SB Nation - Eric Smith

The Case for Dwight Lowery at Safety

John B — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:26:33 -0000

If the Jets look to replace Kerry Rhodes internally, a lot of money will go on Eric Smith being the guy. I could see them going a bit outside the box and turning to Dwight Lowery to play free safety, though. I think he's got the tools to make a good one.

The knock on Lowery as a corner is that he isn't fast. Our own David Wyatt argues he doesn't have the range to play safety. Everybody here should know by now how much I respect David's opinion, but I'm not sure I agree in this case. Speed at safety is different from speed at corner. Lowery's biggest problem is a lack of fluidity when turning his hips in man coverage. He has pretty good lateral speed, which comes into play more as a safety. When he was drafted, the book on him was he was more skilled playing zone coverage, which would make him a good replacement for Rhodes since Kerry was asked to play a lot of Cover 1 deep. He's also better diagnosing plays in front of him than he is playing somebody in physical fashion right at the line.

The other thing working in his favor is his experience at the position. He wouldn't be a total blank slate and have to learn the nuances of the position from scratch. He played quite a bit of safety in college and was a real ballhawk. Starting 15 games at safety, he had 13 interceptions. I know the competition wasn't that great, but that's still pretty impressive.

He is only 5'11" and 198 pounds. Paired with Jim Leonhard, the Jets would probably have the smallest safety duo in the league. As we know, though, Leonhard plays much bigger than his frame. Lowery won't remind anybody of John Lynch, but he is a sound tackler and would probably be an upgrade over Kerry Rhodes against the run.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. Dwight could play a hybrid role like Antrel Rolle did with the Cardinals, lining up at safety and sliding to the nickel in passing downs. I'm not sure this would be my first choice, but I do think it could work pretty well. He could be a playmaker in centerfield.

Poll

Could Dwight Lowery succeed at safety?

What Are The Options? Free Safety

David_Wyatt — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:20:06 -0000

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So whether you liked it or you didn't. Kerry Rhodes is gone, he is no more. Well he is, but just not as far as Jets fans are concerned. I may not of agreed with the value but if he was a problem in the locker room and he was not Rex's guy, then it was probably better for him to leave. Even though being a problem in the locker room, and not being a Rex guy got us to the AFC Championship game.

So now we are left with one 4th rounder, a nice selection to have, and a glaring hole at FS. SO where do we go from here? do we sign someone to an offer sheet, do we trade for someone or do we simply draft someone and hope for the best? There are several options for us, so let's take a look at some of them below.

In many ways this off-season really could define Mike T's reign in New York, he has improved the team before, but what does he do with a successful team? So far he has done his best to dismantle it, if the Jets fall flat next season, and some key areas fail to produce, Mike T will, and probably should take the fall for it. Not saying he should be fired, but his reputation could take a big hit.

So options, options, options:

Option Number 1: Start Eric Smith on a Permanent Basis

This is likely not going to be a popular choice, and if the poll voting is anything to go by so far, most Jets fans don't want to see this. When Kerry was benched towards the end of the season, Eric came in and did a good job. He is not the most athletic player on the field, not the quickest or strongest, but he is the epitome of Rex's saying "Hard work beats talent when talent refuses to work hard". I don't think I would trust Eric in coverage on an athletic tight end like Dallas Clark. That could be a long day for everyone involved on the Jets side of the ball. However he works hard, he puts his nose in there, and can make plays on the ball. A part of me thinks that he probably deserves a chance, and if after training camp he is the best available, then I would be willing to give him a chance. Although I wouldn't be confident that he could excel there. Like I have said before, I like Eric Smith, and any player that is willing to work hard and put his head into a tackle will become likable. I just don't think he is a permanent answer.

Option Number 2: Sign OJ Atogwe To An Offer Sheet

One year after St Louis slapped the franchise tag on Atogwe, they decided to low ball him with the lowest possible tender. 'Right to first refusal', which basically means that he can negotiate with any team he chooses, they can sign him to an offer sheet, if the Rams want to match they can, if they don't they don't get any compensation at all. They can always work out a trade, but if a team wants him, and he wants to leave St Louis, then a contract can be negotiated that would be almost impossible to match. Why OJ Atogwe? quite simply he is one of the most underrated players because he plays on a poor team. He is coming off shoulder surgery, but he does it all on the field, and he does it all pretty well. In 5 seasons in the NFL he has 19 interceptions, 3 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and 317 tackles. In 2007 he had 12 pass defenses and 8 interceptions. In just 12 games this season he had 74 tackles, 5 pass deference, 2 interceptions a sack and a forced fumble. If his shoulder checks out, then this is a very good option in my opinion.

