E-Boland & Gang Green

By Ken Berger

Most of you seem interested in explanations from Tangini on the Schlegel and Eric Smith picks. I refer you to the free-agent signings of Kimo von Oelhoffen, Matt Chatham, Brad Kassell, and the like. They are going for smarts, toughness, versatility -- classic overachievers who are willing to sacrifice and take tough coaching.

It is a dramatic shift in philosophy from the past few years, when Herm Edwards wanted nothing but speed on defense. That's why it's going to take time, and that's why I think the best thing they did in this draft -- besides restocking the two most important starting positions on the O-line -- is getting a head start in next year's draft by picking up a second-round pick from the Redskins.

Clearly, they're going to need it. This team, as currently constructed, will be hard-pressed to have a winning record this season. The quarterback situation is extremely uncertain ... Curtis Martin, who turns 33 tomorrow, is still the starting tailback ... there is still no legitimate deep threat in the passing game ... and Mangini couldn't even answer the most basic questions today about how he envisions the starting front seven on defense.

Is Dewayne Robertson the starting nose tackle? "Dewayne’s going to get some time at defensive line across the board," Mangini told us today.

Who is John Abraham's replacement at rush outside linebacker? "We're going to continue to address the team week in and week out and see if we can improve the team," he said.

Will Chad Pennington participate in the offseason minicamps? "He’s progressing."

No wonder one of the writers in this room, who shall remain nameless, was dozing off a few minutes ago while crafting his story for tomorrow.

Having said all this, I still like the direction Tangini have taken. I am not buying into all this nonsense that the Jets somehow failed yesterday because they took someone with the fourth pick whose name wasn't flashy enough to interest writers who don't know the game or study it. (You know who they are.) Seems to me the Chargers had a pretty exciting draft a few years ago when they selected Ryan Leaf. So did the Browns when they took Tim Couch.

Finally, despite his increasingly sophomoric attacks on me, I would like to congratulate Glauber for nailing both of the Jets' first-round picks in his mock draft. And if he wants to take credit for Leinart falling to 10th when he had him falling to 17th, I will take the high road and let him have his fun.

By Ken Berger

You don't win by appeasing public opinion on draft day. You win by protecting your quarterback and knocking down the opposing quarterback. I look for the Jets to get that replacement for John Abraham later in this draft -- maybe even with their other first-round pick. But they absolutely did the right think by selecting D'Brickashaw Ferguson with the fourth pick.

Despite all the articles you might have read hyping up the Reggie Bush angle, the Jets -- quite correctly -- were never seriously tempted to give up multiple picks and move up for Bush. Matt Leinart was never a serious part of the discussion. They need a star left tackle, and they need all their picks to rebuild this roster.

The most popular decision? Probably not.  But from a serious football standpoint, it was the right one, without a doubt.

By the way, John Doe: How did that three-way trade work out that you wanted to read so much about?

By Ken Berger

First, a few words about draft-day booing.

One of the many odd twists of fate in my life has led me to cover the two NFL teams whose fans are known for being the most ardent draft-day boo birds. Before I came home to Long Island, where I grew up, to cover the Jets for Newsday in 2000, I spent two years covering the Eagles. I am sort of an expert in booing, something I will be sure to point out the next time I update my resume. Better yet, I could drop that into my first NFL column after Newsday demotes Glauber  to the telemarketing department for putting out a mock draft with Leinart falling to the Vikings at 17.

Jon makes an excellent point, it turns out, about misconceptions regarding fans who boo at the draft. Who are these 20 or 30 people who are portrayed as representating all Jet fans because they boo the first-round pick?

Allow me to explain. I covered the Eagles in 1999 when the talk radio station there, WIP, started  an aggressive campaign for the Eagles to select Texas running back Ricky Williams with the second pick. Now most people knew that first-year coach Andy Reid, given his background in the West Coast offense, was going to take Donovan McNabb of Syracuse. One of the talk radio hosts, in a shocking effort to bring attention to himself, organized a bus trip to New York and transported a couple dozen Eagles fans to the draft. It is my educated guess that spring water was not the beverage of choice on that bus ride. Their sole mission (other than drinking heavily) was to boo and hiss like emotionally unstable hyenas if the Eagles passed on Williams -- which of course, they did (they meaning the Eagles and the hyenas).

Since I don't live in Philly anymore, I've often wondered what that host thinks of the fine career Williams has carved out for himself in the years since. But the whole point is that fans in this vocal minority don't deserve to speak for the passionate-yet-knowledgeable ones who have flooded this blog with fairly serious and well-researched commentary for the past few days.
But alas, they will be on TV and we will not, which means all we can do is change the channel if we don't like it.

