The public and media get a kick out of chiding head coach REX RYAN for his larger than life personality. But like any self-aware public figure, Ryan does know when it’s time to be silly and when it’s time to get serious. Ryan is an extremely funny person and easy to get along with, but he will tell anyone who listens that it takes more than two NFL Drafts to win a Super Bowl in this league – free agency, players getting on the same page, coaches knowing which 22 players can help them win, sidestepping injuries, etc. Meanwhile, below is an observation of the 2011 Jets draft and their needs for the 2012 draft.
1 – MUHAMMAD WILKERSON (Defensive Tackle) Temple University-1st Round 30th pick
Notes: Wilkerson came in as a projected 4-3 defensive tackle/end and a 3-4 end, but after analyzing film of him, it is clear that he is a 4-3 defensive tackle and occasional 4-3 defensive end. He played right and left defensive end and defensive tackle last year as a rookie. Wilkerson has some pass rush skills and he works really hard at getting separation from offensive tackles and guards. One of his better plays of the year was against Jacksonville in Week 2, when he bull-rushed and then got away from Jaguars left tackle WILL RACKLEY and sacked quarterback LUKE MCCOWN for a safety. He lined up on the outside of the center and then at the snap he slid over to Rackley’s area on that play.
Wilkerson is a patient player who tries to follow wherever the ball goes. He has good athleticism and a spin move that he needs to work on. Another good play of his was versus the Patriots in Week 5. Linebacker JAMAAL WESTERMAN was able to secure a 10 yard sack because Wilkerson was double teamed by center DAN CONNOLLY and BRYAN WATERS. That double team blocking enabled Westerman to use his speed to get through a small crack and get that sack. Versus Washington in Week 13 he had a key pass block late in the fourth quarter. On that play he jumped high in the air and used his 6 feet 4 height and long arms. In a 29-14 loss to the Giants in Week 16, Wilkerson sacked ELI MANNING for a 4 yard loss to force a LAWRENCE TYNES field goal. He got his second sack of the year versus the Philadelphia Eagles when late in that game, he bear-hug sacked VINCE YOUNG for a 11 yard loss.
BOTTOM LINE: Early in the season and at some points thereafter, Wilkerson needed to work on aggression at the point of attack and disengage from blockers. He ended up ranking fifth on the Jets in sacks with 3 and seventh on the team in tackles with 49. Wilkerson didn’t wow anyone last year but he was effective. CBS Broadcaster DAN DIERDORF had this apt quote for Wilkerson during the season finale versus the Miami Dolphins: “A lot of expectations on that guy’s shoulders.” He is right because Wilkerson was drafted to not only help the Jets defend the run better, but to pass rush here and there, free up space for the inside linebackers, be an occasional 3-technique defensive tackle and end, etc.
2.) KENRICK ELLIS (Defensive Tackle) Hampton University-3rd Round 94th pick
Notes: Ellis more so than Wilkerson, was brought in to provide girth and occupation of blockers in the middle of the Jets defense up front. Ellis is an active player who is not a stand still interior lineman but one who wants to pass rush or annoy the pocket here and there. He had one of his better plays versus the Dolphins in Week 17 when he went up against up and coming center MIKE POUNCEY. On the play, Ellis fought off then pushed Pouncey aside and tripped up running back DANIEL THOMAS for just a two yard gain. Thomas looked to be on his way to between an 8 to 10 yard gain and he would have gotten those yards if it weren’t for the strength of Ellis.
Ellis didn’t play a lot last year (5 games) and he was mainly inserted as an extra big body versus the run or in goal-line defense. He also saw time on the field goal team for one of NICK FOLK’s kicks. He was part of one of his best plays of the year in the Week 6 Miami game, as he fought off a VERNON CAREY block to combine with Tevaseu to knock Thomas back for a 1 yard loss early in the second quarter. In that same game he also showed some burst and determination as he knocked REGGIE BUSH for a 3 yard loss in the second quarter.
BOTTOM LINE: Ellis suffered from the fact that the Jets had a good amount of depth at defensive tackle and those guys were also durable. The good news was that Ellis should’ve picked up some pointers from SIONE POUHA, MARCUS DIXON, MARCUS TEVASEU, and others. Ellis has ability and he has very good strength but he needs time to be factor in this defense. Last year was a learning period for him but in 2012 he needs to show if he can be an effective depth/alternate defensive tackle for the Jets.
3.) BILAL POWELL (Running Back) University of Louisville-4th Round 126th pick
Notes: Powell wasn’t even activated until Week 11 of the season versus the Denver Broncos, and this was because starting running backs LADANIAN TOMLINSON (didn’t suit up) and SHONN GREENE (he played) were nursing injuries… and because alternate starter JOE MCKNIGHT can’t handle a full workload of carries by himself. Powell in that game showed speed, cutback ability, and some vision. Also versus Denver he had a 4 yard run that set up a NICK FOLK field goal (13-10 lead in the 4th quarter). On another play he fumbled near the goal line but offensive guard MATT SLAUSON recovered his fumble at the plane of the goal line and tumbled into the end zone to save Powell’s grits. He’s going to have to learn to be a more patient runner and not thinking that he always needs to make a big play. It would have been nice to see him get more carries in 2011 but he was just a rookie and they already had older and more established backs. Powell was mainly used in the two games he played in the Jets goal line offense or as a draw play man.
BOTTOM LINE: He only played in two games and gained all of 21 yards on 13 carries and no score. The 2012 season is pivotal for him as the Jets need to see if he can be this quick change of pace back that can take pressure off of Greene and/or their No.2 back if it’s not Tomlinson who may leave in free agency.