Option Number 3: Sign Dawan Landry To An Offer Sheet

Dawan is another Rex Ryan guy, drafted in the 5th round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Landry a player who can play both safety positions and has the talent to do it as well has put together a nice start to his career. Limited to just 2 games in 2008, Landry bounced back in 2009 with a season that encouraged the Ravens to slap a 2nd round tender on his head. 89 tackles, 8 pass defenses, 4 interceptions, 1 TD and a forced fumble in 2009. If we did want to sign the former Yellow Jacket, we would have to surrender our 2nd round draft selection, which would mean we would be sitting out two rounds in a row, the 2nd and the 3rd. We would have to give him a contract that the Ravens wouldn't match, but this is definitely one of the options that is likely being considered right around now.

Option Number 4: Sign Nick Collins To An Offer Sheet

I wasn't even thinking about this because of the tender on his head, if we were to sign Nick Collins it would cost $$$, the Packers would need to not match the offer, and we would have to give up a 1st and 3rd round pick. We don't have a 3rd round selection so we would have to get one. Too many moving parts for this and the price is too steep, so thanks but no thanks to St Nick.

Option Number 5: Sign Usama Young To An Offer Sheet

Usama Young is low on experience, low on playing time and low on peoples radar. Drafted in round 3 of the 2007 NFL draft out of Kent State by the New Orleans Saints, Young has made just 3 starts over three years, so in my book he is not worth the 3rd round tender they placed on him. A little like Eric Smith, but quicker and more athletic. He has however amassed 83 tackles, 11 pass defenses and 3 interceptions in those three starts and his other playing time in sub packages. Not worth a third rounder, but a guy I personally like, and who I think could be one to watch for the Saints, especially if they lose Darren Sharper. He makes nice reads on the ball, he can tackle, if this draft was not so deep and we had a third, I might be willing to take a risk, however as things stand, I don't think this is a serious possibility.

Option Number 6: Sign Darren Sharper

There was quite some confusion surrounding this in the Kerry Rhodes thread yesterday. As I understand it, Sharper is a UFA. Although there were some mumblings about final 4 teams being able to sign other final 4 teams UFA's all they like, I have been unable to find anything to confirm this. So as it stands one of our UFA's, we don't have many, that doesn't include Lito or Thomas, both of whom were cut. Darren Sharper signed a one year deal with the Saints last year worth $1.7 million. Not a great deal at all, so it's possible that we could try and entice him to a low first year salary with a 2nd year more lucrative. The first year salary is the only year on the contract that has to match the player we are losing. I think he returns to the Saints personally, and why wouldn't he? I know we like to think that everyone wants to play for Rex, but he is in the twilight of his career, he will be 35 this year, and he is coming off a pro-bowl/Superbowl season. It's a nice thought, but I just don't see it happening. Would welcome him though.

Option Number 7: Use a First Round Draft Choice On A FS

I think this is where most people have a problem understanding the deal, if we do go down this way. Creating a hole on defense by trading Rhodes, picking up a 4th rounder, and then spending a first trying to fix that hole. It all seems counter-productive. Well there are several options in the first round, well three to be exact and here they are:

Trade everything and the kitchen sink to get up into the top 5 to select Erik Berry. I don't even know how this one would work, remember what we had to trade to get up to 5th last year, and that was from selection 17. Imagine trying to do the same but from #29. It would take this years first, next years first, this year's 2nd, and more. It would need players, and call me crazy but depth on our team is not exactly a strong suit. As much as I think Berry is going to be a star in the NFL. This would just be asking too much a year after we moved up to take Sanchez. Would love Berry but the price isn't right.

Earl Thomas is the second best safety in this draft and a top 20 selection, he has excellent speed, good recognition, quick to the ball, supports the run, takes good angles, has good range. A little smaller for the position, but he can add some weight to his frame. He is an option but I think it will take trading up into the top 20 to get him, and I'm not a big fan of spending our #29 selection on a safety let alone trading up for one.

Taylor Mays, now I really don't want to start the whole Taylor Mays debate again because it has been done to death on here. Is there a chance he will succeed, yes there is. Is there a bigger chance he will bust? in my mind there is. He needs work and a lot of it, and for a team in a win now mode, I just don't see how this is an advancement in trying to get us to the Superbowl. If he is going to be a good NFL safety it will take, two maybe three years for him to really blossom. Yes I like it when he lays out an opponent, but there are more weaknesses than strengths to his game, for a team looking to challenge in 2-3 years, then he is probably worth the investment. For a team in win now mode, looking to get to the Superbowl in 2010 it's a big step down. If he were to be selected we would still likely have to move up for him, and if Al Davis sticks to his usual bone headed drafting, he will be going 8th overall anyway.

