Hey boys! Seeing as how training camp starts this week, I thought this would be a great time to stop by and see how you're all getting on, and drop a few thoughts on the offseason. The Thomas Jones pickup is just freaking great. That should take enough heat off of Pennington so that he has a better year then last year. We didn't have a very good running game last year. Leon was a pleasant surprise, of course, but he's a third down back as opposed to an every down back. Now that we have Jones to fill that role, Washington can assume his role, and I have every reason to believe that he'll excel at it. The draft went decently, I though. I have no issue with trading up, but it wass certainly risky. With a large number of picks, the better chance you have of getting guys who can perform. When you target specific players, as we did this year, you run a much higher risk of grabbing a bust. It'll be interesting to see how Revis and Harris play this year. Mostly I am interested to see how Pennington does this year. Last year his shoulder was a definite issue towards the end of the season. Did he regain strength in his shoulder? Can he go all year again? This is the biggest question on this team. The team goes as Chad goes, and he is really the only option. Clemons, from all accounts, just isn't ready (and may never be), and Tuiososopo (sp?) is not going to ever be the man. So, once again, in Chad we trust! One last thing, and this concerns LG. They have to squash this thing with Kendall. There is no better option for LG this year, and I believe that D'Brick and Mangold could use another year of his help. Those of you who know me know that I believe the OL is THE most important unit on a football team, and having to plug in some second stringer in the LG spot just doesn't sit well with me. So pick it apart boys. And let me say hello to all of our new members who joined this summer.
Hi Tony , post more often!!! I've just said in another thread , If Kendall does go I don't think the running game will be much better. The part which is really worrying me which you've hit on is his tutelage. Its all very well people saying put the likes of Bender in , really? We need a blend of youth and experience. I have a feeling we will see a very pissed off TJ on the sidelines more often than not , and the QB situation , god help us if Chad goes down.
I plan on posting much more often, bud. A blend of youth and experience is crucial. Too many people think all youth is the way to go, and that is a very bad thing. Besides, RT will be enough of an issue without having a subpar performer at LG as well.
We're on the same page regarding the oline. I was looking forward to bringing back all 5 starters for the first time in a long time, coupled with Jones and I was expecting a gigantic improvement running the ball, however, if Kendall is ousted I think our line will have a major hole in it.
Hey hey Tony! :up: I'm real happy with the Thomas Jones pick up. Very smart move. As far as Chad, I'll do as I do every year, hold my breath if he gets hit. I know he's tough but still I cringe. (I call it Vinny Testaverde syndrom I cried when VT got hurt) hmy: This crap with Kendall needs taken care of. My opinion, get rid of him. But who can step in his place? That's the thing. <shrugs> Anyway, all in all, I'm looking forward to this new season. I have high hopes (what JETS fan don't?) for this 2nd year of Mangini. I love being a JETS fan! :grin:
I have to be perfectly honest. I may be the only one, but I really haven't been paying much attention to the Jets since the draft was over with. I've been all Yankees ever since the baseball season started. As training camp is around the corner, I'm getting back into football mode. ... Thomas Jones was a great pick up. Like Tony said, it's great that Jones will be around, for the running game, and even for Chad himself. I'm looking forward to training camp to see how everyone does. We have a solid team this season. The little trades, signings, even draft picks - they could all benefit us if the right moves are made. With the coaching staff basically staying the same, I'd only hope for a solid season once again. J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!
Hey Tony! good to see you post.... I don't post a whole lot myself anymore, but will do some TC reports, this being the last year at Hofstra and all. I'm actually pretty concerned about this offensive line and how good ( or bad) it will be in run blocking. Kendall is good, but not a great LG... and shooting hos mouth off as he has most likely means he's gone. Can Bender step in? Clement and Moore are servicable, but barely. I hope that Schotty uses Mangold and Ferguson more often to pull and run outside... that is still what I think they do best as far as the running game goes. Neither of them as of yet are pile pushers. Jones was a great pickup, and I understood the trade up to get Revis... when Dyson and Barrett got hurt, Brady absoultely picked our CB's apart in the playoffs, but I wanted a first day pick to shore up the right side of the O line, and that was before the whole Kendall blow up. Very few RB's can run effectively behind an offensive line that can't open any running lanes, and I don't think he will greatly improve the running game as long as this O line remains as is. Leon is faster than Jones, but even he rarely got through the trash at the LOS behind this unit. Harris better be a damned good LB, or I will count that as the first major screw up of the new regime. I am hoping that the Tangini's think, and know that Blanton is ready to plat at RT.... he showed real improvement last year, but I don't know if he's ready, or will ever be. I really wanted a RG or RT one the first day... we shall see. I don't think Pennington is any more of an injury risk than any other NFL QB at this point. His MO will remain the same... cerebral, smart, accurate short, lacking the strong arm to keep safeties honest. Strong leadership qualities.... but not the injury risk he used to be I think. Kurt and I , probably Mr Moss will hook up at TC.... I'll post my observations as I can. I am expecting an 8 or 9 win season at this point, and that is primarilly due to a lack of confidence in the offensive line. I'll be interested to hear what Kurt thinks about that unit, he is pretty good on the topic. In any case, good to see you here.... take 'er easy.
