Gang Green Nation - All PostsAnd the home of the Jets!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50543/ggn-fav.png2024-03-18T16:00:00-04:00http://www.ganggreennation.com/rss/current/2024-03-18T16:00:00-04:002024-03-18T16:00:00-04:00Podcast: What signing Tyron Smith means for the Jets
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<img alt="NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Buffalo Bills" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZKzvxYfwlAe9DzxLMDtsIqYdE4M=/0x14:2902x1949/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216215/usa_today_22159935.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="2oPaUS">The Jets made their biggest move of the young offseason by signing tackle Tyron Smith from the Dallas Cowboys. Smith’s contract reportedly has around $7 million in guarantees with potentially $13 million or so in incentives. </p>
<p id="DbNgla">The move fills one of the most glaring holes the Jets had entering free agency. On today’s podcast I discuss the signing.</p>
<p id="PMXHSO">Entering the offseason, the Jets had a number of significant needs. There was no perfect solution to any of their problems. There were potential solutions that came with either flaws or question marks.</p>
<p id="B4r3KC">Smith is no exception. His ability to stay on the field is a major question mark. However, he offers the Jets more upside for both left tackle and the offensive line as a whole than any other viable possibility. </p>
<p id="MudicD">Thanks for listening to and/or watching. If you enjoy the show, subscribe to Locked On Jets to receive new episodes.</p>
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https://www.ganggreennation.com/2024/3/18/24105053/podcast-what-signing-tyron-smith-means-for-the-jetsJohn B2024-03-18T16:00:00-04:002024-03-18T16:00:00-04:00Contextualizing the Javon Kinlaw contract: Was it fair value?
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<img alt="NFL: Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hkPmJsNwLzRlVljYS4MeI7NsRYk=/0x0:4989x3326/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216217/usa_today_22173913.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Taking a look at Javon Kinlaw’s contract</p> <p id="HFd2kL">Late Monday night, the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw agreed to a one-year, $7.25 million dollar contract. Of this $7.25 million, about $7 million was guaranteed.</p>
<p id="HIUf4I">The deal was met with mixed reviews by Jets fans to put it kindly. Given Kinlaw’s lack of success for the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a>, many expected the deal to be far cheaper than it actually was, myself included. However, in an attempt to ascertain the degree to which the deal was actually good, bad, or ugly for the Jets, I will dive into Kinlaw’s ProFootballFocus (PFF) grades, as well as the contract values of other players who play his position.</p>
<p id="yoAoeb"><strong>2023 PFF grades (rank in parentheses)</strong></p>
<p id="wReYlq"><em>Note:</em> Kinlaw actually did not have enough snaps to qualify for an official ranking. Instead, I will use reports where he would have fallen had he had enough snaps to qualify.</p>
<ul>
<li id="UligSR">Overall score: 49.6 (156th)</li>
<li id="BwkE0C">Run defense score: 31.3 (200th)</li>
<li id="RgOTFY">Pass rushing score: 71.9 (40th)</li>
</ul>
<p id="1dRcDv">Needless to say, Kinlaw is basically a one-trick pony at this point. He can rush the passer, and he does that pretty well. However, he cannot do much in the run game. </p>
<p id="N5agHv"><strong>Contract values within position (defensive tackle)</strong></p>
<p id="5X2KG6">Kinlaw received a one-year deal for $7.25 million, with an average annual value of $7.25 million. <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/average/defensive-tackle/">This would pay him as the 29th highest paid defensive tackle this season on an AAV basis. </a>To identify similarly paid players, I will outline any defensive tackles who are scheduled to make between $6.5 and $8 million in AAV this season. Additionally, given that the Jets are seemingly planning to use him as a rotational pass rusher given his very clear strengths and weaknesses, I will be reporting each player’s pass rushing PFF grade and rank among defensive tackles.</p>
<ul>
<li id="yKK3W6">Harrison Phillips: 53.6 (ranked 172)</li>
<li id="4x2Zno">Shy Tuttle: 57.8 (ranked 127)</li>