Option Number 8: Spend A Lower Pick On FS

I wouldn't be confident starting any safety not named Berry in this draft, but there are a few options that have a much lower risk than the Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays option, one of them is Nate Allen in the 2nd round. One of them is Chad Jones from LSU in the 2nd round. Maybe Myron Rolle a little later than that. Maybe Rex pulls one from left field and surprises us all, A Dawan Landry all over again. Kerry Rhodes himself was a 4th round pick.

I'm not against this option all together, if it's a chance with a 4th round or lower. Not crazy about spending our first two picks on a position that we just opened up.

Option Number 9: Move Dwight Lowery to FS

This is a suggestion that keeps popping up that I find quite puzzling. I like Dwight, but as the starting FS? people really were unhappy with Kerry Rhodes because of his inability to put a hit on someone. Well Dwight is hardly renowned as a big hitter. He doesn't have much speed, he has some ball hawking skills, but the range is not there. He would also have to learn the intricacies of the position. I don't think it's an option personally, well not if we want to be back in the play-offs in 2010.

I think personally speaking, OJ Atogwe is definitely my preferred choice, a play maker at FS, a guy who can hit and cover and he won't cost us anything but $$$. If it is possible then let's do it. My least preferred choice is using our first round selection on a safety, whether it be Berry/Thomas or Mays.

Eric Smith as Starter?

John B — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:18:27 -0000

More photos » Chris O'Meara - AP

3 months ago: New York Jets safety Eric Smith, left, is tripped by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Elbert Mack after picking up a first down on a fake punt during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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The Jets need to replace Kerry Rhodes at free safety. One obvious candidate is Eric Smith. Smith started a few games during Rhodes' midseason benching and led the team in tackles in one of them. It seemed like Eric might be finished as a Jet when Jim Leonhard and Abram Elam got signed a year ago. Then the Mark Sanchez trade sent Elam to Cleveland, and Smith became the primary backup at safety. Rex was at first underwhelmed by the Michigan State product during offseason workouts. Later Smith played so well his head coach stunningly compared him to Ed Reed.

I'd say the team will probably keep the restricted free agent, but I'd be surprised to see him as a starter. He found his niche working in crowded space underneath, blitzing, and playing the run. He struggled when he had to play more athletic backs and tight ends in the open. He's not very quick or atheltic. He doesn't have the range to really play effectively in Cover 1 looks. If the Jets made him the starter, it would be a giant leap of faith Antonio Cromartie is going to bounce back to his 2007 form, and the corners will need limited safety help. While that's a possibility, I wouldn't bet the ranch on it.

The other option would be to have Smith play Jim Leonhard's role, more in the box, as a blitzter, etc. Leonhard could play Rhodes' centerfield role. The problem is the team would be downgrading in two positions. I see Smith as a useful cog in the right role in subpackages. I don't think I'd be comfortable with him starting, though.

How about you?

Poll

Would you be comfortable with Eric Smith starting at safety?

Jets Announce Tenders

John B — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:28:36 -0000

More photos » Mark Duncan - AP

Kellen Clemens gets a high tender in a mild shocker.

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The Jets have announced tenders for restricted free agents.

Restricted Free Agent Seasons Compensation Level

WR Braylon Edwards 5 1st- and 3rd-round picks

RB/KR Leon Washington 4 2nd-round pick

WR Brad Smith 4 2nd-round pick

QB Kellen Clemens 4 Original draft round (3rd)*

S Eric Smith 4 Original draft round (3rd)

T Wayne Hunter 5 Original draft round (3rd)

CB Drew Coleman 4 Original draft round (6th)

S James Ihedigbo 3 Original draft round (FA)

DT Howard Green 5 Not tendered

LB Marques Murrell 3 Not tendered

WR Wallace Wright 3 Not tendered

Clemens was tendered for his original round, which was the second. His tender becomes a third round one because:

RFA rules state that because the Jets used at least one second-round tender (on both Brad Smith and Washington), they cannot receive second-round compensation for Clemens. If another team signs Clemens to an offer sheet and the Jets elect not to match that offer, the Jets will get that team’s third-round pick.

We touched on Edwards, Washington, and Brad Smith last night.

The Clemens tender is a bit puzzling to me. I can't see any team willing to give up a third round pick in a Draft this week for a quarterback with a track record of failure. Clemens is a guy a team might roll the dice on with a minimum deal, not give up anything substantive. Do the Jets really want him back? What have they seen? Weren't they so underwhelmed by him that they traded up for Mark Sanchez? He'll probably be back now because I can't see any other team touching him.

