The Jets could certainly use an upgrade to their pass rush. The best pass rusher available is Mario Williams. The Texans will have a difficult time keeping their 27 year old superstar because of their salary cap situation. Williams is one of the best in the game getting to the quarterback. He has a pair of years with at least 12 sacks and had 5 in the first 5 games of 2011 after a position change to outside linebacker before missing the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

Williams is a one trick pony, but that trick is a pretty special one. He uses his massive 6'6" 283 pound frame with great athleticism to consistently bull rush his way into opposing backfields and get to the quarterback. His play against the run is somewhat uneven, but he has shown he can get to the quarterback either standing up or in a three point stance.

As much as people talk about the weaknesses on the defense, the Jets still had a top five unit last year. With an offense that did not commit turnovers leading to over 100 points, that unit could have carried the Jets to 11 wins. At the same time, a player like Williams could take the defense to the next level. All of the great cover guys the Jets have would become even better if Gang Green had a guy who could get to the other team's quarterback quickly. Generating pressure without blitzing would allow for more help in the back. A guy like Williams would make the exotic blitzes Rex Ryan runs even more effective. He would draw so much attention that it would create favorable matchups.

I think it is a no brainer that the Jets should look into signing Williams. I am not sure that could really work, though. Mike Tannenbaum could probably create enough cap room to make it happen, but it might be a bit like Nnamdi Asomugha where the team could only go to a certain point and address other areas of need. The Jets got a lot closer to Nnamdi than I imagined they could. It is not impossible. I will just remain skeptical.

I will say this. I would rather have Williams and Joe Safety than a mediocre outside linebacker and a mediocre safety. As much as the Jets need better linebackers and safeties in coverage, they are not going to find a guy who can match up with Rob Gronkowski. The way to take him away is to get to Tom Brady before he can get the big tight end ball. I think the problem is that signing Williams would not limit the team's options at safety. It also would at right tackle, tight end, inside linebacker and wide receiver.

Poll

Should the Jets have interest in Mario Williams?

Yes, and break the bank to make it happen Yes, but there is no reasonable way to make it happen No

  260 votes | Results

Part 3 of my potential break out players of 2012, will shed some light on what I expect from Joe McKnight. Unlike my previous stories, McKnight is going into his 3rd year as a Jet. Some might say that he broke out last year, but I would argue that we only scratched the surface of what McKnight could do for us. Come join me after the jump to see what I mean.

Continue reading this post »

Mychal Kendricks vs Stanford (via MetaDraft)

Mychal Kendricks vs USC 2011 (via JmpasqDraftjedi)

Mychal Kendricks vs. Derrick Coleman (via schmeezed)

5-11, 240, Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year
105 tackles, 14 TFL, 2 INT, 2.5 sacks

Scouting Report

One of the main complaints about the Jets' defense is the overall lack of speed and athleticism. Aside from our corners, we really don't have any dynamic playmakers; nobody thats a threat to make game-changing plays at any time. Bart Scott is a solid player, but it seems like his main strength right now is to eat up blockers so that others can make the tackle. What good is that really? I mean, why not just add another DL to eat up blocks and roll with more 40 fronts if thats all he's really good for? I'd much rather have a tackle machine and a guy that can get out and run and make plays from the LB spot. Enter Mychal Kendricks.

Kendricks is fast and athletic and aggressive. He's not very good at stacking and shedding between the tackles, but thats ok on our team because the interior of our DL is the strength of our team. Even if we don't bring back Pouha, I still think teams will find it to be tough sledding to bang it up the gut on us. Kendricks can really run and can prevent gains on the edge. He's also really tough to get a body on when he has some space to operate, also making him a good fit on our defense. He often makes a quick twitch, or change of direction, to avoid a block and make a play on the ball carrier. He's definitely an excellent track down defender with his speed and athleticism. Doesn't seem like he's all that good in man coverage, but he can get much deeper into his zone drops than anybody we have on the roster right now. I can see him bluffing blitzes at scrimmage and then getting a deep drop into the middle of the field to disrupt crossing routes. Kendricks is also explosive as a blitzer. He can flash off the edge or burst through A-gaps and climb on a QB before he knows what hits him (see sack on Andrew Luck in game clip above).

Kendricks might not be a highly ranked LB prospect, but his skill-set is a very good fit for our defense. His weakness (stacking and shedding on the inside) would be covered up by the strength of our DL. And his strength (athleticism and aggression) would enhance the unit as a whole. Hopefully, Kendricks is on our radar.

It seems likely when looking to revamp the offense the Jets will take a long look at guys Tony Sparano is comfortable coaching. Vernon Carey might be one of them. Carey, Miami's first round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, started at right tackle for Sparano from 2008 to 2010 and then slid inside to guard when the Dolphins signed Marc Colombo in 2011. He is set to become a free agent.

Carey is an enormous man. His frame is 6'5" 340 pounds. He uses it to punish as a blocker in the run game. The Dolphins struggled running right in 2011, but runs over right guard were the exception. Miami averaged 5 yards per rush running behind Carey. His enormous frame takes away some of his agility, though, and he struggles in space as a result. His relatively slow lateral movement contributed to his move inside to guard. In his last season at tackle, he was responsible for disruptions on 6.3% of pass blocking plays. That is not great, but it is vastly better than Wayne Hunter.

In an ideal world, I would like to see the Jets pick up Carey as a backup guard and tackle. He would greatly improve the depth and provide insurance in case Matt Slauson's injury keeps him from being ready on time. I am not sure how realistic that is, though. Carey is a good enough player that some offensive line starved team could want him in a starting role. That might force the Jets to offer him the starting right tackle job. They could probably do worse. I would hardly be excited with the move. With that said, he would certainly be a step above Wayne Hunter. The market is very thin at the position. Especially for a team that is looking to move to a power run game, which plays more to his strengths, Carey could make for a passable option.