<li id="hS6W5x">Raekwon Davis: 60.3 (ranked 107)</li>
<li id="ASBzbQ">Roy Robertson-Harris: 58.8 (ranked 117)</li>
<li id="YPPyQY">Daquan Jones: 80.9 (ranked 12)</li>
</ul>
<p id="Vo0Efm"><strong>My Takeaways</strong></p>
<p id="WybOXl">First thing first, WOW is that Daquan Jones contract a steal for the <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a>. Talk about return on investment. Yeesh.</p>
<p id="TbKJdJ">Second thing, if Kinlaw is only intended to be a pass rusher then the Jets are getting a really great pass rusher relative to his pay. Specifically, he would not only be one of two top 40 pass rushers within this range, but also one of the two within the top 100 at all. It really is DaQuan Jones, Kinlaw, and then everyone else... and that gap from Kinlaw to the others is arguably larger than that of Jones to Kinlaw (at least as a pass rusher).</p>
<p id="85dj2c">Overall, this provides some useful context. Sure, the Jets overpaid for Kinlaw as an overall DT. However, they also underpaid for the one role they will hopefully require him to do. Putting that together, this seems like a player who could easily outperform his role even within a rotational role, which we know the Jets love to use along their defensive line. Within that context and in a passing league, I’d actually call this a pretty good deal. What do you think?</p>
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https://www.ganggreennation.com/2024/3/18/24101400/contextualizing-the-javon-kinlaw-contract-was-it-fair-value-for-new-york-jets-pff-nfl-free-agentIMissFatRex2024-03-18T14:00:00-04:002024-03-18T14:00:00-04:00Scouting Jets offensive tackle Tyron Smith
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<figcaption>Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Taking a look at the Jets’ new star left tackle</p> <p id="Hy3CPq">Now that free agency is well and truly underway, we’re going to be breaking down the players acquired by the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> so far, continuing today with offensive tackle Tyron Smith.</p>
<p id="hdl6OD">The 33-year old Smith is listed at 6’5” and 320 pounds and was the 9th overall pick in the 2011 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL draft</a> out of USC. He has started 161 games in his career, is an eight-time pro bowler and has been a first-team all-pro twice.</p>
<p id="2iPheh"><strong>Background</strong></p>
<p id="GUh8aQ">Smith was a five-star high school recruit who played three seasons at USC before declaring for the 2011 draft. He was a backup in his first year and then a two-year starter, making 24 starts. He earned all-Pac 10 first-team honors in 2010, having been an honorable mention in the previous season. He was also awarded the 2010 Morris Trophy for the best lineman on the west coast.</p>
<p id="yOzmYA">After a solid pro day, Smith’s stock was rising heading into the draft and he was a projected top-10 pick who ultimately went 9th overall to the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a>.</p>
<p id="WKOfkp">In his rookie season, Smith started every game and was on the all-rookie team, then went to his first Pro Bowl in his third season and was named as a first team All Pro for the first time the following year. He was a Pro Bowler in each year until 2019, but then missed a total of 27 games in 2020 and 2022. He was a Pro Bowler in between in 2021, though, and he earned second-team All Pro honors last season, so he is clearly still elite when healthy.</p>
<p id="XixbIQ">The Jets reportedly signed Smith to a one-year deal with a base value of $6.5 million which can be worth up to $20 million. There are playing time incentives included in the deal which begin at 38 percent of all offensive snaps and go up to 90 percent.</p>
<p id="yz3qtc">Now let’s take a look at what Smith brings to the table, divided into categories.</p>
<p id="1XFcaP"><strong>Measurables/Athleticism</strong></p>
<p id="yPCT4w">Smith has excellent size and length, with an 85-inch wingspan and massive 11-inch hands. When he first entered the league, many analysts felt he might need to add some weight, but he is listed at 320 now after having weighed in at 307 at the scouting combine.</p>
<p id="HS7gyu">He entered the league with excellent athletic numbers, although it’s worth questioning if Smith might have lost a step at 33 years old, especially with some of the injuries he’s dealt with.</p>
