I agree, and it's not as bold as you might think. Mike Pouncey is on record guaranteeing 1300 yds for Lamar Miller, for instance. Our OL is not getting nearly enough credit for what they did in the run blocking dept. last season. Every team we played focused on stopping the run, extra defenders, blitzes, etc. and Bush/Miller still averaged 4.3 and 4.9 ypc IIRC. Outside of massive overcommitment by opposing defenses, the only thing that really stopped us from running the ball was falling behind in games. Losing Fasano will hurt but Wallace's presence should more than compensate for that and Keller is a credible passing threat who can help keep safeties and and LBs honest as well. Dion Sims is a good run blocker so I'd love to see some 2 TE looks with him inline next to Clabo, Keller in the slot and Wallace at SE to eliminate the backside pursuit. After that it's a man on a man with the ball carrier responsible for the front side safety. Move, beeitch, get out the way!!!
Durability is definitely a concern, 15-17 carries a game should be the ceiling for Miller, with Gillis and DT battling for the scraps. 4.9 is lofty but if we get a steady diet for 7 man boxes I think it's doable. If we're seeing 8 man boxes consistently then Wallace and Keller will be Pro Bowl bound, so it's a win-win. All due to the OL.
It doesn't especially surprise me that our running backs are rated that low, a lot of people here are acting like it's a sure thing that Miller will break out, i like the guy and his potential but we've yet to see how he'll hold up starting over a full season and with defensive coordinators doing more work on him as the main back. That said it doesn't especially concern me either, you can win without premier running backs in the NFL and apart from LT our OL should be reasonably solid (though not brilliant with the exception of Pouncey) at opening holes that our current stable can run through. As well as that we've got a bit of a sleeper in Jonas Gray who a lot of people are excited to see come back and play after he missed last season. All that said I've been saying since before the draft that we should take a look at Bradshaw; he would add some veteran savvy to the group, can still make yards and is excellent in pass protection. This would also make Daniel Thomas a prime candidate to be cut if he isn't already something i can only see as a positive at the moment.
I guess I understand concern about our RBs (though if we drafted Lacy many would feel we were set and I think its kind of bizarre to feel Lacy is a surer bet than Miller, considering Miller has actually played in the pros and done well). I do not understand saying we are the WORST in the league, simply because there are no big names.
Lamar Gordon was acquired on Sept 7th, 2004, the week before our first game of the season. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=1876915 Forsey was signed on 9/22/04, the week after Gordon went down with a season ending injury. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that in 2004 we didn't have much of a choice in having an inexperienced running back group thanks to Ricky and his decision. This offseason, we have seemingly made a cognizant effort not to bring in a veteran. Which could easily change if the brass isn't happy with the guys we have. Interesting to see it unfold.
Whether it was the beginning of camp or not when they acquired Gordon, it was still a training camp they entered with Travis Minor, Sammy Morris and Leonard Henry as the tailbacks. I think the rest is nitpicking.
Off topic but I like a fair bit of what the Jets have done. It does remind me of how Seattle has been running their personnel acquisition side over the last couple of years, in both the good ways and the bad ways. The big criticism I have for the Jets is the QB position. I just don't know what they're doing there. But I guess I wasn't a buyer on Geno Smith and that doesn't necessarily mean he'll suck. I wasn't a big buyer on Robert Griffin either, relative to what everyone else was, so there's nothing to say I can't be wrong. But at least I still had Griffin as worthy of a late 1st or early 2nd right along side Russell Wilson whom I adored, so it's all relative. Geno Smith wasn't worth that to me, he was closer to Brock Osweiler territory for me. Yet, their handling of the position does remind me of the Seattle philosophy that resulted in them looking (to me) like they were totally screwing up the position, until they suddenly got it brilliantly right. So it kind of makes me kind of happy they're pinning their hopes on Geno Smith, but it kind of makes me sad knowing that John Idzik will keep rolling the dice at that position relentlessly until they nail it. Otherwise I see some smart acquisitions. Mike Goodson was a smart acquisition. Chris Ivory was a smart acquisition. Letting Shonn Greene go was a good call. Signing Antwan Barnes was a very smart ascquisition. Just as I thought David Garrard was a smart acquisition for the Dolphins even though with the knee it didn't end up panning out, I think the Jets grabbing him is a smart acquisition. Zach Rogers is going to probably make the team as a UDFA and I wouldn't be surprised if he catches balls on Sunday. I think the offensive line is actually shaping up well as I like the acquisitions of Willie Colon, Stephen Peterman and Brian Winters. I always said that Sheldon Richardson couldn't be on my list of favorites as a straight defensive tackle, but that I'd consider him for my favorites if he were a defensive end. It looks to me like they have a vision for him there, moving Coples out into space more as a multiple edge rusher, and Richardson potentially taking his spot. So that switches from a move that confused me at first to a move I can understand more. Meanwhile they also signed Antonio Garay and I like that free agent acquisition as well. Re-signing Calvin Pace to a cheap deal made sense, as it gives them a little bit of a safety net in case certain well-intentioned experiments fail. I like Dee Milliner. He's consistently been the top CB in the class for me since before most people considered him so. You hate to lose a Darrelle Revis, but $16 million a year is a ridiculous sum to pay a corner. This off season the entire corner position essentially received a pay cut as starters were forced to sign contracts for $5 million a year instead of $7 million a year. So Revis is getting three times what you'd pay a starter. There's no way I could conscience that if I'm the Jets and they did the right thing, they got what they could for him. Everyone criticizes. I say, bravo. The big criticisms I have for the Jets aside from quarterback are at tight end and safety. It's just hard to see what the plan is there. Dawan Landry is a nice pickup from a price/talent standpoint but he's not going to play the position particularly well for them. Jeff Cumberland once upon a time was on my favorites draft board, though he ended up going as a UDFA. But this is too much of a step up for him. I'm not sure I get that.
