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A couple of items to get into today in Dan’s Website Whispers. So let’s get this underway . . .
Like I’ve said many times, hopefully for Damon Harrison’s sake, some team pays him a lot of money. He’s a good guy and has overcome a lot in his life.
But that team paying him a lot of money probably shouldn’t be the Jets.
And I will give you another reason why – Paul Soliai.
It came out a couple of days ago that the Atlanta Falcons plan on releasing the massive nose tackle once free agency begins.
He’s right out of central casting to play 3-4 nose tackle at 6-4, 340. He played the position before, and played it well. He was miscast in Dan Quinn’s 4-3 defense in Atlanta. Quinn runs the same system as Seattle based on defensive linemen flying off the ball and shooting up the field. That isn’t Soliai’s game. He’s a quintessential 3-4 nose tackle who can take up two blockers with regularity and clog up middle making it tough to run.
He’s another 3-4 nose tackle the Jets can get at a reasonable price, perhaps on a one-year deal, who can replace
Harrison, without spending a lot of money, just like B.J. Raji, Ahtyba Rubin or Sammie Lee Hill.
There is no need to spend a fortune at nose tackle with the Jets end talent . .
I keep seeing headlines – “How will the Jets replace Cromartie?”
Considering he didn’t have a very good season, it won’t be hard.
I’m looking to be flippant. Just keeping it real. If somebody didn’t play well, why would replacing him be a chore?
Marcus Williams is the first choice.
Not only is he a better cover guy right now with better quick twitch, but a much more physical player – very willing in run support, and will get in your face at the line.
We can talk about the coverage aspect of the position, which is obviously huge, but Cromartie was also substandard as a tackler and jammer.
Williams is a lot more physical in bump-and-run and tackles like a safety. So not only will the coverage in improve, but the physical parts of the position as well, which can’t be minimized.
Speaking of physical corners, Buster Skrine could also move into the starting lineup – he started quite a bit in Cleveland.
Dee Milliner and Dex McDougle are also candidates to start. But there are some durability questions that need to be answered with that pair.
I’m sure they will pick another cornerback fairly high in the draft.
Also in the mix is Kevin Short. He was in Chiefs camp last summer, and was released on the final cut. He was then on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad for two months before being released, and the Jets made a bee-line to him and signed him to their practice squad.
He’s a tall corner (6-2, 190) who has a lot talent. He was a star at Fort Scott Community College before transferring to Kansas, but left the program. It’s still unclear why he left, but the Jayhawks were a mess at the time, so a lot of funky things were going on.
He has a lot of talent. If the Jets can harness it, they could have something here.
So with Williams, Skrine, Milliner, McDougle, Short and a likely draft pick, they can replace Cromartie, who honestly had there been an open competition last summer, he might have lost the job. He had a bad camp, but was anointed.
Also keep an eye on free agent cornerback Jerraud Powers from Arizona. He did some good work for Todd Bowles out in the desert.
February 23, 2016
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