<p id="8JJYKe">Smith ran a 5.08 in the 40-yard dash and posted 29 bench press reps at the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-combine">NFL combine</a>, then improved these numbers at his pro day by running 4.93 and managing 31 reps. He also posted above average explosiveness and good agility numbers.</p>
<p id="73SYse"><strong>Usage</strong></p>
<p id="Bnpkh0">Smith has played left tackle for most of his career, having only been a full-time starter on the right side in his rookie year. He also played on the right side in 2022 after returning from injury late in the season, but he seemed to struggle. Whether that was because of the position change or because he wasn’t completely healthy, he played much better in 2023 when he moved back to the left.</p>
<p id="yRNPQT">Smith has occasionally lined up as a tight end in unbalanced line formations and even caught a pass in college, albeit for a loss.</p>
<p id="np3CwE"><strong>Pass Blocking</strong></p>
<p id="R39zRg">Smith has developed into one of the most reliable pass protectors in the league. He’s only allowed more than two sacks in the regular season twice since 2012, and his pressure rates have always been consistently low.</p>
<p id="aRUTt6">He has the perfect combination of length, athletic ability and technique to stay in front of his man, recover when he loses an edge and repel moves and counters.</p>
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<p id="rOGNFE">He can give up pressure at times when his man gets a good jump on the snap or rocks him with a good speed-to-power move to get outside leverage.</p>
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<p id="KhCTUz"><strong>Run Blocking</strong></p>
<p id="XdHKVC">Smith has also been a dominant run blocker, strong at the point of attack and capable of leveraging his man out of running lanes. He has the power to drive his man back and it’s rare that you will see him stood up at the line.</p>
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<p id="6DjMbS">Smith can also be effective blocking on the move, with the athleticism to get out in front and angle his man off in space.</p>
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<p id="TxHHI5">It’s difficult to fight off Smith’s block or hold your ground once he gets his hands on you, but you can shoot a gap on him if you display quickness.</p>
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<p id="A0aO2L"><strong>Short Yardage</strong></p>
<p id="leHE7L">As you’d expect, teams can have good success running behind Smith in short yardage situations. Ezekiel Elliott alone had 29 one-yard touchdown runs and 10 two-yarders in seven seasons running behind a line that featured Smith.</p>
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<p id="aLkDd3"><strong>Screen Blocking</strong></p>
<p id="ZpIUmF">Smith can contribute well in the screen game, including when walling his man off on screens that go to the other side. However, he shows the ability to leak out in front and make an impact.</p>
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<p id="VfQeRy">He did get called for an illegal block in the back penalty on an illegal screen in one game when he had to hustle to the outside to spring the receiver.</p>
<p id="qJrhzr"><strong>Footwork/Technique</strong></p>
<p id="2cEilR">Smith is a good technician, renowned for the power and accuracy he brings with his hand strikes. Even when losing the initial battle, he doesn’t panic and can fight his way back into the play and recover.</p>
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<p id="j2GN6g">It’s difficult to find any potential holes in Smith’s recent film, but a few occasional patterns emerge. There will be times where Smith seems to have his man controlled but the pass rusher doesn’t give up and manages to get to the quarterback anyway.</p>
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<p id="3GaeeN">There were also times in recent years where recovering against a speed rush would give him issues, making him susceptible to counters.</p>
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<p id="jcO9BU">However, these tended to be at times when he was dealing with injuries, which perhaps meant his core strength and balance were compromised.</p>
<p id="QILvsC"><strong>Penalties</strong></p>
