Jets tried to trade for Betts

I think we should keep Betts unless someone offers a Hershel Walker to Minnesota type scenario. Unless its an offer we literally can't refuse, I would rather have Betts and Portis. I think if we can keep Springs and keep him healthy we will be in much better shape than anyone would have guessed. No need for trades or doomsday contracts.

Smoot + (healthy)Springs + Adams + Fletcher + (healthy) Washington + (more confident) Carter = Better Defense + (more experienced) Campbell + (healthy) Portis + Betts + Raleigh Mckenzie = Better Team Right Away. It's just that simple.

I think we should keep Betts unless someone offers a Hershel Walker to Minnesota type scenario. Unless its an offer we literally can't refuse, I would rather have Betts and Portis. I think if we can keep Springs and keep him healthy we will be in much better shape than anyone would have guessed. No need for trades or doomsday contracts.

Smoot + (healthy)Springs + Adams + Fletcher + (healthy) Washington + (more confident) Carter = Better Defense + (more experienced) Campbell + (healthy) Portis + Betts + Raleigh Mckenzie = Better Team Right Away. It's just that simple.


You're forgetting two important elements in that equation: defensive tackles.

Griffin and Salave'a just don't have it anymore. Their knack for injuries makes them an official liability. Gaines Adams won't help stuff the run up the middle.

When you can't stop the run, the defense and the team collapses.

Trade Betts for DLineman or Draft pick. Think that Rock can carry the ball as Portis's backup

You're forgetting two important elements in that equation: defensive tackles.

Griffin and Salave'a just don't have it anymore. Their knack for injuries makes them an official liability. Gaines Adams won't help stuff the run up the middle.

When you can't stop the run, the defense and the team collapses.

While I agree about Salave'a, I think Griff is just fine in that role, and I think we drafted a guy in Golston that when developed will be pretty damn good. And Griff has never missed more than 3 games in a season, so yeah he might have some injury problems, but nothing that will make/break the season imo.

While I agree about Salave'a, I think Griff is just fine in that role, and I think we drafted a guy in Golston that when developed will be pretty damn good. And Griff has never missed more than 3 games in a season, so yeah he might have some injury problems, but nothing that will make/break the season imo.

Well, Griffin is certainly the more solid of the two, but that doesn't say much anymore. My opinion of Griffin is more of a projection - I just don't see him being consistently healthy and penetrating the line of scrimmage the way he did in '04 and '05.

I also don't get the fascination with Kedric Golston. I know we as fans were thrilled at the notion that one of our 6th round picks was able to get playing time in his rookie year, giving the false impression that he was good enough to start. He wasn't. His playing time had more to do with the aforementioned injuries of the two starters than anything else. Golston had his moments, but you need look no further than our ranking against the run to admit that he's got some cleatmarks in his chest too.

I thought for a rookie 6th rounder Golston played extremely well and flashed some very promising moments. All considered I thought he exceeded expectations and gave us a reason to look forward to his further development.

I pretty much share Matty's sentiments about Golston...and don't forget Montgomery, he has showed promise too. I think GW will keep fresh bodies rotating in the middle and we'll go for a big, fast DE instead of someone in the middle.

Griff was getting man handled last year. I'll chalk it up to his hip issues, but those things do tend to linger. Let's hope he can bounce back.

I thought for a rookie 6th rounder Golston played extremely well and flashed some very promising moments. All considered I thought he exceeded expectations and gave us a reason to look forward to his further development.

But did he exceed expectations to the point that we are fine and dandy at defensive tackle?

I don't think you can look at the performance of any player at that position last year and draw that conclusion.

But did he exceed expectations to the point that we are fine and dandy at defensive tackle?

I don't think you can look at the performance of any player at that position last year and draw that conclusion.


I just think that between Golston, Griffin, Montgomery and Salavea we ought to be able to put together a full season of decent enough play. I can't say that about the DEs without Adams or someone else new. I remember when we brought in Stubblefield and Wilkinson people were making similiar arguments. They were going to draw double teams and free up the LBers, collapse the pocket. I thought they played okay but they didn't make Rod Stephens any better.

I think we could get better play at Tackle but I don't buy the argument that they were the weak link or that their shoddy play is preventing other people from getting it done. Tackle will have to wait. And, I do think you are too bearish on Golston. He made a lot of plays last year. People always say, "Let's develop our own talent". I say that Kedrick represents on opportunity to do exactly that.

I just think that between Golston, Griffin, Montgomery and Salavea we ought to be able to put together a full season of decent enough play. I can't say that about the DEs without Adams or someone else new. I remember when we brought in Stubblefield and Wilkinson people were making similiar arguments. They were going to draw double teams and free up the LBers, collapse the pocket. I thought they played okay but they didn't make Rod Stephens any better.

I think we could get better play at Tackle but I don't buy the argument that they were the weak link or that their shoddy play is preventing other people from getting it done. Tackle will have to wait. And, I do think you are too bearish on Golston. He made a lot of plays last year. People always say, "Let's develop our own talent". I say that Kedrick represents on opportunity to do exactly that.

I'm not saying Golston should be kicked off the team or anything. I think he's fine as a #3 rotation guy. But we already saw what he, Griffin, Salave'a and Montgomery were able to accomplish last year -- a #27 ranking against the run. Plus, they're all another year older and Salave'a has proved again and again that he's been vulnerable to injuries on a frequent basis. He was never meant to be a full time starter anyway. Griffin's getting to be the same way.

That brings up another point. Remember the flack we got when signing Griffin? The word on him was that he was a one-season wonder. He did great for his rookie year in NY, then gradually started to fizzle. There's a very similar pattern here. And this time, he's eight years older.

The Stubblefield/Wilkinson comparisons are irrelevant. Those guys just didn't work. Now, that's not to say if we were to draft Alan Branch or any other D-tackle that instantly shores up all defeciences in rush defense -- sure, he very well turn out to be a bust. That goes for every player out there.

We may disagree as to the percentage of blame the defensive tackles get for failing to stop the run in '06. Personally, I'd put it at around 60-70% -- the rest being the linebackers and ends. But the DTs are the guys in the trenches who are primarily responsible for clogging things up. They failed miserably. If we leave things as they are at that position, without even adding one player for insurance in case they get injured, expect more of the same in '07.

Bottom line, we already saw what these four guys were able to give us last year. What would give you the impression that there's some sort of magical turn-around in store?