Poll

Should the Jets have interest in Vernon Carey?

Yes, as the starting right tackle Yes, but only as a backup No

  188 votes | Results

I think the more the Jets get together, the happier they will be.

Woody Johnson and some Jets helped announce WrestleMania 2013 at MetLife Stadium.

Nick Mangold makes the AFC East Blog's top 40.

Muhammad Wilkerson is looking forward to working with new DL Coach Karl Dunbar.

JetNation argues about keeping Eric Smith.

The Jets Television Network's shows have been nominated for the New York Emmys.

Gang Green is being sued by a real estate firm in New Jersey. Dave Szott, Chad Pennington and Kerry Rhodes are mentioned in the article.

Mel Kiper picks Georgia G Cordy Glenn for the Jets. I think the Ravens should pick him instead, so he could be teammates with Cody Glenn. That's the way I would run things.

Are you the lucky fan who received this Valentine's message from Kyle Wilson?:

And lastly, here are some Linsanity shirts for all you longtime and brand-new Knicks fans out there.

It took time, but Sione Pouha has established himself as an excellent nose tackle. He registered his best year in 2011, consistently dominating the point of attack in the run game. It could not have come at a better time. Pouha is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

Pouha is an excellent player at an important position. There are some mitigating factors in deciding whether the Jets should bring him back, though. Pouha is 33 years old. This might be his only shot at a big payday. I am not convinced the Jets should throw money at him, though.

Yes, Pouha is an excellent run stuffer, but he is not a playmaker in the Kris Jenkins/Haloti Ngata mold. He does not generate much of a push as a pass rusher. In addition to this, the Jets have shown under Rex Ryan an excellent ability to develop defensive linemen. They took Kenrick Ellis in the Draft last year for the purposes of having him take Pouha's place. With an entire offseason to refine his technique to go with his incredible physical potential.

Part of me feels like Pouha will be very expensive, but I am not convinced. A very similar nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin who dominated in the run game as much as Sione hit the open market last year. Some very smart people called him the best free agent not named Nnamdi Asomugha. He had to settle for a cheap one year contract with the Saints and a part-time role. Perhaps teams are not going to be willing to spend big on a nose tackle.

In an ideal world, the Jets would be able to keep Pouha. In the NFL, each team only has a certain amount of resources. A team needs to determine the wisest way to allocate them. Even if the Jets are not ready to roll with Ellis full time, there are good options available on the free agent market like Franklin and Paul Soliai. Moving Mike Devito to the nose would be another option. He has the strength to hold up there. Nose tackles tend to age well since their position is based more on brute strength, which can stay with age than athleticism, which does not. I just think it would be difficult to justify spending a ton on Pouha with Ellis waiting in the wings and other targets available. If the Jets can get him on a short bargain deal, I would be happy to see him back.

Poll

Should Sione Pouha stay or go?

Stay with a big contract Stay only if he will take something below market value Go

  734 votes | Results

Santonio Holmes, David Harris and D'Brickashaw Ferguson make AFC East Blog's top 40.

JetNation: Keeping Matt Cavanaugh is a mistake.

NYJets.com: Draft analysts' opinions on the first round pick.

New York Times: How to fix the Hall of Fame voting.

OSN: Doctors clear Peyton Manning to let 300-pound men slam him into the ground.

Keep the awesome Fan Posts coming:

joeklecko: Potential free agent safeties.

tinley24: Why we should trade back.

ocjet: Same old Jets II.

oneg82: Our coaches' win-loss records.

Ground-n-pound!: Thoughts during the offseason.

dabu7: Randomly naming the random thread for random thoughts thread of randomness: a contest.

Here is an interview with Aaron Maybin from December:

And Dustin Keller from a couple of weeks ago:

Hebron Fangupo DT BYU Highlights (via arnsports)

6-1, 330, Badass

So not only is he badass enough to tell you his name, ONCE, and expect you to spell it perfectly, with an unflinchingly straight face. But he also has the gall to have the longest highlight tape EVER. I don't expect you to watch it in its entirety. And its probably more fun to just skip around and watch Hebron kicking the crap out of everybody all over the field. Seriously, they should have a defensive pancake stat for this guy. I saw one play where he chucked the guy blocking him to the ground, knock over the pulling guard, and blow up the RB in the backfield. He's a freaking terror. And if we draft him, Sione Pouha will quickly become Sione Pou-who?

Fangupo has the prototypical NT build. He's short and squat and absolutely immovable off his spot. I watched that entire marathon clip and didn't see him get moved backwards once. I saw him doubled by guards and tackles repeatedly and he didn't budge. Not only didn't he budge, but he continuously fought through the blocks and pushed his way forward. Hebron also has quick feet and can change direction suddenly. He also has very strong, very quick and very violent hands. Because of these traits, Hebron is damn near impossible to control and he's a freakin force to be wreckoned with. Hebron is also very versatile and can play DE in a 30 front and move up and down the line. Also saw him drop into coverage a few times; and quite nicely I might add. His only draw back is that he'll be a 26 yr old rookie. But I say eff it. Dude can start right now and play at a high level.

Hebron Fangupo is an absolute sure-shot, can't miss prospect, in my opinion. He's one of the most disruptive forces I've seen. And he's one of the few people in the world that can look Kenrick Ellis dead in the eye and say, "What? WHAT?"