Now what do we do about Glauber? You try to offer some plausible explanation for your colleague's absurd position that a quarterback who was 37-2 as a college starter will be selected 17th, and this is the thanks you get? It seems somebody should spend more time looking at film and less time gazing at my photo on the Newsday web site.

Then again, it seems unfair to be too rough on the guy who put the "mock" in "mock draft."

By Ken Berger

I just spoke with Bob Glauber, so I’ll give you the scoop on his feeling that Leinart will drop all the way to the Vikings at 17. Perhaps the biggest unknown in the first round is what the Titans will do at No. 3. There are indications that GM Floyd Reese is sold on Vince Young, but owner Bud Adams might be pushing for Leinart. I’ve always felt that the Titans would pick Leinart because of OC Norm Chow’s history with him at USC.

But remember: NFL coaches and scouts become worrywarts at this time of year. And while Chow knows better than anyone what Leinart can do well, he also is more familiar with his faults than anyone else who has evaluated him during the pre-draft scouting period. Sometimes familiarity breeds contempt, as they say. Having said all that, I certainly disagree with Glauber about Leinart falling THAT far. But he assures me that while he has found himself within wafting range of numerous smokescreens in recent days, he has not inhaled.

There’s a lot of chatter about Dewayne Robertson on this board, and for good reason. I agree with the likes of Matty Rod and Jet Fan Jay that Robertson is not a 3-4 nose. Then again, he played three-technique in Herm Edwards’ 4-3 the past three years and underachieved. If the Jets don’t trade Robertson – and I don’t expect them to – then his future with the team is going to come down to coaching. Mangini & Co. are going to have to find a role for this guy in which he can succeed.

I like yeselson’s bit about trading 4 and 29 to the Niners for 6 and 22 – but only if Mario Williams is off the board at 4. If they can’t have Williams, the Jets would do well to bluff the Niners into thinking they have to move up to 4 to get Vernon Davis. The Jets could still get Ferguson at 6, and would have a better shot at Manny Lawson at 22. But there are too many moving parts here. What if the Cowboys take Lawson at 18? And how do the Jets convince the Niners that they have to move up for Davis when everyone seems to think the Packers are taking A.J. Hawk at 5?

The best way to move back from the fourth pick would be to sucker a team that is hot for a quarterback – like the Raiders appear to be for Cutler. But again, too much uncertainty. I still believe the most likely scenario is that the Jets pick Ferguson or Williams fourth and then take stock of the landscape at 29. They have the picks they need to move up a few spots from there if need be. KL wants to know what the Jets wouldn’t trade with the Texans for the No. 1 pick and select Reggie Bush. According to the value chart, the fourth, 29th, and 35th picks would just about do it. So far, Texans GM Charley Casserly is on record saying he’s had no interest in the top pick. While Bush is an elite player, I think the Jets have too many needs to select him and then go until the 71st pick without making a selection. It’s the more-is-better theory that many of you have mentioned – a theory that a guy named Belichick in New England has always adhered to.

If they can get a starting left tackle (Ferguson) at 4, a future starting center (Nick Mangold) or running back (Laurence Maroney) at 29, followed by a quarterback to groom as Pennington’s replacement without the pressure of picking him high (Brodie Croyle or Kellen Clemens), I’d have to say that’s preferable to getting one great player who would have no supporting cast.

Remember, Belichick has won three Super Bowls without a blue-chip running back. The Patriots protect the quarterback, give him a release valve with a pass-catching tight end, and control the clock with a power running game when they get ahead. That is what I expect the Jets to attempt to do, and they need a solid draft from top to bottom this weekend to do so.

Finally, a word to John Doe: Thanks for noticing the similarity between Glauber’s take on Leinart and Todd McShay’s. As for the Star-Ledger joke: You evidently are not who I thought you were, so carry on.

By Ken Berger

I have been chasing so many draft rumors today that I did a double-take when my wife came home. I thought she and the dog had been traded to the Raiders for conditional picks in '07.

Just want to get caught up on responding to a few of your comments before I get traded to the Lions for Joey Harrington:

To Jim, who says of the new regime “no hype, just patience and intelligence,” I say, “Thanks for dropping by, Mrs. Mangini.” Seriously, Jim, I think you’re right.