And the rest of that sentence says we don't have anyone to take his place. I don't like dissention in the locker room. Sorry. :wink:
not trying to beat a dead horse with the Kendall situation... i understand we don't have solid depth at LG, but was Kendall really that good last year? i thought he was getting blown off the line, not to mention, he's a quickly-aging player. i don't see how losing him will affect us that much (aside from his mentor/leadership qualities, which aren't exactly shining right now anyway). cheers
I stepped down at the end of last season, and CMan followed about a month later. I just got tired of policing all the time. TBJ, I'm looking forward to those training camp reports!
I think those 2 sentences will be linked very soon ,sorry to be pessimistic. Kendall being there or not , is it the end of the O lone? Maybe, maybe not , fact is we just don't know. The one fact we do know is that right at this moment in time Kendall is the best LG we have on the team , and we need to put out the best possible Oline , for TJ and Chad that we possibly can. I fear that if we do weaken the Oline further that Chad will not be able to withstand the torrent of abuse which will surely come his way. Scenario , opening game at home against the Pats , Chad takes hit number 8 in the 4th and thats him done for the game , we lose as well :sad: . Post match presser , Mangini states that Chad has injured his ______ (fill in the blank) and looks to be out for up to _______(fill in the blank). The next 2 Qbs are Tuiasasopo and Clemens , oh Shit hmy: Whilst TJ hasn't got alot of miles on his clock , with a shite Oline those miles will soon be wound onto the clock. I cannot stress how concerned I am about the Oline and not just about the Kendall situation. Bring on TC and please please plaese prove me wrong to worry so much.
I'd build my team starting with the O-line, too, if it were my choice, but I think our offense will use a lot of quick passes and power running up the gut (historicaly the strengths of our QB, RB and our OC) and frnakly, you don't need the World's Greatest Guards for that. Sure, we used to pull and trap a lot, but I didn't see much of that last year. Kendall is aging, is best at puling and trapping, and was valuable to Brick and Nick. I think we'll miss his mentoring, but hey, the kids got to grow up sometime. If we can replace Kendall with a little more beef inside (adrien Clarke, cough cough) then I think we'll be fine.
This OC doesn't use many 7 step drops... it's mostly 3 steps, sometimes 5. That makes it tough on the defense to generate many QB pressures or hits. Pennington usually only gets sacked when he's checking down a lot. But I share the concern about the running game. Martin got into the HoF (or will) mostly running outside, but running up the gut often enough to keep the defense honest. I REALLY wish Schotty would have Mangold and Brick pull more often and run outside. Remember that preseaon game when they were both 20 yards downfield flattening defenders? I think Mangold can pull and block in space as well as Mawae did in his prime. TJ isn't going to fix the running game. Leon may well be a better outside threat than Jones, and Houston may be a better inside runner than him as well. Both Washigton and Houston are more one dimensional that Jones is however, and his versatility will help the running game, but he won't fix it. How many times did even a fast RB like Leon manage to find a running lane last year? The O line is easilly the biggest weakness on this team headed into the '07 season, no doubt. Kendall let all that praise he got last year go to his head....he's no pro bowler. Problem is, as of now there is no "step-in" replacement for him, but he certainly isn't an indespensable part of the team, either. Since we don't really have a WR who is a consistantly viable deep threat, or a QB with a great deep ball, I'm not as worried about the pass protection. The lack of a deep threat combo also allows the safeties to cheat up against the run... so for crying out loud, why don't we run outside more often? This is really my only complaint with Schottenhiemer.... and by extension, Mangini as well.
I think someone had Brick and Leon in their Avvy , memorable. I would also like to see both Leon and TJ , lining up , maybe in the pro-set. If we are to use a short passing dink and dunk again , both those guys can catch and also have the option of running outside.