4.) JEREMY KERLEY (Wide Receiver)/Texas Christian University-5th Round 153rd pick
Notes: To be perfectly honest Kerley was the biggest hit of the Jets 2011 Draft. The older the season got, the more the Jets needed his services as a complementary receiver and punt returner (he had a slick 25 yard punt return versus Kansas City in which he showed his customary speed and shifting skills).
CBS Broadcaster Dan Dierdorf really likes Kerley and Dierdorf is very hard to please. Kerley was sixth on the team in catches with 29 and fifth in yards with 314 and he scored once. Kerley’s speed takes another gear when he comes off the line or when he is the open field. For years this guy will be a headache for defensive backs and the punt return teams of Jets opponents. Kerley has smooth speed, very good hands, and body control. Many times he lined up in the slot or as an X receiver.
Some of his biggest plays of the season were versus New England in Week 5. Kerley caught a 10 yard touchdown pass from MARK SANCHEZ in which he showed good separation and used good hands to get that TD pass. In that same game he caught a 21 yard pass, in which he held on to the ball after taking a big hit and receiving a solid hit from KYLE ARRINGTON and JAMES IHEDIGBO respectively. Kerley can also block as he shows solid hand placement and movement on a defender. Versus Miami in Week 6 he executed a nice block to knock defensive end/linebacker CAMERON WAKE off balance to help free SANTONIO HOLMES for a 38 yard fourth quarter score.
BOTTOM LINE: He hit the rookie wall in the first four weeks of the season and at times after that, and yes he has a lot to learn. But Kerley made some big plays and the Jets counted on him in some tough spots in 2011. One of the biggest reasons why Kerley was a hit for the Jets last year was because of the Chargers game in Week 7. In that game with New York down 21-10 in the 3rd quarter, Kerley caught a 10 yard pass on 3rd and 5 and then on 3rd and 8 he secured an 8 yard pass on a 5 yard-out pattern on the same drive. His catches led to a PLAXICO BURRESS 4 yard touchdown catch to make the score 21-17. His catches were a huge part of the momentum New York needed to come back and win that game 27-21. He also had a cool 31 yard catch in which he stayed with his route to the end and caught the pass versus a fallen WILL ALLEN; then he jumped over Allen’s body which led to a body fake to get more yards, after all that he eventually got to the Miami 46. Kerley plays above his 5 feet 9 and 188 pound stature and he seems like he has no fear when he gets on the field. This kid is a keeper as a No.2/3 receiver and partly because of how helpful he was last year, the Jets jettisoned veteran receiver DERRICK MASON during the season.
5.) GREG MCELROY (Quarterback)/Alabama University-7th Round 208th pick
Notes: McElroy didn’t play a down last year as it was learning season for him behind starter Sanchez and veteran backup MARK BRUNELL. He was a winner (helped the Tide win a National Championship in 2009 as a junior) and solid quarterback at Alabama and those attributes helped get him drafted. McElroy is a project as of now, and knowing him he is getting a good education from his superiors at his position.
6.) SCOTTY MCKNIGHT (Wide Receiver)/University of Colorado-7th Round 227th pick
Notes: McKnight did his best to be a standout player at Colorado from 2007-2010 amid terrible or subpar quarterback play. McKnight possesses solid speed, runs his routes like he’s supposed to, is smart, and can be an occasional threat. He didn’t play at all last year because the Jets didn’t need him and he was also just a rookie. The Jets didn’t have time in 2011 for young receivers who weren’t ready and that’s partly why Kerley played a lot (although he wasn’t activated until Week 5 of the season) and McKnight wasn’t activated for the entire season (he also suffered an injury which helped curb his season).
The Jets in the 2012 NFL Draft need to address these positions: defensive end, offensive guard, outside linebacker, and possibly the strong and free safety positions most importantly.
DEFENSIVE END: They have defensive ends but no big time pass rushers and some are near the end of their contract years. I would say they should try to trade up or stay where they are and hope that USC’s NICK PERRY falls to them. Perry can be groomed to be the Jets next stud defensive end. When he wants to and he gets the experience, he can be a potential Pro Bowl defensive end. He is a pass rusher by nature who can defend the run but he needs work on the latter.
West Virginia’s BRUCE IRVIN is also a pass rushing maven who can drop into coverage. These two are excellent athletes (especially Irvin). Higher rated defensive ends QUINTON COPLES and MELVIN INGRAM are very talented and can help the Jets pass rush too, but they are very risky picks (so is Irvin to a certain extent) and may be gone if the Jets stay at pick 16 anyway. Perry may be the safest, highly rated defensive end in this draft. But somehow someway Irvin is going to make plays even if he has a basic NFL career.
OFFENSIVE GUARD: BRANDON MOORE and MATT SLAUSON are both signed through 2012 and the Jets need quicker and more dynamic options at that position as it is. The Jets need to groom CALEB SCHLAUDERAFF to take one of the guard spots and get another one or more in this draft to push him, compete with him, or be on the other side at left guard.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: AARON MAYBIN is a talent as he led the Jets in sacks last year, but he was an injury risk and he disappeared for long stretches. Plus he’s signed just through the 2013 free agency period. The Jets either need to re-sign him or find outside backers in the draft to replace him or CALVIN PACE (the 2013 season is his contract year) down the line. Linebacker JOSH MAUGA is a very good athlete but he and the Jets need to find out if the inside or the outside is his niche. Outside linebacker RICKY SAPP has been an underachiever or inactive for much of his short career.
SAFETY: ERIC SMITH is a heck of a competitor and tries his best to cover so much area. He had to save the Jets behinds so much last year. And fellow safety LARON LANDRY just got signed from the Redskins. He has a lot to prove because to many, he was thought of as a bust in Washington. He is an injury risk and he has been signed for just one year. Smith is signed through 2013. The Jets may need to groom more dynamic or younger options at free and/or strong safety and they need to find those players in this draft.