Eric Smith's tender is fair. If he finds another team, I say let him go. He's a spare part, and a third round pick has value. If not, he may be a spare part, but he's a useful spare part.

I'd actually like to see Wayne Hunter back. Offensive lines usually don't have all five guys start 35 straight games (including Playoffs). Depth is important. The Jets may get a pick if Hunter goes elsewhere, but they'd have to fill a hole. He was also valuable as a tight end in jumbo sets.

I'm fine with the Drew Coleman tender. Maybe somebody bites, and the Jets get an extra pick to use as trade bait or take a flier on somebody. If not, there are worse things than having a familiar corner in camp.

Ihedigbo I'd like back. I know I called for Rex to cut him after his idiotic penalty in overtime against the Bills, but he did good work as a blitzer on third downs near the end of the year.

Green I could go either way on. He's not terrible, but the Jets cut him midyear for a reason. Murrell and Wright I'd like to see back. I like what they do on special teams. I also want to see how the coaching staff can develop them. Wright in particular reportedly showed signs of development as a receiver in practices last year and has been so valuable through the years as a gunner.

Eric Smith: Stay or Go?

John B — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:09:02 -0000

Ed Reinke - AP

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It's very nice to have power in my home again after the storm knocked it out last night.

Eric Smith was a pleasant surprise for the Jets in 2009. It didn't seem like the new coaching staff had a ton of faith in him right off the bat. The Jets matched the offer sheet Abram Elam signed from Cleveland and signed Jim Leonhard as a free agent. It seemed like that would take away Smith's playing time. Then the Mark Sanchez trade sent Elam to Cleveland, and Smith became the primary backup at safety. He saw extensive time in subpackages and played well starting in place of Kerry Rhodes after Kerry's midseason benching.

Smith is an overachiever. He's not very gifted naturally. I get the feeling the way Eric Mangini reached for him in the third round of the 2006 Draft has probably hurt the perceptions of him. If he had gone in the mid to late rounds like he should have, people would probably be impressed by the way he's overcome his physical limitations to become a productive player. Because he went so high, his inability to lock down a starting job has become something of a disappointment.

There are certain things Smith does well and certain things he does not do well. Rex had him blitz more than any other defensive back on the roster, which is telling considering he wasn't a full time player. He's aggressive and registered 8 pressures and 2 hits. He's also strong against the run. Where his lack of athleticism comes into play is in coverage. You can hide him underneath if he's got help, but he's in trouble in space against a fast running back or covering a good tight end over an extended period. While he is fundamentally sound, he's really not a starter.

Smith is a restricted free agent, and the Jets will tender him. I'm inclined to hope the team lets him walk for a Draft pick. The Jets can use that pick to fill a hole. Smith is useful, but he's really a spare part on the defense. Rex seems to like him so I do expect the team to bring him back. I don't have a big problem with that. Smith does some good things on the field.

Poll

Should the Jets bring back Eric Smith in 2010?

Yes

212 votes

No, take the Draft pick

147 votes

359 votes | Poll has closed

Spotlight On The Combine

David_Wyatt — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:42:30 -0000

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The new football season starts this Friday, at least it does in my world. The combine really represents the new year ahead. Hundreds of the best college kids and a lot of kids who are unknown to most take to the field with numbers pinned to the chests, lab rats lining up for experiments, to separate the strong from the weak, the fast from the slow. It's a very public job interview, where your success is analysed and your failure is broadcast to millions of homes. With millions of dollars on the line, it all seems worth it, even if intense public humiliation is on the cards. Sometimes it's self imposed, see one Andre Smith, or if you want to sleep tonight, avoid at all costs. Poked and prodded both mentally and physically, the cream of the crop may find themselves vertical leaping up draft boards, for other teams, the combine holds little water.

Let's take a look at some of the things that you can expect to see at the combine this coming week and how it all breaks down. Also which current Jet posted the best times in each category. Record keeping for these kinds of things are sketchy at best, so just going from what I could find regarding Jets players and what they timed at.

40 Yard Dash

Key Words: Explosion, Burst, Long Speed

Chris Johnsons 4.24 was the fastest electronically timed 40 time at the combine, other players have apparently run it quicker on their pro day, I think Ted Ginn Jr was rumoured to have run a 4.05, but as far as the combine goes, Johnson is still top dog. 40 yard dash means different things to different players. Which is really why it is timed in three stages. When watching the dash, you will notice three sets of stands stationed on either side of the track, one at the 10 yard mark, one at the 20 and one at the 40. These are laser stands, and when a player moves through the line it will record the time after 10,20 and finally 40 yards. When looking at the skill positions, all are important in their own right, the 10 to show explosion and burst off the line, the 20 to show speed in stride, and your 40 for your long speed. Where as with offensive and defensive trench guys, the only one that really matters is your 10 yard time, because that's the explosion you are looking for. Some even question whether the 10 yard time is a decent evaluator for lineman.

