Content available exclusively for subscribers
Let’s talk defensive ends . . .
The Jets picked two developmental defensive linemen – Fort Hays State’s Nathan Shepherd (third-round) and UConn’s Foley Fatukasi (sixth-round).
And traded for a pretty good football player, sending a seventh-pick to Indianapolis for Henry Anderson.
I got into Shepherd a little on Friday.
I don’t have an issue with either draft pick, and they could be really good, and I will get to their skill sets in a second.
The issue I have with the picks this is – Mike Maccagnan is a guy who keeps all his draft picks – he’s very political in this regard.
So these two guys are most likely going to take up roster spots this year, and might not play much.
Why pick two D-Line projects in this same draft who will burn two roster spots this year while they figure things out?
And my gut is that the sixth-round pick is further along than the third-round pick, so that makes it almost a lock both make the roster. They would never release a third-round pick, but sixth round picks are generally stronger candidates for the practice squad. But my gut is Fatukasi is further ahead.
But all that being said, I like both prospects.
Shepherd reminds me a little of Mo Wilkerson, and in fact the same exact size – 6-4, 315. He’s perfect for the 3-4 end spot. Don’t worry about his college sack totals, only people who don’t understand the Jets’ defense worry about that. 3-4 end isn’t a big sack position.
He’s got the size, athleticism and quickness to be a terrific 3-4 end. However, when you play your college football at Simon Fraser in Vancouver, and then Division II Fort Hays State, you face some pretty bad offensive linemen, so as a defensive lineman you can get by on size and strength – technique doesn’t matter much. That doesn’t work in the NFL because the offensive linemen are just as big and strong as you and their technique is much better than low-level college lineman, so Shepherd needs a ton of work on his technique. But he’s a gym rate and will put in the time. It just might make take time.
Fatukasi is from Far Rockaway (where I was born and spent my first four years). He is another guy out of Central Casting to play 3-4 end in the Jets defense, at 6-4, 318 with arms like vines. Long arms are very helpful at this position. He’s a great kid who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Playing Division I football has him a little further along the growth curve than Shepherd.
When talking about the Jets’ defensive line additions from the draft process, you can’t leave out Anderson since they traded their final pick for him.
The Jets essentially traded a seventh-round pick for a third-round talent. Anderson was a third-round pick in 2015.
I’m a big Henry Anderson fan. He’s a 6-6, 300 pound DE with a great motor and good instincts.
The only reason he was traded was because he flat-out doesn’t fit the Colts’ new scheme. They were playing a 3-4 defense (Anderson is a 3-4 end) the last two years, but with the coaching change they switched to the Dallas’ defense, which is a 4-3 system, similar to Tampa Bay, which requires quicker, faster, smaller defensive lineman who can get up field in a hurry. That isn’t Anderson.
But he fits the Jets’ scheme.
He was put on IR in November of last year with a pretty scary injury – laryngeal fracture.
If he’s healthy (the Jets’ doctors need to clear his larynx), this trade could turn into a big-time steal. This guy is a good football player.
April 30, 2018
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Tuesday.