barnes isn't doing anything in the NFL, but he had 155 catches in a single season as a senior at Bowling Green. Kyle Wilson allowed only four of those. Oregon wideout Jeff Maehl is pretty damn good. Wilson held him to 4 catches for 45 yards and 0 TDs. Former Fresno State and current San Diego Charger wideout Seyi Ajirotutu had 2 catches for 27 yards and 0 TDs against Wilson. As NYJ fans, we've been spoiled because of Darrelle Revis' success against everyone. A shutdown corner is hard to find. Kyle Wilson is not a shutdown corner, but he's got the ability to be a damn good one.
The real head scratcher about Wilson has been the fact he has made little to no special teams contribution. I was never a Wilson fan so I can't say I'm shocked at his struggles on defense. However, him not being able to solidify the punt return role is very surprising.
My bad. He was obviously suspended from Boise State for being a good team player. The character stuff gets blown out of proportion all the time, and there was nothing THAT bad about Wilson-he did get picked in the first-but there were definitely whispers. Look at any draft profile of him. Or just ignore it and pretend every Jets draft pick is a perfect player.
Bad comparison because Vernon also had stiff hips and doesn't love football and hates the physical nature of this game. He also should never have been a LB in the NFL and should have gone to a 4-3 team. Kyle had his confidence hit in mid season, and he's learning a very complex defense at a skill position. He needs time.
He got suspended in 2007 for violating team rules. As a senior, he was a team captain. It's blatantly obvious that the things you said about him were bullshit. This article proves how wrong you were: http://arbiteronline.com/2010/01/01/bsu’s-wilson-set-for-last-game-as-a-bronco/
Joe McKnight is going to be a stud as a change of pace back in the NFL. He'll also be our punt returner and kick returner. McKnight will look beastly next week and be a big contributor in the playoffs for us.
Just pointing out the futility of throwing out college stats in correlation to potential NFL success. There's a reason McCourty went before Wilson. And that reason looks to be that's he's a heckuva lot more NFL ready and/or quicker on the uptake in regard to learning defensive schemes.
Phew, what a relief. I was afraid he was a lazy slacker with enough talent to land him at a school with a good supporting cast which thereby over-valued him as a prospect.
Is our punt return schemes too complex as well? From what I can tell the coaching staff was pretty much ready to give him that job the day he got drafted.
I'm definitely not one to call a rookie a bust.. and I'm willing to give Wilson at least one more year before I fully pass judgment on him. However, it's got to be alarming to us as fans that the coaching staff doesn't feel he is able to do at least as well or better than Drew Coleman and Marquice Cole. It's not like he is behind Revis and Cromartie and can't get on the field because he has great players ahead of him and only 2 corners can play at at time. The Jets routinely use 5, 6, 7 defensive backs in the game at a time and Kyle Wilson can't even sniff the field? I mean Drew Coleman absolutely sucks. He's complete and utter garbage. I think the coaching staff put a lot of their eggs in Wilson's basket before the season and that is really blowing up on them and is a big reason for the weak pass coverage over the middle of the field. The book is clearly out on the Jets D.. max protect, avoid Revis and Cromartie and pick on Coleman, Lowery, Smith, etc. If Wilson was what they expected him to be, that would take care of that.. but his rookie season has been a total failure. As for Ducasse, McKnight, Conner.. I never expected them to contribute this year really. I would have liked Vlad to really step up and grab the LG spot, but I kind of figured Slauson was going to have that job while Ducasse learns for a year. And yeah, McKnight looked bad on Hard Knocks.. so what? We are all already complaining that Greene needs more touches. If we had McKnight getting reps on offense too that would be even less to go around. And Conner gets a few snaps on O each week, but his special teams contibutions can't be overlooked. He is in on all the special teams plays and has been in on tackles and laid some nice blocks for the return team. What sucks for this year, but is also kind of cool is that pretty much all 4 of these guys will be like a part of the 2011 draft class minus the rookie learning curve. It's like none of them are really on the team this year so next year they should all have the potential to break out and make their mark.