Quickest Jets: Lito Sheppard, 4.28, David Clowney, 4.32, Danny Woodhead, 4.35

More after the jump:

Bench Press

Key Words: Strength, Endurance, Commitment

225lb's as many times as you can. This really is the ultimate physical upper body test. The record I believe stands at 51 which is quite incredible. Achieved by Justin Ernest a defensive tackle out of Kentucky. I know what your probably thinking, who? I have no idea who Justin Ernest is, so that shows you why a lot of these drills are a good football fix, but ultimately, don't always translate well to a NFL career. The whole backdrop of the bench press is a little strange, you have inclined seating like a theatre, with GM's, head coaches, scouts, all watching a man work out. There will always be an official who deems whether the rep was a clean one or not, and a spotter making sure you don't crush yourself. Also used for motivation along with the other players. It shows endurance and commitment to a weight program, Brian Cushing stole the show last year.

Strongest Jets: Vernon Gholston 37, Wayne Hunter, 37, Kris Jenkins 33

Vertical Jump

Key Words: Lower Body Strength, Explosion, Power

This is how the vertical jump is measured. First you will see then measure the player flat footed with his arm outstretched over his head, then they will make him leap from a flat footed stance. He will touch the highest flag possible, and the differential between his height with his outstretched arm and the flag he touches, that there is the vertical leap measurement. The record for the vertical I think is still held by Gerald Sensabaugh of the Dallas Cowboys with 46 inches. In fact 2005 a fair few players had a spring in their step, the top three vertical jumps all came from that draft class, the other two being Derek Wake and Chris Mckenzie. Notoriously it's your defensive backs and your wide receivers that will be putting up the highest numbers. Lower body strength and explosion is the name of the game.

Vertical Jets: Kerry Rhodes, 42, Eric Smith, 40, Brad Smith 39 1/2

Broad Jump

Key Words: Lower Body Strength, Explosion, Power and Balance

This tests a similar group of muscles as the vertical, but you can never test explosion too much, it's vital at almost every single position. Here it's basic, you don't really need it explaining, but we will anyway. You stand with both feet at the line, you can't rock. You are allowed to squat down, and then burst out. When you land, you must stay balanced. If you take a step back, to the side or forward, then you run it again, and the scouts put a little circle around your name. The Broad Jump was actually considered an Olympic event until 1912 and the world record is 12 feet 2 inches. Anything over 10 feet is pretty damn good. I think Scott Starks who was drafted by the Jaguars, holds the combine record at 11 feet 5 inches, Darrius Heyward-Bey jumped 10 feet 9 inches last year.

Leaping Jets: Dustin Keller 10 feet 11 inches, Brad Smith 10 feet 8 inches, Eric Smith 10 feet 7 inches

3 Cone Drill

Key Words: Direction Change, Explosion, Balance, Acceleration

6.45 by Sedrick Curry is still the mark for this I believe, and it's a very short drill. You basically start from a three point stance, run 5 yards to the first cone directly in front of you, touch the ground, run back to the start, touch the ground, run around the outside of the 2nd cone towards the inside of the 3rd cone, run around that cone, around the 2nd one and then accelerate through the finish. Very simple, very basic, scouts want to see how you change direction, if you can accelerate quickly out of the cut and continue the acceleration.

Nifty Jets: Darrelle Revis 6.56, Braylon Edwards 6.83, Dustin Keller 6.88

Shuttle Run

Key Words: Lateral Movement, Quickness, Acceleration

You start with your hand in the ground, then explode to your right 5 yards, and get your hand on the ground. Pivot then head 10 yards back the way you came, again get your hand on the ground, turn and back 5 yards through the line to finish. This tests your cuts, your lateral movement, explosion, quickness and again acceleration. A lot of drills, but they test a lot of the same areas. Kevin Kasper a wide receiver out of Iowa ran a 3.73 back in 2001, which is just excellent, if you are hitting around 4.1 then you are doing something right.