<p id="snTQSq">Smith had one of his best seasons from an on-field discipline standpoint in 2023 as he only had two penalties (a false start and a holding penalty) in 13 starts. He had 90 penalties in the first 148 starts of his career, including two seasons where he was in double digits.</p>
<p id="CBgPGS">The majority of Smith’s penalties have been for holding (49) or pre-snap penalties (33 false starts and four for illegal formation), but he has also had a few personal fouls.</p>
<p id="eNMSDu"><strong>Special Teams</strong></p>
<p id="UN1TTP">Smith’s only contributions on special teams have been as a blocker on the placekicking unit. He allowed pressure to cause this miss in a 2014 game.</p>
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<p id="kf9E75"><strong>Instincts/Intelligence</strong></p>
<p id="qf5FRg">Pre-draft scouting reports were critical of Smith’s awareness and football IQ, suggesting he was poor at finding a target in space and slow to react to blitzes and stunts.</p>
<p id="GGocyZ">This seems to be the area where he has shown the most improvement. Here’s one example of where he is alert to the late rush and hustles across to prevent the sack.</p>
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<p id="MBInMj">As noted, he can be prone to occasional lapses in the form of pre-snap penalties, of which he averages about three per season.</p>
<p id="i4agK3"><strong>Attitude</strong></p>
<p id="I22j41">Smith has always had a nasty streak and he demonstrates this with some of the blocks he regularly puts on film.</p>
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<p id="sSCpp5">He has developed into a leader with an outstanding work ethic and toughness. He has no character flags, although he was fined for a horse collar tackle in his second year as a pro.</p>
<p id="UrsKwa"><strong>Injuries</strong></p>
<p id="uL3UDH">Smith was durable at the start of his career, as he only missed one game in his first five seasons. However, he has never started more than 13 games in a year since that time, with a long list of injuries to his neck, ankle, back, groin, hip and hamstring.</p>
<p id="Qp4XyY">The neck injury had bothered him for some time when the Cowboys shut him down for most of the 2020 season as he was limited to just two appearances.</p>
<p id="AaCTl7">In preseason in 2022, Smith suffered a hamstring injury which was coupled with an avulsion fracture, two words which should send a shiver down the spine of any die-hard Jets fan. He began the year on injured reserve and had surgery to fix it, which enabled him to return to the line-up in December and play the last four games.</p>
<p id="Ai2G01">The good news is that he played 942 snaps last year in the regular season and playoffs, which is the most he’s played since 2018. Smith credits this to a change in his practice routine, which saw him mostly working over at the side.</p>
<p id="syd7pZ">In college, Smith missed one game due to a sprained ankle and had an offseason thumb surgery which didn’t cause him to miss any games.</p>
<p id="om3WSC"><strong>Scheme Fit</strong></p>
<p id="ONRWia">Smith is obviously the prototypical blindside pass protector that the Jets need, with an ability to produce in a running game that has elements of both zone blocking and gap/power schemes.</p>
<p id="gntiUP">While with the Cowboys, he had been a teammate of current Jets Greg Zuerlein and Chris Glaser.</p>
<p id="rsTxTm"><strong>Conclusions</strong></p>
<p id="o1NLFr">The Jets were determined to bolster their offensive line, with the person responsible for protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blindside obviously holding a crucial role. For a while, it looked like the veteran presence they desired might not become available and they might need to rely on a rookie, but they did well to lock up Smith when they had the chance.</p>
<p id="CQ08kp">The fact he’s had durability issues over the years is a concern, although the Jets at least have contractual protection against any long-term absence. The Jets will hope the fact that he got through most of last season mostly unscathed is a good sign that he can still play at a high level at 33.</p>
<p id="VnhLBi">Adding Smith allows the team some flexibility to develop a youngster or two for a future role. However, if he does a good job next year, then the Jets might look to bring him back for at least one more season.</p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2024/3/18/24104166/scouting-new-york-jets-offensive-tackle-tyron-smith-dallas-cowboys-nfl-free-agentBent2024-03-18T11:59:00-04:002024-03-18T11:59:00-04:00Building A GGN Big Board 2024: Prospect No. 29