I agree with yeselson that the Cutler-Ravens rumor is more smoke than fire. But if the Jets are higher on Cutler than we think, and if they came out of the first round with Ferguson and Cutler, you’d have to call it one of the blockbuster draft-day scenarios in this team’s history. Definitely bold, but not necessarily bright. I don't think Cutler is the answer.

To LSJF, I disagree that Mario Williams would be a waste. But if the Jets could get Manny Lawson at the bottom of the first round – or maybe move up a few spots to get him – I’d have to say that would be better value.

Finally, to John Doe, who noted that perhaps I’d read the Star-Ledger this morning when I updated you about the Cutler rumor … I ask, "How are things in North Brunswick?"

By Ken Berger

Kudos to Matty Rod, who sniffed out the latest rumor with his seemingly innocent question about what the Jets could get if they packaged their  29th and 35th picks to move up.  My trade value board says they could at least wind up with the 13th pick, and now the rumor du jour has the Jets interested in making that deal with the Ravens to select Jay Cutler. It apparently would happen only if Baltimore couldn't select Oregon nose tackle Haloti Ngata at 13. Check back for more later.

By Ken Berger

So far, so good. Less than 24 hours old, and the blog has generated some intellectual commentary from fans who have done their homework. Congratulations on knowing your stuff.

One point that I failed to make yesterday came to mind as I read your responses to my favorable portrayal of the "new regime." As much as I like their approach, it's important that we don't lose sight of the following fact: While Tannenbaum has never been in charge before, he was a major part of the old regime. In fact, since Bradway commuted from the Jersey Shore and his management style was heavy on delegation, there are some who think that Tannenbaum had more power than he should've under the old organizational structure. I'm not knocking him; I'm simply inserting an important piece of perspective that I failed to make clear yesterday.

Having said that, this is how it works: If the Jets finally get straightened out on his watch, Tannenbaum will get loads of credit for being a far better GM than Bradway was. But to be fair, we have to remember that Mike played a significant role in the way things were run before. The key to evaluating him will be to take note of what changes he makes that he was powerless to make before. I think those will become evident in a very short period of time -- if they haven't already.

Before I lose track of the latest draft rumors that someone undoubtedly is concocting while I write this, I just wanted to briefly address some of your responses thus far:

I agree with James Cola’s assessment that moving back a few spots in the first round to take either Vernon Davis or D'Brickashaw Ferguson would give the Jets a pick they could use to move up a few spots from 29 to take a running back. Or, if they don’t take Ferguson with their first pick, I could then see them moving up from 29 to get Eric Winston, the OT from Miami.

But don’t lose sight of this scenario: If they in fact get a third-rounder to move down from No. 4, they would have THREE third-rounders – and tremendous flexibility. If a quarterback they like is still there in the second round – such as Kellen Clemens or Brodie Croyle – I could see them using the extra third to move up in the second round to get one of those QBs.

CMP mentions Mario Williams in his post. I think those of us in the media room will hear Mangini doing backflips down the hall upstairs if Williams is there at No. 4.

Ben Royben is hoping the Jets don’t take Marcedes Lewis, the TE from UCLA. Sorry, Ben, but the Jets have scouted Lewis extensively and view him as a good fallback at that position if they don’t get Davis. Don’t lose any sleep, though, because they will NOT take Lewis with their first pick.

Big Joe is big on D’Brickashaw with the fourth pick. The latest buzz I’m hearing is that the Jets might not be sold on him that high, but would gladly take him at No. 7 should the rumored trade with the Raiders take place. Big Joe and other members of the D’Brickashaw fan club might want to check out Joe Gergen’s feature on him in Wednesday’s Newsday (not on Big Joe, on D'Brickashaw).

Big Joe also advises the new regime to steer clear of tight ends. Somehow, Big Joe must have read the story I am about to write for tomorrow’s paper, which points out that since 1982, only three tight ends have been selected in the top 10 – Kyle Brady, Rickey Dudley, and Kellen Winslow Jr.

Mphtrilogy says A.J. Hawk fits the Mangini mold perfectly. I couldn’t agree more.

Lastly, I have consulted my trusty trade value chart to answer Matty Rod's question about what the Jets could get if they traded the 29th and 35th picks. The answer is intriguing: at least the 13th, and perhaps even the 12th pick.  If they stay at No. 4 and get D'Brickashaw or Mario Williams, for instance, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on who they would/should take if they made that trade for the 12th or 13th pick.