5-10-5 Jets: Braylon Edwards 4.02, Darrelle Revis 4.08, Eric Smith 4.11

Wonderlic Test

Key Words: Problem Solving, Aptitude, Intelligence

Every athlete at the combine will undergo a Wonderlic test. This test is meant to analyse how a player can adapt, how he can handle the developmental stage of his career, how he learns and how fast, and general intelligence. each player has 12 minutes to answer 50 questions, these range from multiple choice, to fill in the blank word. To work out the IQ of a player, you simple take the Wonderlic test score out of 50, double it and then add 60. So 20 is average intelligence, you double that to 40, and then + 60 to make 100, an average IQ score. Anyone who scores under 20 is below average and a possible red flag could arise. The only player reported to have gotten 50/50 was Harvard Grad Pat McInally a punter who played 9 years with the Bengals. On the other end of the Spectrum, Vince Young reportedly scored 6, which is embarrassingly bad, as the questions are thought to be quite straight forward.

Personal Interview

Key Words: Comfort, Fit, Skill Set, Personality

Each NFL team gets 60, 15 minute interviews. Of the hundreds of players that attend they can interview any 60 of them for 15 minutes at a time. Here they will try and gage a little about the players personality, if he could comfortably come into your environment and produce. Get a feel for if he is the right player for you, what he brings to the table. Hear him speak and answer questions on football.We heard last year how the Jets fell in love with Sanchez's personality and passion for the game.

Other things will occur at the combine that you probably know about, where there is not much to explain:

-Position drills for the individual player

- Physical Measurements (Height, weight, reach etc)

- Physical, Injury evaluations

- Drug screening, players know it's coming and it's beyond idiotic to fail it, looking your way Harvin.

- Cybex Test (tests your joint movement along with other things)

That seems to wrap the combine up

Jets Flight Connections 021610

dvdvil — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:03:02 -0000

CB Darrelle Revis speaks to students in his hometown.

Beaver County Times: Revis inspires Aliquippa students.

Post-Gazette: NFL star returns to give a pep talk.

RB Shonn Greene will play golf to raise money for a hospital.

The Jets may return to SUNY Cortland this summer.

Yahoo Sports reports on the Jets.

Star-Ledger: The Jets will tender both WR Brad Smith and S Eric Smith.

NewYorkJets.com has more on GM Mike Tannenbaum and the tender situation.

NT Sione Pouha speaks to Jets Confidential.

The Jets may be playing in Detroit on Thanksgiving.

Do you want to attend a Jets Flight Crew Prep Class?

More connections after the jump.

Happy 5th Anniversary to JetNation.com!

NFL FanHouse has a Mock Draft.

This blog wants RB Thomas Jones to remain with the team.

Fox Sports previews the AFC East.

AFC East Blog: AFC East free agents.

AFC East Blog: The Patriots have an edge in acquiring DE Julius Peppers.

AFC East Blog: NT Vince Wilfork wouldn't mind playing for Miami.

AFC East Blog: Wilfork and DE Richard Seymour franchise updates.

AFC East Blog: LB Zach Thomas is ready to retire as a Dolphin.

FoxNews.com: Thin market for free-agent QBs.

Sporting News has offseason fantasy football rankings.

The Fifth Down: Tough to find good help at nose tackle.

The Fifth Down: Pondering retirement at a younger age.

The Fifth Down: NFL owners could make money for nothing in 2011.

Jets Will Tender Brad and Eric Smith

John B — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:17:26 -0000

More photos » Kathy Willens - AP

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Brad and Eric Smith are getting tenders from the Jets.

The Smiths will join WR Braylon Edwards, RB Leon Washington and QB Kellen Clemens as players the Jets plan to tender. Both Brad and Eric are entering their fourth year in the NFL and will become restricted free agents with no collective bargaining agreement in place.

Eric started four games last year, two in place of benched Kerry Rhodes, who may be traded this offseason.

Brad played a key part in the Jets’ playoff-clinching win over the Bengals in the season finale, scoring two touchdowns while quarterbacking the team’s Wildcat formation. He also threw a 45-yard completion to WR Jerricho Cotchery that set up the Jets’ second touchdown in the AFC Championship loss to the Colts.

Tendering Clemens? Really? At the very least, another team would have to give up a second round pick to sign him. Nobody's going to do that. Maybe the coaching staff thinks it can get something out of him because he'll definitely be back with a tender. I'm not so sure.

Haven't heard which tender these guys are getting. The lowest tender, which is for the round the player was drafted in, seems likely. Eric went in the third round. Brad was in the fourth round. If these are what the Jets will offer, they would get a Draft pick in these rounds if another team signs them and the Jets match. Again, there is no confirmation these are the tenders, only a guess. I doubt either would get a first round tender, but a second round tender is possible.

