Potential Jets: Kelly Gregg

by John B on Jan 21, 2012 2:08 PM EST

Kelly Gregg spent the first year of his career with the Eagles in 1999. He spent 2011 with the Chiefs. He was in Baltimore from 2001 until 2010, spending a lot of time with Rex Ryan, where he was very effective at nose tackle. His success there allowed Baltimore to play Haloti Ngata at defensive end in 3-4 looks to create mismatches.

Given Gregg's experience with Rex, the 35 year old could make sense for the Jets. I think there is only one scenario where that would be, though, if Sione Pouha demands too much money in free agency. The Jets are probably not going to be willing to commit to Pouha long term. They just took Kenrick Ellis last year with the idea he is going to become the team's new nose tackle. Kenrick showed flashes of dominance during his rookie year and other flashes where he looked like a raw rookie. An offseason for the coaches to work with him will probably go a long way to making his technique more consistent. The Jets might not want to just hand him the job, though.

Gregg is certainly at an advanced age. He will be 36 halfway through next season. With him on the nose in 2011, the Chiefs were in the middle of the pack, allowing 4.2 yards per carry, 14th in the league. According to Football Outsiders, the Chiefs were only 29th in the league, allowing 4.39 yards per rush up the middle. These numbers do not speak to a guy dominating.

Gregg would be fine as a cheap part time option. If the Jets could ease Ellis into the nose tackle role by splitting snaps with Gregg, it might be a decent way to go. Limiting Gregg's snaps might keep him fresh and allow him to give more. I think this would be all right, but I prefer other alternatives if the Jets let Pouha walk.

What do you think?

Poll

Should the Jets be interested in Kelly Gregg?

Yes, but only if Sione Pouha goes elsewhere

230 votes

Yes, no matter what

51 votes

No

228 votes

509 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Pouha

better be kept around. This guy has not only become a great run stuffer but he is also a great guy with the leadership skills this team needs more of. I admit I dont know much about this Gregg guy but I think we have to bring Pouha back at all costs.

by bklynbrewcrew on Jan 21, 2012 2:15 PM EST reply actions

I love Sione Puoha.

Not to mention Gregg is old. You might say Pouha is old too, but he didn’t play any reasonable playing time until his 5th year.

by JetKing55 on Jan 21, 2012 2:22 PM EST reply actions

Yessir

show the man SOME money.

by umohan21 on Jan 21, 2012 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Ropati Pitoitua

The Jets could have used more of him. I like his size.

by itsjat on Jan 21, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions

I guess

But if Pouha were to walk I would prefer for us to get another defensive end and have Devito bulk up a bit to play nose.

Oh yes that's right, I'm a Jets fan.

by Bob_The_Friendly_Baker on Jan 21, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions

Pouha is old as well but he has less wear and tear.

A lot of people call me crazy, but I think it does help that he started later in his career, if Pouha leaves try to get Gregg to help Ellis transition better

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by Noble_Lance on Jan 21, 2012 2:26 PM EST reply actions

Him getting started later probably did help a bit

Nose tackle is similar to running back in how it wears your body down after a while.

Oh yes that's right, I'm a Jets fan.

by Bob_The_Friendly_Baker on Jan 21, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Nose tackles usually age much better than running backs. The position is about brute strength as much as anything. You see many nose tackles play well into their mid thirties. It’s tough to think of many running backs who do that.

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by John B on Jan 21, 2012 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

Having Interest

Doesn’t mean the team will or should sign him should Pouha sign elsewhere. Mostly, I hope that Pouha re-signs with the Jets. He has been solid vs the run and been a great Jet. I agree with Brklynbrewcrew about his leadership being valuable as well as his play, but I don’t agree that he must be re-signed at all costs. I don’t think Pouha would demand a ridiculous salary, but don’t know who his agent is, so they could possibly demand more than the Jets could or should pay.

I can see one scenario where it would be better perhaps not to re-sign Pouha…If the Jets think that Ellis will be ready to start this year and Pouha is not willing to sign for less money. If that is the case, then the Jets could bring in Gregg (if his price is cheap enough) to back up Ellis and help him learn some of the finer points of NT play. He may be able to teach Ellis some things that Pouha can’t. With the money that they save on Pouha, that could enable them to address another hole or two in FA.

While I believe that trying to fix one hole on the roster by creating another is foolish, I don’t think that would be the case if Ellis is starting. Whereas Pouha is probably better than Gregg at this point in their careers, the difference may not be worth the extra millions of dollars it might take to re-sign Pouha. They also have Tevaseau and both Dixon and Devito can play some NT in a pinch. By making a move like this, they could have enough cap space to sign a FS, RT, a cheaper QB and Braylon, and that would make the team better imo, than just having Pouha and perhaps one or two FAs.

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by joeklecko on Jan 21, 2012 2:41 PM EST reply actions

Speaking of leadership

One reason why we might need Jim Leonard back. We need a new SS badly but Jim was the QB of defense.

by itsjat on Jan 21, 2012 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

that may not be in the FO's hands

his injury is apparently really really bad. We need to see if he can even play well enough for us to warrant keeping him. I do hope we can find a way to keep him and that he can play, I don’t wanna see us draft Barron.

by darshv3 on Jan 21, 2012 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

i wouldnt mind trading down to draft barron

but he’s not worth the 16th pick

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by jetstothesb on Jan 21, 2012 9:32 PM EST up reply actions

Pouha was probably our best Jet last year, it would be awful to see him go

he’s everything Wilfork is. A good franchise doesn’t let a guy like that walk away until he has absolutely finished.

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by Bro Namath on Jan 21, 2012 2:57 PM EST reply actions

I voted yes but then I remembered

Dude we have Ellis, Dixon, MTV and Ropati all with enough or more than enough size to play the nose. Plus Devito slides in there on occasion too. Gregg’s a good nose tackle, but being on the decline and being undersized anyway there’s just not really any benefit to bringing him in imo.

What I’d most like to see is the guys we’ve got, especially MTV, get more opportunities. And just in general there should be more of a rotation. Teams wore us down in many games this season.

by Exystence on Jan 21, 2012 3:02 PM EST via mobile reply actions

If Pouha walks, I’ll take the position.

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by bobdolethesnapplelady on Jan 21, 2012 3:40 PM EST reply actions

Love Pouha, but let him walk. Lets use that cash elsewhere. Devito can play NT.

And Ellis, Dixon, and Pitoitua can rotate in at DE and accross the line. Mo Wilk can play a mean nose too, I bet. I really don’t think the dropoff from Pouha will be much, if anything, with Devito in there.

by Crackback on Jan 22, 2012 8:50 AM EST reply actions