New York Jets Had an Excellent Draft, Despite the “Experts”

Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduces defensive end Quinton Coples (North Carolina) as the 16th overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-US PRESSWIRE

Earlier, we put up a post that rounded up some of the grades for the New York Jets draft around the web. As you go through it, many of the “experts” graded the Jets with Cs and Ds. There were a small sampling of Bs, must mainly the low grades are what we saw. The more I think about it, the crazier I think these “experts” are. Here are some of the reasons why.

First, we talk about Quinton Coples a bit. Many of the same people that questioned this pick, actually equate this guy’s ability to Julius Peppers. I ask you this Jets fans, if the Jets just chose the next Julius Peppers, would you be upset? I think not.

There is all this talk about Coples’ motor. He takes plays off. His production dropped from his junior year to his senior year, which granted, is true. But, let’s talk about that a second. First, you can’t say for sure that he took plays off. You can guess by looking at film, but the only person who knows whether Coples took plays off is Coples. Nobody knows what is in a guys head.

Second, could there be another reason that his sacks dropped off? I don’t know, maybe the teams that played him in his junior season, worked harder to block him as a senior. Maybe the coaches, what’s the word, watched tape? Quite possibly teams worked hard to stop him and it worked. Just a thought, Mel Kiper, among others.

Finally on Coples, look at his stats. Over his final 2 seasons in college, he racked up 17.5 sacks. If you do the whole porportion and cross multiplying we all learned in grade school to project that in 16 games, it comes to almost 11 sacks. Who remembers the last time we had double figures in sacks from a guy? I don’t, and I would certainly take it from this guy who “takes plays off”.

Let’s discuss Stephen Hill for a minute. I understand that this was a college statistic, but can you dismiss a guy that averaged 29 yards per catch? I don’t think so.

Secondly, everybody is talking about how “raw” he is. He has ability but he is “raw”. What does that mean exactly? Is he a chicken breast? Are the Jets going to get Salmonella if they use him?

I say that part in jest of course, but now the serious evaluation. Fine, his route running isn’t as polished as others. Does that mean that coach Lal is going to forget to coach him up? Does that mean he can never run a route? I doubt it. People are making this out as if it’s a bad pick, and any WR that can run 4.36 in the forty can’t be that bad. Someone said to be that they hope he isn’t the next Johnny “Lam” Jones. Here’s the one difference. Jones never played football before, Hill clearly has, and he can catch the rock, unlike Jones.

Finally, even if he doesn’t improve his route running, didn’t Randy Moss make a borderline Hall of Fame career running one route? I’m just saying.

The later rounds had guys that have a chance to make an impact as well. Antonio Allen is one for me. This guy was graded to go earlier, a lot of guys were surprised he fell through the fifth round. He can cover, and he can cover the tight end. He will have a wonderful chance to make this football team in the defensive backfield. Josh Bush is another one. He too can play in the press coverage and provide pressure to the tight end.

Terrance Ganaway is a guy that has a lot of people talking. He is a 240 pound brusing running back with a nose for the endzone, that could be a major sleeper. And finally, I don’t care if he was playing in a pee wee league, with 140 receptions, Jordan White has talent. He could be a sleeper as well.

My grade, I have mentioned it over the weekend but here it is again. B+. It is only a B+ because I leave for the possibility of Coples being a bust. We won’t know the answers obviously right away, but I could see the results turning into an A+.

But Cs and Ds? Sorry I don’t see it.