I like the Brad move. He's a great special teamer and adds an extra dimension on offense. He's also an excellent decoy. Teams always have to account for him.

Eric found a role in subpackages this year, and Rex had good things to say about him. I'm not sure he's fast or athletic enough to start. He does bring value. Given the restrictions, I wouldn't have minded to see the Jets not tender him, let another team sign him, and open up a spot to sign an unrestricted free agent. Eric is a good player so you can't go too crazy even if you were thinking like me, though.

Kerry Rhodes: Stay or Go?

John B — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:00:23 -0000

It was supposed to be a breakout year for Kerry Rhodes. More than one pundit talked about the potential for Kerry to play the role Ed Reed played for Baltimore under Rex Ryan. He was supposed to return to the Pro Bowl caliber form he showed in 2006 and 2007 and become one of the top five safeties in the game. It didn't happen. There were some outstanding performances near the end of the year. Kerry had terrific games against Carolina, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and San Diego. Even his most ardent supporter couldn't contest it was an uneven and disappointing year. Nobody could have predicted a midseason benching.

Rhodes was one of the most vocal Jets during the season. He often failed to back up his play. How many times did he shy away from contact when playing the run? He had no sacks in the regular season. He had 3 interceptions. A pair came against Carolina. That left him a single pick in the remaining 15 games. He didn't force any fumbles in the regular season. The safety position is a playmaking position in this defense. Rhodes didn't make too many. We've seen his capabilities. The only reason he didn't make the Pro Bowl in those 2006 and 2007 campaigns was John Lynch's name recognition. There was arguably no greater underachiever on the league's top defense than Rhodes.

Rex was clearly disappointed enough with Kerry to bench him. I remember Bob Papa and Matt Millen describing a conversation they had with Rex during the Thursday night game against the Bills in Toronto. When discussing the safety position, Ryan said he'd rather have a less talented overachiever than a more talented underachiever. That seemed to be a direct comparison of Eric Smith and Kerry.

This is probably going to be one of the most debated issues of the offseason. I struggle to see how the Jets can trade Rhodes. His value isn't terribly high at this point. We're probably talking about a midround pick at best. People tend to overvalue Draft picks. What are the odds the Jets find a player as good as Rhodes. Think back to the Jonathan Vilma trade. The Jets got a pick that turned into Dwight Lowery. Is Lowery a nice player? Sure. Would anybody seriously consider taking him over Vilma if given the choice? I don't think so. It's very difficult to find impact players late in the Draft. Trading a starting caliber player isn't worth it.

That brings us to the other problem. It would create a hole. The Jets would need to find a new starting safety. I wouldn't feel comfortable with Eric Smith starting for 16 games. Smith is an NFL caliber player. He found a niche working underneath and as a blitzer. I don't think he has the athleticism or the range to succeed in a starting role, though. The Jets are limited in what they can do this offseason. Why open up a hole?

I will make an exception. If the Jets can flip Rhodes and fill a hole with a proven player, I'm all for it. I mean make a trade to add a legitimate pass rusher or a top flight corner. I'm not sure how practical that kind of hope is, though.

There is no doubt Kerry's play improved after the benching, and he came a lot closer to becoming the impact player many expected. Unless they can add something to really improve the team in an area of weakness, it's worth riding this out and seeing whether he can return to the kind of form he showed during that 2006-2007 run.

I vote stay.

How do you vote?

Poll

If you were running the Jets, would you bring back Kerry Rhodes in 2010?

Yes

276 votes

No

113 votes

389 votes | Poll has closed

What the Uncapped Year Will Mean

John B — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:33:12 -0000

We're turning to offseason mode here in GGN. We'll start talking about potential roster moves. Before we do that, though, let's talk about a 2010 season without a salary cap, which is starting to look more and more like a reality given the direction of CBA negotiations between owners and players. Over the past four days, I've read as much as I could and even had an e-mail exchange with the league office to try and figure out exactly what the rules will be. It's not going to be a free for all hot stove league like baseball without any limitations on teams.

This is a very complex issue. In fact, I'm starting to think the only thing that might be more complicated to figure out than the NFL's salary cap is how the league would function without a cap. The following is the way the league will change to the best of my knowledge to date on the topic.

More after the jump.

First let me provide you with some links I found helpful.

2010: An uncapped year odyssey
It seems like a long time before the 2010 free agency period will be upon us, but it is amazing to me how many players haven't even started to think about how it relates to them.

NFL releases Q&A on uncapped year - Bleeding Green Nation
The 2010 season is the final season covered by the current collective bargaining agreement. That means there's a whole host of possible changes to free agency, the salary cap, the draft ect. To try and make sense of it all, the NFL has released this Q&A.