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<img alt="Illinois v Minnesota" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ddgh40P58qld5R6b0AqIXx7JkG4=/0x0:5288x3525/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215345/1953492457.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Berding/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Let’s crowd source a 2024 NFL draft big board</p> <p id="0G52NJ">We have the 29th prospect on the 2024 GGN Big Board. And the winner is: Jer’Zhan Newton, Defensive Tackle, Illinois! With Newton taking the 29th spot, our crowd sourced Big Board now looks like this:</p>
<ol>
<li id="1k1C3P">Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver, <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a>
</li>
<li id="lGiUF0">Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC</li>
<li id="8o9j4E">Joe Alt, Offensive Tackle, <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a>
</li>
<li id="4xuxTc">Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina</li>
<li id="frVIQ6">Malik Nabers, Wide Receiver, <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com">LSU</a>
</li>
<li id="B5uTwp">Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Offensive Tackle, Penn State</li>
<li id="dbNEsI">Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU</li>
<li id="ylokCQ">Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Washington</li>
<li id="CxF6jA">Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia</li>
<li id="wnijek">Taliese Fuaga, Offensive Tackle, <a href="https://www.buildingthedam.com">Oregon State</a>
</li>
<li id="aGJ0AP">Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama</li>
<li id="5px6zK">JC Latham, Offensive Tackle, Alabama (Tie)</li>
<li id="c9qtoi">JJ McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan (Tie)</li>
<li id="9J4q1O">Jared Verse, Edge, <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a>
</li>
<li id="e2avSp">Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA</li>
<li id="g14zUH">Terrion Arnold, Cornerback, Alabama</li>
<li id="30g5J1">Brian Thomas, Wide Receiver, LSU</li>
<li id="H5reXh">Amarius Mims, Offensive Tackle, Georgia (Tie 18)</li>
<li id="2spELL">Troy Fautanu, Offensive Tackle, Washington (Tie 18)</li>
<li id="1qRRfO">Michael Penix Jr., Quarterback, Washington</li>
<li id="vzUhqI">Jackson Powers-Johnson, Center, Oregon</li>
<li id="dmdUpD">Bo Nix, Quarterback, Oregon</li>
<li id="WyiOTt">Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State</li>
<li id="HB3YEd">Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback, Alabama</li>
<li id="BcAvcH">Byron Murphy II, Defensive Tackle, Texas (Tie 25)</li>
<li id="F4nree">Quinyon Mitchell, Cornerback, Toledo (Tie 25)</li>
<li id="971zZb">Tyler Guyton, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma (Tie 27)</li>
<li id="2DHCSZ">Cooper DeJean, Cornerback, Iowa (Tie 27)</li>
<li id="ib8oj1">Jer’Zhan Newton, Defensive Tackle, Illinois</li>
<li id="vghpLu">?</li>
</ol>
<p id="wpHu03">From now until late April I’ll be putting up a daily poll asking GGN to vote on the best available players from a rolling list of 15 candidates. The idea here is to build a generic Big Board reflecting the community’s view of this year’s draft class regardless of the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/new-york-jets">Jets</a>’ (or any other team’s) particular needs. So for instance, you may think the Jets don’t need a QB this year, but that should not necessarily prevent you from placing a QB high on the Big Board if said QB warrants it. Each day we will close the previous day’s poll and the candidate with the most votes will be added to the GGN Big Board. In the event of a tie vote both players will go up on the Board. By the time the draft rolls around we should have enough players on our Big Board to cover two rounds of the draft.</p>
<p id="aiuEqE">If a name you think should be on the poll is not there you can write in candidates in the comments. If a player gets support in the comments I’ll consider adding him to the poll. If a player repeatedly gets zero votes he may be dropped from the poll for a few days.</p>
