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Wednesday May 3, 2006 12:41 am

AFC EAST Draft Grade: New York Jets

D'Brickashaw Ferguson about to drop the hammerNew York Jets2005 Record: 4-12
Points For: 240
Points Against: 355
Rushing Yards PG: 83.0
Rushing Yards Allowed PG: 136.6
Passing Yards PG: 165.1
Passing Yards Allowed PG: 172.2
Drafted:
1.4 (4) - D’Brickashaw Ferguson, T, Virginia  
1.29 (29) - Nick Mangold, C, Ohio St.(from Denver) 
2.17 (49) - Kellen Clemens, QB, Oregon (from Dallas) 
3.12 (76) - Anthony Schlegel, ILB, Ohio St. (from Philadelphia) 
3.33 (97) - Eric Smith, S, Michigan St. (Compensatory Selection) 
4.6 (103) - Brad Smith, WR, Missouri  
4.20 (117) - Leon Washington, RB, Florida St. (from Kansas City) 
5.18 (150) - Jason Pociask, TE, Wisconsin (from Dallas) 
6.20 (189) - Drew Coleman, DB, TCU (from Washington through N.Y. Jets and Dallas) 
7.12 (220) - Titus Adams, DT, Nebraska (from Philadelphia)
Comments: 
Some people (okay, jaded Jets fans) were pessimistic about choosing Ferguson over Arizona Cardinals’ QB Matt Leinart who is “New York” all the way off-the-field.  However, the Jets needed to stay away from the flash and go the safe and smart route. 

If Leinart was chosen, who was going to protect him?  Most of the Jets offensive line from previous seasons were excellent, but most of it left this offseason, in particular perennial All-Pro center, Kevin Mawae.  Leinart would have been crushed, if he even got on the field.  It’s still up in the air how QBs Chad Pennington and Patrick Ramsey are going to do, but they are more than serviceable this season and have NFL experience. 

Add Ferguson, who was rated as high as second overall regardless of position, in addition to second round pick Mangold to take Mawae’s place and the Jets have a solid line for the foreseeable and long-term future.  Both Ferguson and Mangold were rated numbers one and two as blockers in the entire draft.  Whoever ends up being the quarterback this season will be happy. 

Speaking of the quarterback position, the Jets didn’t totally ignore the it as they drafted the hard-nosed Clemens in the second round, who some thought had the best mechanics of all the quarterbacks in the draft.  While he doesn’t have the glamour of Leinart, Clemens definitely has the grit.

Schlegel is a solid lineback and could be a great compliment to Jonathan Vilma.  Schlegel has very good leadership ability and should help Vilma take his game up another level.  E. Smith plays a smart game and has very good ball skills.  B. Smith will need to switch from QB to WR, but has the athleticism and speed to make the move.  Washington is small, but is a very good runner with receiving skills out of the backfield.  Pociask is known as a blocking TE and a very good one.  He’ll definitely add to the Jets running game. 

Coleman is short, but doesn’t have exceptional speed or coverage skills to overcome that.  Adams is a speed defensive lineman, but is limited in every other way.  In the right situation, he can rush off the edge and get to the QB or stop the run in the backfield.  Its just that that situation probably won’t come up much for Adams.
ENDSCORE GRADE: B+

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