In the week of closing remarks following the Jets listless win over Kansas City to end misery of a 4-12 campaign, Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini made it clear – in their unique language – that change was in the air. When free agency opened at midnight last Friday, Gang Green ripped a page out of the Daniel Snyder manual for running franchises. In one week, the Jets remade the run game and upgraded the defensive front 7, while jettisoning the faces of the disappointing 2007 team. So much for building through the draft.
Start with priority #1, offensive line. The Jets could not run the ball all season, or keep the quarterback upright in many games. A year after creating a firestorm with Pete Kendall over $1 million, New York forked over $32 million for four years to Alan Faneca, to fill the hole vacated by Kendall. Faneca, the premiere offensive lineman on the market, leaves Pittsburgh after 7 Pro Bowls in 10 seasons. Hard to criticize this move, the Jets had a need, and grabbed the best available player. Maybe they slightly overpaid, but 4-12 teams have to. Offensive lineman age better than most NFL players, at 31 Faneca shows no signs of deteriorating. A fringe benefit, adding arguably the best guard in football between youngsters D’BrickShaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold will help both players, particularly Ferguson, who struggled at times last season. Great players make those around them better, expect Ferguson to benefit.
Staying on offense, Tannenbaum snatched utility lineman Damien Woody from Detroit and Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson from Minnesota. At under $2 million for one-year, Richardson adds a much-needed lead blocker for Thomas Jones and Leon Washington with a low risk contract. Coming off his third Pro Bowl season, the 36 year old gives Pennington or Clemens a reliable outlet out of the backfield. Meanwhile, at 5 years, $25.5 million with $11 million guaranteed, Woody comes at a higher risk. He adds versatility, playing C, G, and T, but he only played tackle last season after losing his starting guard job. The Jets addressed the need on the right side of the line, replacing disappointing RT Anthony Clement. Though Mangini coached Woody in New England, guaranteeing that money to a mediocre player with a history of weight problems is a gamble. Right place, maybe the wrong player.
As bad as the Jets running game was last year, the run defense was worse at times. Blame a personnel mismatch with Mangini’s 3-4 scheme, blame the players, blame the coaches, either way it needs fixing. Mangini is sticking with the 3-4, hell or high water. Exit under-sized LB Jon Vilma and NT Dewayne Robertson, two former first round picks. Insert 335-lb Kris Jenkins to clog the middle. Jenkins, the 29-year-old former pro bowler, cost the Jets third and fifth round draft picks and $20 million guaranteed. The signing comes with questions: things didn’t end well with Carolina bringing up attitude questions, combined with no experience in the 3-4 and Jenkins injury history. Jenkins proved he can dominate in the right situation, this appears to be a good fit.
While the other signings add proven, veteran players, Calvin Pace comes aboard because of his potential upside. At 27, off a 6 ½ sack season at OLB in Arizona, the Jets inked Pace for a team free-agent record 6 year, $42 million contract with $22 million guaranteed, banking that he is on the cusp of stardom. Pace fills the void left by Bryan Thomas and Victor Hobson, who both struggled to find opposing quarterbacks last year and will not return in 2008. Look for Pace’s sack numbers to improve, especially if the Jets get a complementary bookend at the other OLB position.
As Washington and countless other recent examples prove, free agent spending does not directly equate to wins. The Jets biggest offseason question remains, who plays quarterback. After the roster makeover, Mangini clearly plans to rely on the running game heavily. Without signing a big play receiver – they should have been involved with Berian, Muhammed, or Porter – the passing game will remain limited. Lots of running, short passing, game control, sounds a lot like Chad Pennington.
Next on the docket is the NFL Draft. Sitting at six, while Darren McFadden rumors continue to permeate, the right pick is Vernon Gholston from Ohio State. Stick Gholsten opposite Pace at OLB, with Harris in the middle, three young players to anchor the 3-4 defense with a run stuffer up front and young, exciting defensive backfield – exciting prospect. Next, will the Jets surprise everyone and try to move up to grab that big play receiver – perhaps a Mario Manningham late in the first round? They need a speedster outside to complement Cotchery and Coles.
The Jets have in-house business to address – mainly contract situations with Coles, Kerry Rhodes, and Chris Baker. After delving out big money to veteran free agents, the locker room may rumble a bit if management fails to take care of its own. Indications are Rhodes and the Jets remain far off, but Gang Green had better move quick with the market for safeties increasing and Rhodes play warrants the extension. Coles is an interesting case, an aging veteran who showed some signs of slowing down last season and a few injuries, will the Jets commit the dollars. Viewed as a team and locker room leader, this could become Pete Kendall 2008 if they refuse to offer an extension, Coles already said he will not attend Mangini’s first workout program. Stay tuned!