They have new blood over there in the GM position, he's already made some decent moves, get rid of the ultra fairy like character mark Sanchez ( insert green head band wearing Qb in NFL locker room), drafted Milliner and Richardson ( Richardson will be great imo), got a project qb in the 2nd..getting ivory for a fourth...not bad if you ask me. Bad move..letting Revis go. Edit..just saw CKs post.
Yeah, yeah, nice moves. But considering we were better than them last year and what's happened during the offseason, they still can't score points and I'm going to enjoy watching us sweep their asses for the first time since 2009.
Gregg Rosenthal has watched more film than you, I guarantee that. Rosenthal is not a reporter. You and Fin D both fundamentally misunderstand his job and the context of this article.
I'm also a big fan of GMs who understand you have to keep spending resources on the position until you get it right. I wonder if Miami will be quick to move on if, god forbid, Tannehill doesn't improve this season. In fact, I would have been very happy if Miami brought in a late round QB this season just to let Tannehill know they aren't afraid to plan for the chance he doesn't have it. His TD production and TD/INT ratio in his first year would have been enough for me to take a flier on a developmental upside guy in the later rounds. I don't know if there were many QBs that fit that description available in later rounds though. And I guess keeping Matt Moore on board will hopefully keep a little pressure on Tannehill. For all the criticism I've leveled towards Ireland, I'll never criticize him if Tannehill doesn't pan out. I'll criticize him if he doesn't move on fast enough if Tannehill doesn't pan out. IF Tannehill doesn't pan out. Not trashing the kid here, just stating a GM always has to have a plan in place for plan B for the most important position in the game.
Sigh. So many other posters understood my gripe, its apparent you're purposely trying NOT to get it. We all understand he is supposed to give his opinion. Its editorial. The problem, now pay attention, is that he gave his opinion without any real info behind it, under the context that he's an expert for the actual NFL's web site. (<--------read that sentence as many times as necessary for you to get it, understand it, and then admit you were barking up the wrong tree, then walk away quietly.) That kind of approach, is what is wrong with the media today. You're a smart guy, this isn't rocket science.
I honestly believe they would have brought in another QB, if they didn't already of Devlin. I think they like Devlin a lot.
Yes, that could be. Although we really have to wonder how much of that was produced Hard Knocks drama. That same drama that made "Always Open 7/11" look like an all pro WR. But I do think Philbin really does like Devlin and Hard Knocks isn't the only place we've heard about it.
I am very comfortable saying that the answer to this question is a pretty firm, "no". I think Jeff Ireland bet his career on Ryan Tannehill. He's going to keep his foot on the gas until the gas runs out. Meanwhile, our offensive coordinator and coaching staff are all sold on Tannehill and Sherman/Taylor have been working with him for years. Sherman staked his own reputation on Tannehill being a "10 year guy". The only way Tannehill goes, is they all go.
They didn't like him enough to make him Tannehill's backup when Matt Moore's contract came up. If they had that much faith in Devlin they should've been prepared to make him Ryan's backup, I'd have thought. Would've saved them a valuable $4 million a year.
That's both scary and comforting at the same time. Scary in the fact that Ireland could be stubborn enough to not come up with a new plan in the event Tannehill doesn't improve but Ireland retains his job. Comforting in the fact that what I believe to be a pretty competent offensive coaching staff has a lot of faith in the kid, so hopefully we don't have to worry about the scary scenario.
Thomas is awful. Miller is in wait and see mode and wont know what we have in Gilli. Hard to argue with them lots of question marks in the run game.
I don't understand. This is about the staff liking Devlin enough to not bring a late round developmental guy....what does that have to do with Moore?
I think both of you could be right here. They probably do like Devlin. Maybe just not enough to trust him as the only backup if Tannehill went down, but enough to not take a late round guy.
This is nothing more than simply stating the facts. I'm in agreement with you. It's confusing why stating the simple fact that they didn't like Devlin enough to forego Matt Moore would be questioned. It's obviously a key part of building in a good estimation for how they feel about Devlin. Both facts are key in that.
The way the Jets are being run I wouldn't be surprised if they're back to being the type of team that can go 8-8 or maybe even 9-7 even without the quarterback position figured out. And then if they strike gold like Seattle did with Russell Wilson, they're a great team. But if they don't...they end up down the tubes.
I wouldn't either, and that's why anyone, be it on the board here, or one of the newspaper/magazine or online columns making any predictions now is just downright dumb. There is 2nd tier free agency still to go, and after that, training camp cuts. Our team, and every other team in the NFL is not even close to having the full roster they go with on week 1. Everyone should just chill out on the predictions, because there are too many unknowns this far out.
Look, i asked a question. I wasn't attitudinal or aggressive or insulting. It seemed like your post was a rebuttal and not just an "oh by the way..." type of post. if it wasn't then i apologize, but its not far fetched to read your post the way I did.
I still think it has more to do with having a player that helps Tannehill more than having faith in Devlin.
Your always trying to solidify your roster ASAP for OTA's, camps, chemistry, familiarity with the system, all of those things help you become a better team, training camp cuts who get aquired usually is synonymous with desperation.
I agree that the Jets' moves this offseason were pretty good outside of the QB position. Of course until they get the QB position right, the rest won't matter.
For some teams this is true, not necessarily for Miami though. There just aren't many roster spots left to be had, be it thru FA or other teams cuts. There aren't any gaping holes to be filled or bloated contracts to be excised for cap relief. IMO the guys who are going to make the 53 are already on the team, minus 1 or 2 players max.