I scanned every team's roster last night to find out who their UFAs are. I focused solely on the OT, S and QB positions. I came up with quite a few names, so I will break this down into a couple of posts. One for the OTs and QBs, and one for the safeties. Since I don't pay much attention to the rest of the teams in the NFL, there are a lot of players names I am unfamiliar with. I will post last season's and career stats for each candidate, and I welcome and encourage feedback from you if you've seen those players play and have a strong feeling as to whether they will be a good fit and will help the Jets. I don't know which teams employ a man blocking scheme on the OL and which teams employ a zone blocking scheme, so will count on you posters to say which players won't be a good fit in the Jets' new man blocking scheme.

I think most of these guys should be pretty cheap. None may be "the anwer" long term, but will probably be an upgrade over Hunter in the short term. If nothing else, they should be cheap depth and TC competition.

More after the jump.

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Star-Ledger: Jets executive Thad Sheely is leaving the team.

Yahoo!: DT Sione Pouha is coming to the Samoan Sports Awards.

NYJets.com: Continuity has been a key for Jets scouts.

AFC East Blog: No franchise-tag candidates on the Jets.

The Fifth Down: The Jets and the Giants, and the story of the year.

ESPN: Little brother has a lot to learn.

The Jets Blog: Roster rundown #77.

Infinite Jets: TJ Conley, Louie Aguiar, Glenn Foley and those who have worn #4.

Jersey Jets Fan: The Patriots still blow it.

National Football Post: The NFL draft underrated team.

Here is the second half of the 1984 Giants at Jets game. Please don't give away the ending for those who haven't seen or don't remember it.

Here is S Tracy Wilson coaching some youngsters:

And Eli Manning asks his dad if he can stop playing football now:

The free agent pickings for an established starting tackle to potentially replace Wayne Hunter are slim. The Jets could potentially turn their attention to a young backup with starting ability. One such option is Cincinnati free agent to be Anthony Collins. Collins was a fourth round pick out of Kansas by the Bengals in 2008. The 26 year old has been blocked from starting by Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith this year. When he has been called upon, he has received some high marks from Bengals fans.

Collins has been an incredible pass blocker when called upon. In his four year career, he has missed a block allowing either pressure, a hit or, a sack on an elite level 4.1% of pass blocking plays. Since his rookie year where he had a few rough games, that becomes an astounding 2.2%. This year on 89 pass blocking plays, he allowed only a single pressure.

Collins is less successful as a run blocker, where scouting reports indicate he struggles to get a push. An examination of the numbers bears this out. In the past two seasons, he has played every snap in four games. This year the Bengals averaged 7.2 yards per carry against the Texans running to the right side, an excellent number against a fantastic defense. There is a catch, though. Most of the production came on one huge run over 40 yards. Against the Rams, the Bengals averaged 4.1 yards running right, but the Rams allowed 4.8 per carry this year so that is below the normal output. Last year the Bengals averaged 2.0 against San Diego and 3.3 against Baltimore running right with Collins in the lineup.

Collins is an interesting case. He would be a clear upgrade over Wayne Hunter. His pass blocking skills would make him a no brainer for a team running an offense based on a passing attack. For a team presumably moving to a power run based offense, it becomes less clear Collins is the right guy. He does have the kind of frame at 6'5" and 317 pounds to potentially develop into a punishing run blocker at tackle with the right coaching. Cases like this seem to be Tony Sparano's specialty. Since he was a backup, he probably is not going to get big money. He has shown starter potential, though.

This is not a case like Wayne Hunter of a guy being a career backup. Collins is younger and was blocked by some good players. Hunter had a lot of ups and downs when he was pressed into duty in 2010 like brutal performances against Mario Williams and Cameron Wake. Collins has been rock solid as a pass blocker for three years, including stonewalling James Harrison. When looking at the other options relative to cost, I think making an aggressive push for Collins would be the right play for the Jets even if he is only given the chance to compete for the starting job. What do you think?

Poll

Should the Jets have interest in Anthony Collins?

• Yes
• No

  246 votes | Results

Griz Cornerback Trumaine Johnson- 4 Years At Montana (via andersonkayla77)

Trumaine Johnson vs Central Arkansas 2011 (via phillyjimmyphilms)

6-2, 205, 4 year starter

In today's NFL the athletic, hybrid WR/TE is all the rage. This is particularly the case in our division with the Patriots possessing two such threats, along with an All-Time QB tossing it them. The problem that they present is that they are not only too athletic for traditional safeties and linebackers to contend with, but they also pose significant height and size issues for most corners. Some have suggested using LBs with coverage skills to combat this problem. I propose using big corners; or a corner/safety hybrid if you would. Trumaine Johnson is my prototype.

Johnson is a fantastic athlete. He played QB in HS, was heavily recruited to play WR in college, and ultimately he decided to play corner at Montana. That right there proves how versatile of an athlete this kid is. He's a 4 year starter and has tremendous experience. He also has experience as a kick returner (again showing you his athleticism). Johnson is excellent in coverage (11 break-ups, 12 deflections, 1 INT). He also has fantastic ball skills: roots out deflections, high points the ball, goes after the ball with his hands rather than trapping it against his body. His prowess as WR in HS further attests to his ball skill abilities. Johnson is also physical. In the clip above, you'll see him knocking ball carriers around and fighting through double-teams. He also seems pretty adept at blitzing off the edge; he seems to exhibit some pass rushing skills in this area as well. On the Jets, I think Johnson would be a fantastic fit.

He's got the speed and range to play free safety. He's got the instincts to read the QB and make a break on the ball. He's physical and athletic enough to re-route receivers and cover (namely against athletic TEs). You can blitz him off the edge. He's exactly the kind of guy that Rex can mold to flourish in his scheme. He can be a Charles Woodson type of guy that can be moved all around and that can make plays. Paired with corners like Revis and Cro, and with the addition of a good pass rusher, having a guy like Johnson in the secondary would make the defense very dangerous.

Obviously Nick Mangold is not going anywhere. He is the best center in the NFL and entering his prime. The Jets signed him to a deserved extension in 2010 that will keep him in green and white for a long time. Jets fans have been very lucky to have had top notch center play for a long time starting with the signing of Kevin Mawae in 1998. Mangold took over in 2006 and has continued the incredibly high level of play. Few teams have gotten such consistently high caliber play out of a position like the Jets have from center.

Mangold's 2011 was not his best year. He had a few bad snaps like the killer one against the Giants on the goal line. There were some bouts with penalties like the pair he had against San Diego, one of which wiped out a touchdown. His iron man streak ended as a high ankle sprain forced him to miss the first two starts of his career and hindered him a bit after he returned. Be clear about one thing, though. Mangold at less than his best is still arguably the best interior lineman in the game. He consistently won his battles in both run blocking and pass protection even when faced with top notch competition.

If you need evidence, look at the way the line struggled when he was out of the lineup against the Raiders and especially the Ravens. With Mangold in the lineup, normally the offensive line has an anchor up the middle. The center handling a tackle by himself has an effect that radiates. Guards can turn their attention further outside to assist the tackles. When the center cannot win a one on one, the guards have to help, which means less blockers available outside.

Colin Baxter's play in those games was a monument to Mike Tannenbaum's poor job building depth along the offensive line, but I think the Jets probably would have only fared marginally better with somebody like Robert Turner. Mangold is so good that a dropoff to even an average player is monumental and almost impossible to overcome.

Lucikly he will be back in 2012.

Poll

Should Nick Mangold stay or go?

• Stay (I'm a Jets fan)
• Go (I'm a Dolphins or Patriots fan)

  585 votes | Results