Life in an Uncapped World - The Phinsider

Word From the Birds Blog

Jets 2010 Uncapped Rules
2009 Jets Uncapped Rules and Regulations.

Jets 2010 Free Agency Limitations
2009 Jets Free Agency Limitations.

The NFL Salary Cap: The Future of the Cap - Gang Green Nation

What does this all mean? How does this affect the Jets? Here are some of the key points.

Final Eight Rule

By making the Divisional Playoffs, the Jets severely limited the damage they will be able to do in unrestricted free agency. By making the AFC Championship, the limitations grew. It appears the Jets may only sign one unrestricted free agent for each unrestricted free agent signed by another team. In other words, Gang Green can sign one UFA for each UFA it loses. In addition, the free agent the Jets sign cannot earn a higher first year salary than the player lost. For example, if Jay Feely signs somwhere for $1 million, the team can sign another player for $1 million or less. It doesn't seem like the Jets can split $1 million between two players. Say Larry Izzo signs somewhere else for $1 million. The Jets couldn't combine the dollars to sign one player for $2 million. It has to be one for one. In addition the team cannot backload deals to try and get around the system. Contracts can't increase annually by more than 30%.

From what I gather, the Jets can spend freely in restricted free agency, but the lack of a cap will make it very difficult to craft a deal that will prevent teams from matching without going crazy.

The Jets will not be limited at all in going after players released by other clubs.

The bottom line is the Jets will need to spend wisely on the unrestricted free agent market. Here's one example. A lot of people want Chad Pennington back as a backup. Will the Jets be able to use one of their valuable free agent spots on a luxury like a backup quarterback? Will they even have a slot with as much money as a guy like Pennington would command?

Six Years for Unrestricted Free Agency

With a cap players could become unrestricted free agents after four years of service. That becomes six without the cap. Players who hit free agency before six years become restricted, meaning their original teams can make a one year qualifying offer and then have the ability to match any contract. That is to say the team retains the option to make a one year contract offer to restricted free agents. Depending on the amount of money offered, that can be worth first and third round picks, a first round pick, a second round pick, or a pick from the round a player was drafted. Players are free to negotiate contracts with other teams, but the orginal team has the right to match any contract offer and retain the player.

If the player turns down that offer and ends up signing with another team, the team that signs the player surrenders a Draft pick to the original team worth the value of the one tender.

The following are the Jets whose status changes from unrestricted to restricted depending on whether or not there's a cap.

Quarterback Kellen Clemens
Cornerback Drew Coleman
Wide receiver Braylon Edwards
Defensive tackle Howard Green
Tackle Wayne Hunter
Wide receiver Brad Smith
Safety Eric Smith
Running back Leon Washington

Leon Washington

There are 212 players in the league who will lose unrestricted free agency in all. Think about all the players that will take off the market. It's simple supply and demand. With less supply, the players who do hit unrestricted free agency will see their prices go up. Even without playing in the final eight, it would have been tough for the Jets to do much in unrestricted free agency. Now it will be exceptionally difficult. They'll be bidding in a thin market against teams with no restrictions.

One loophole that appears to exist is the ability for the Jets not to tender one of their restricted free agents. That player would become unrestricted. If that players signed with another team, I am led to believe from what I have read the Jets would be able to sign a replacement.

Dead Money

This year could serve as manna from heaven for teams with bad contracts. It looks like teams can release players without any money counting against the cap in the future. In capped years, bonuses for released players can count for years.

No Floor

Unlike capped years, there is no minimum for teams to spend. Some small market clubs being hammered by the economy could be enticed to slash payroll, creating interesting free agent targets.

Those are some basic key points. That's by no means a comprehensive outline on the uncapped year. The league has been kind of vague on some issues. They aren't giving concrete answers for a lot of questions. Much of this has been educated conjecture based on what I have read.

The point is we need to discuss the offseason thinking in this context. This post is just a starting point.

Restricted Free Agent	Seasons	Compensation Level
WR Braylon Edwards	5	1st- and 3rd-round picks
RB/KR Leon Washington	4	2nd-round pick
WR Brad Smith	4	2nd-round pick
QB Kellen Clemens	4	Original draft round (3rd)*
S Eric Smith	4	Original draft round (3rd)
T Wayne Hunter	5	Original draft round (3rd)
CB Drew Coleman	4	Original draft round (6th)
S James Ihedigbo	3	Original draft round (FA)
DT Howard Green	5	Not tendered
LB Marques Murrell	3	Not tendered
WR Wallace Wright	3	Not tendered