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Some people think the Jets will pick a defensive lineman in Round One, and that is a possibility, but remember, they have a number of young developmental guys on the roster, they like, and this could steer them away from the D-Line in Round One.
With Kris Jenkins gone, the Jets do need a platoon partner for Sione Pouha, And while Phil Taylor is a possibility, the Jets really like Martin Tevaseu, and he could end up filling that role next season.
“MTV” was on the Jets practice squad last year, and was elevated for the Jet-Steelers playoff game. He came out of nowhere last summer, as the longest of longshot, so carve a niche for himself on the pratice squad.
What was so impressive about his performance in Cortland, was he did it with one hand. He broke a bone in his hand early in camp, and still managed to shine with a club on that hand. Tevasue showed a “I’m not going to be denied” attitude last summer, and became a favorite with the defensive coaches.
I had a chance to interview Pro Football Weekly draft guru Nolan Nawrocki this morning on Sirius, and it’s clear, he’s not a big fan of Taylor. He doesn’t like his work ethic, his weight issues and how often he stays blocked.
But Nolan said he’s talked to a number of team officials who feel Taylor’s foot issue has been blown way out proportion and shouldn’t be a problem in the NFL.
Perhaps Mike Tannenbaum takes a flyer on Taylor, banking on Rex’s ability to motivate the big guy to realizes his enormous potential.
But picking a D-Lineman isn’t an urgent matter.
Other defensive linemen the Jets developed last year included former Chicago Bears second round pick Jarron Gilbert, Matt “Don’t be” Kroul, Marcus Dixon (who played some late in the year).
Throw in Martin, and right there you have four guys who are very much in the Jets plans, so it does make you think they might not go D-Line in the first round.
They really seem to like Dixon quite a bit.
“Last year we added Marcus Dixon, I believe it was September 6th,” said Tannenbaum about the team’s waiver claim of Dixon from Dallas. “I think Marcus Dixon is going to be a good football for us.”
And you throw in 6-8, 320-pound Ropati Pituatoa, who spent last year on IR with an achilles injury, and the Jets are actually in pretty good shape on the D-Line . . .
Another defensive lineman who could open some eyes in training camp, if there is one, is former Virginia Tech standout Carlton Powell, who was signed to a future’s contract after the season.
He’s a former fifth round pick of Denver, who definitely has ability . . .
Gil Brandt said he feels Arizona DE/OLBÂ Brooks Reed is going to be a good, not great player . . .
Fascinating point by Nawrocki this morning. He said some teams feel that North Carolina DE/OLB Robert Quinn, could be more suspectable to concussions due to a benign brain tumor he had in high school . . .