Going into the 2010 NFL season, the top two teams are the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. The teams that faced each other in the Super Bowl look to be the strongest in their respective conferences, as neither took a major hit in personnel losses, and drafted very well to supplement the talent on the roster. The question is 'Who should be ranked #3?'
For my money, the third best team in the NFL going into the 2010 season is the New York Jets. Mark Sanchez is going into his second season, and he looks to only get better. But the focus of the offense is still the running game and the offensive line. But Shonn Greene will be looked to carry the majority of the load, and the loss of Alan Faneca might be overlooked since the rest of the offensive line has been so good. Santonio Holmes will give Sanchez another target, but he will be sitting out a 4 game suspension at the beginning of the season.
The offense will be looked to not lose games. The strength of the team is on defense. The addition of Jason Taylor and Antonio Cromartie makes the pass rush and secondary that much better. Darrelle Revis has become the best cornerback in the game. And the selection of Kyle Wilson gives them the nickel corner they lacked against the Colts in the AFC Championship game.
One thing the Jets have going for them, perhaps more than anyone else, is bravado. With Rex Ryan as the head coach, they just believe they can win. They went into Cincinnati and won a playoff game that was a toss up. They went to San Diego and won a game they had no business winning. They went to Indianapolis and nearly won the AFC title. Ryan has them believing they are the best team in football. It will be seen whether that translates to wins on the field. The Jets have an even bigger target on their backs, and the rest of the league will be taking aim.
Showing posts with label Kyle Wilson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyle Wilson. Show all posts
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Draft Grades: New York Jets
The New York Jets were the surprise team of the NFL in 2009. With a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez, they finished with a 9-7 record and a wild card appearance. They then went on the road and won at Cincinnati and San Diego before falling to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game. They were active in the offseason, acquiring LaDanian Tomlinson, , Jason Taylor, Antonio Cromartie, and Santonio Holmes. The Jets look to be ready for another run through the playoffs.
The first round selection of the Jets was Kyle Wilson, considered by many to be either the first or second best corner of the 2010 NFL Draft. Wilson will be the third corner, and that was where the Colts attacked them in the playoffs.
The drafting of Vladimir Ducasse signaled the end of Alan Faneca with the Jets, and Ducasse looks to be able to step in right away at guard. Ducasse has the tools and physical skills, but coming from UMass and playing against lesser competition may hinder him at the start.
A late round sleeper looks to be Joe McKnight. The Jets traded Leon Washington, and McKnight is an open field playmaker who can have an impact on third down and passing situations.
Draft Grade: C+
The first round selection of the Jets was Kyle Wilson, considered by many to be either the first or second best corner of the 2010 NFL Draft. Wilson will be the third corner, and that was where the Colts attacked them in the playoffs.
The drafting of Vladimir Ducasse signaled the end of Alan Faneca with the Jets, and Ducasse looks to be able to step in right away at guard. Ducasse has the tools and physical skills, but coming from UMass and playing against lesser competition may hinder him at the start.
A late round sleeper looks to be Joe McKnight. The Jets traded Leon Washington, and McKnight is an open field playmaker who can have an impact on third down and passing situations.
Draft Grade: C+
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Right Player for The Right Team
What the teams in the NFL are looking to do with their draft picks is match the right player for their team. Sometimes it is the best player available and find a the right place on the team for that player. Other times the team is looking for a player to fill a need, and they try to find the right player to fill that need. When prognosticators fill out a mock draft, they are doing a little of both. Best player at that stage of the draft, and team needs with the players available.
Looking through the mock drafts I have researched so far, there is one player who is seen to be the player that matches up with a team in a specific slot. Ndamukong Suh? Gerald McCoy? Sam Bradford? They are the consensus Top 3 Picks, and easily the top 3 on my DSA Player Rankings. But the player who is forecasted to go in one specific slot on the highest percentage of mock drafts? Joe Haden to Cleveland with the 7th overall pick. 71% of the mock drafts have Haden at that specific slot. Who is second? Bruce Campbell, with 59% of the drafts having him going to Oakland with the 8th overall selection. The two players tied at 3rd? C.J. Spiller at #14 to Seattle and Kyle Wilson at #20 to Houston, both at 53% of the drafts having them going at those specific position.
Cleveland needs help in many positions, but Haden is the premier cornerback in the draft. Even with his slow 40 time at the Combine, teams have seen enough game film of him playing at an elite level at Florida, and even though they need to shore up the defensive line Cleveland is looking like they will select Haden to solidify the pass defense.
Oakland has a priority to rebuild it's offensive line, and it appears that the Workout Wonder that Bruce Campbell became at the draft may be too tempting for Al Davis to pass up. Spiller looks to be the versatile, multi-threat back that Pete Carrol had at USC with Reggie Bush, and Seattle has issues in the offensive backfield. Houston was hit hard in free agency with the loss of Dunta Robinson, and Kyle Wilson is the 2nd rated corner and looks to fill the void.
Some teams draft for need, some take the best player available. That's what makes this draft so interesting. It is deep and filled with quality players. Teams can choose one or the other and the picks are most likely to work out in the end.
Looking through the mock drafts I have researched so far, there is one player who is seen to be the player that matches up with a team in a specific slot. Ndamukong Suh? Gerald McCoy? Sam Bradford? They are the consensus Top 3 Picks, and easily the top 3 on my DSA Player Rankings. But the player who is forecasted to go in one specific slot on the highest percentage of mock drafts? Joe Haden to Cleveland with the 7th overall pick. 71% of the mock drafts have Haden at that specific slot. Who is second? Bruce Campbell, with 59% of the drafts having him going to Oakland with the 8th overall selection. The two players tied at 3rd? C.J. Spiller at #14 to Seattle and Kyle Wilson at #20 to Houston, both at 53% of the drafts having them going at those specific position.
Cleveland needs help in many positions, but Haden is the premier cornerback in the draft. Even with his slow 40 time at the Combine, teams have seen enough game film of him playing at an elite level at Florida, and even though they need to shore up the defensive line Cleveland is looking like they will select Haden to solidify the pass defense.
Oakland has a priority to rebuild it's offensive line, and it appears that the Workout Wonder that Bruce Campbell became at the draft may be too tempting for Al Davis to pass up. Spiller looks to be the versatile, multi-threat back that Pete Carrol had at USC with Reggie Bush, and Seattle has issues in the offensive backfield. Houston was hit hard in free agency with the loss of Dunta Robinson, and Kyle Wilson is the 2nd rated corner and looks to fill the void.
Some teams draft for need, some take the best player available. That's what makes this draft so interesting. It is deep and filled with quality players. Teams can choose one or the other and the picks are most likely to work out in the end.
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