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New Jersey – The Jets added three new players today – G James Carpenter, CB Darrelle Revis and CB Buster Skrine. Let’s put these moves under the microscope . . .
ESPN called the Jets signing of guard James Carpenter a “head-scratcher.”
The writer went relayed an anecdote from the 2011 draft.
“When Carpenter was picked by the Seahawks in 2011, his former coach at Alabama, Nick Saban, was seen on TV at the draft, mouthing the words, ‘James Carpenter was drafted in the first round?’”
Okay, fine. What does that have to do with signing him four years later?
The Jets aren’t getting him off the Alabama practice field. They are getting him after four years in the NFL, and two trips to the Super Bowl.
He was coached and developed, by one of the NFL’s best offensive line coaches, Tom Cable.
Jets offensive line coach Steve Marshall has been coaching the position for 35 years, after playing guard at Louisville. Look at the man’s resume as an offensive line coach –
• 1979 Plymouth State: OL
• 1980-1981 Tennessee: Assistant OL
• 1982-1983 Marshall: OL/ST
• 1984 Louisville: TE/OL
• 1985-1986 Murray State: OC/OL
• 1987 Virginia Tech: OL
• 1988-1992 Virginia Tech: OC
• 1993 Tennessee: OL
• 1994-1995 Tennessee: OL/Run Game Coordinator
• 1996 UCLA: OL
• 1997 Texas A&M: OC/OL
• 1998-1999 North Carolina: OC/OL
• 2000-2001 Colorado: OL
• 2002-2003 Houston Texans: Assistant OL
• 2004-2005 Houston Texans: OL
• 2007-2008 Cleveland Browns: OL
• 2009-2010 California: OL
• 2011–2012 Colorado: OL
• 2014 New Mexico State: OL
• 2014 Green Bay Packers: Assistant OL
• 2015–present New York Jets: OL
He went over tons of film of Carpenter before the Jets pulled the trigger on this signing. Look at his experience. Do you trust his opinion?
Look, I’m not putting Carpenter in Canton, but Marshall, Mike Maccagnan (who has been scouting offensive line talent in pro football for 20 years), Chan Gailey and Todd Bowles didn’t make this decision in a vacuum.
And while the draft is irrelevant at this point, honestly, if Carpenter hadn’t been picked in the first round in 2011, he likely would have gone in the second.
He has great size (6-4, 320), arms like vines and is pretty athletic for his size.
He’s also battled-tested.
And he’s still only 25 years old (will turn 26 on March 22).
I have no issue with this signing. They didn’t make this move from the seat of their pants. A lot of film study and research went into it.
If he stays healthy (which was a problem early in his NFL career), this should be a solid signing . . .
I also think the signing of CB Buster Skrine is a smart move.
The Jets took advantage of situation in Cleveland that led to a good player being available.
Since the Browns have star cornerback Joe Haden (who is going to be paid big money shortly) and a top 10 pick corner from last year, Justin Gilbert, they are going to roll with those guys, and not pay Skrine big money.
He had a good season last year. He’s a feisty man-to-man corner with great speed. He has very quick feet and loose hips to change direction effortlessly.
The Browns didn’t want him to leave the building.
“Buster is one of my favorite guys on the defense,” Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil said in December to the team’s website. “He embodies ‘Play Like a Brown.’ I don’t ever want to let good players walk out the door.”
But there is no way they were going to play him $13 million guaranteed, like the Jets. The contract was four-years for $25 million.
Like Carpenter, he’s still only 25 (will turn 26 on April 22).
This is what good GM’s do in free agency. You don’t look to sign players who other teams don’t want, but look for players on the rise who other teams can’t pay.
And honestly, the Jets aren’t going to “out-quarterback” the Patriots the next few years, so by signing Skrine (and Darrelle Revis who signed as I filed this story), they know they better load up on corners, to help them deal with Tom Brady and company.
Can you imagine how good the Jets can be at cornerback if Dee Milliner and Dexter McDougle can stay healthy, with Revis and Skrine on board?
March 11, 2014
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