By Ken Berger

In less than 120 hours, we will know how the fearless new regime running the Jets will use the fourth pick in the NFL draft. The pressure is on Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini to get this one right. And to a much lesser degree, the pressure is on me to make this blog a go-to source for you, Jets fans and Newsday readers, for all the pre-draft rumors, innuendos, and sometimes even facts that pertain to one of the most critical drafts in this franchise's history.

Why is it so important? You may not know much about Mangini and Tannenbaum -- I know and like Tannenbaum but know next to nothing about Mangini -- and that's precisely the point. You've seen enough coaches and GMs come and go in Hempstead to know that all the flowery prose written about them often means nothing a few short, painful years later when they leave or are shown the door.

I don't know what it is, but I have a feeling it's going to be different this time.  I fell victim to the Herman Edwards charm machine as often as the next guy, but I never really got the feeling that everyone was on the same page when he was here. Too often there were conflicting agendas within the walls of Weeb Ewbank Hall, and in the end, the health of the only thing that ultimately mattered -- the football team they were running --  suffered.

Mangini and Tannenbaum think alike. Both are obsessively committed to succeeding. Most importantly, they want the same thing -- players who fit their philosophy. And for the first time in quite a while, the people making the decisions have the same philosophy.

Think about it: When Herm and Terry Bradway were hired in 2001, the Jets were supposed to run a Tampa-style cover 2 defense. Then came the hybrid scheme between Herm's Tampa defense and Ted Cottrell's Buffalo scheme. Then came Donnie Henderson. Offensively, it was three years of Paul Hackett, followed by one year of Hackett playing philosophical tug-of-war with Edwards, followed by one year of Mike Heimerdinger.

How can an organization develop any sort of continuity in terms of acquiring players through the draft and free agency when the coaches and systems change as often as they did under Edwards?

If the Jets' methodical approach to free agency was any indication, some of the most highly regarded draft prospects won't get an iota of consideration from this new regime, and players who wouldn't get more than a cursory glance from other teams will have their names called by the Jets on Saturday and Sunday. I'll just say this: Don't put too much weight on any one pick, including the No. 4 -- if they don't trade it. With five picks in the top 100, two third-rounders and two-fourth rounders, this draft will be about stocking the roster with so-called "Mangini guys," which essentially means "Belichick guys." Give them time. I think they're on the right track.

As you'll see later this week in Newsday when I join my colleagues, Bob Glauber and Arthur Staple, in projecting the first 10 picks in the draft -- Glauber has to mock the whole first round -- I am convinced that Mangini and Tannenbaum will NOT select a quarterback with the first pick. I haven't decided whether it's going to be D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Mario Williams, Vernon Davis, or A.J. Hawk, but I feel pretty good that it's far more likely to be one of them than a quarterback.

Which brings me to a few words I want to say about this blog. The whole point of doing this is that I want to know what you think. I want to know what rumors you're hearing and reading about as you're trying to school yourself up for what figures to be one of the most interesting first rounds in recent memory. When you think I'm wrong, I want you to tell me. When you see or hear something you want me to address, I want to know about it. This blog, and by extension what I write in the paper, is for you -- nobody else. I want to know what's on your mind.

So go ahead, jump in and get things started. Other than the playoffs, with which you're unfortunately not recently familiar, this is the most exciting week of the year for the NFL fan. Post your comments, check back for my responses, and by all means give me your feedback on what I'm writing in the paper. Yes, I'm writing it because I have to, but I'm writing it for you.

Along the way, I'll let you know when something you won't want to miss will show up in the paper the next day. If I could, I would give you the heads up on exactly what the Jets will do when they're on the clock Saturday. Then again, if I knew that, I wouldn't be blogging.

Tom Rock has been a Newsday reporter since 1996 and began covering the Jets in 2006. Prior to becoming the Jets beat writer, Tom was an outdoors columnist and covered high school and college sports. He won the 2006 Long Island Press Club daily sports reporting award, was cited in the book “Best American Sportswriting of 2006,” and won second place in the Boating Writers International writing competition. Tom grew up in Levittown, is a 1991 graduate of Division Avenue High School, and a 1995 graduate of C.W. Post.

Erik Boland has been at Newsday since 2002, arriving shortly after finishing graduate school at NYU. Boland, a native Clevelander, attended John Carroll University and worked in the Warren-Youngstown (Ohio) market from 1996-2001 in radio and television and as a freelance writer for the Warren Tribune Chronicle. Boland started at Newsday covering girls soccer, basketball and lacrosse. He later covered college basketball and lacrosse before moving over to the Jets beat in 2008.