<p id="K8XH5Z">We all have different views. What we’re looking for here is a composite of the best players in the community’s collective mind. Your views may or may not coincide with the community’s, and either way that’s OK. Life here on GGN would be pretty boring if we all agreed on everything.</p>
<p id="jFyr0E">So let’s get to it. Today we continue with the number 30 prospect on the crowd sourced GGN Big Board 2024. Who will it be? Vote early, vote often, and let’s hear who you think are the best players in this draft.</p>
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https://www.ganggreennation.com/2024/3/18/24104849/building-a-ggn-big-board-2024-prospect-no-29-new-york-jets-nfl-draft-jerzhan-newton-illinoisMacGregor Wells2024-03-18T07:00:00-04:002024-03-18T07:00:00-04:00New York Jets Flight Connections 3/18/24
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<p>Bringing your daily links to the NFL’s New York Jets</p> <p id="uVaRJf">Good morning Gang Green Nation. I hope you’re all having a great start to the day. Shout out to Mr. Wells for holding down the fort over the weekend. The <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> have released Corey Davis, who’s looking to make a return to the NFL. While some Jets fans are hoping that Davis will return to the team, I don’t think it’s likely - nor would I want him back on the team. Davis has been out of the league for a year now, and that usually doesn’t bode well for players looking to make a return in the NFL. On top of that, he opted not to play for the Jets last year, so there’s little reason why he will - or why any fan would want him to - return to the team this season. Yes, the Jets need help at wide receiver, but there is plenty of better options to be had. With that, here are your links to the team to start your morning.</p>
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<p id="e7tASq"><a href="https://jetsxfactor.com/2024/03/15/ny-jets-sign-tyron-smith/">Brandyn Pokrass</a> - NY Jets to sign All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith</p>
<p id="eZCI5x"><a href="https://jetsway.substack.com/p/jets-sign-all-pro-tackle-tyron-smith">David Wyatt-Hupton</a> - Jets Sign All-Pro Tackle Tyron Smith</p>
<p id="L5omqU"><a href="https://jetsxfactor.com/2024/03/16/ny-jets-fans-tyron-smith-seen/">Michael Nania</a> - NY Jets fans haven't seen someone quite like Tyron Smith</p>
<p id="OqFun8"><a href="https://www.profootballnetwork.com/new-york-jets-wide-receiver-free-agency-options-2024/">Nick Pedone</a> - While Strengthening OL, Jets Still Haven’t Figured Out WR</p>
<p id="JIDxc7"><a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10113355-jets-rumors-wr-corey-davis-would-be-welcomed-back-to-compete-for-a-roster-spot">Doric Sam</a> - Jets Rumors: WR Corey Davis Would Be Welcomed Back 'to Compete for a Roster Spot'</p>
<p id="sSXe8d"><a href="https://thejetpress.com/posts/ny-jets-wanted-re-sign-quinton-jefferson-messed-up">Justin Fried</a> - NY Jets wanted to re-sign Quinton Jefferson but messed it up</p>
<p id="TtlrVg"><a href="https://jetsxfactor.com/2024/03/17/ny-jets-seal-perfect-free-agency-monday/">Michael Nania</a> - NY Jets can seal near-perfect free agency period on Monday</p>
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<p id="3tXSO8">Here are your <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/2024/3/17/24103700/new-york-jets-nfl-tyron-smith-aaron-rodgers-keenan-allen-joe-douglas-mike-williams">missed connections</a> from yesterday.</p>
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<p id="fuPIoF">I hope you all have a safe and wonderful rest of the day.</p>
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https://www.ganggreennation.com/2024/3/18/24104234/new-york-jets-nfl-corey-davis-quinton-jefferson-joe-douglas-tyron-smithThomas Christopher2024-03-17T15:00:00-04:002024-03-17T15:00:00-04:00A Look At 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Malik Washington
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<figcaption>Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Good things come in small packages</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="JMAVih"> Malik Washington is a diminutive receiver (5’ 8 1/2”, 191 lbs) with great quickness, balance and acceleration, and an unmatched desire to succeed. He had the most receptions in the FBS in 2023 despite playing in only 12 games at the University of Virginia with a less than stellar quarterback, but he still averaged 13.0 yards per catch. He was a team captain at Virginia even though he played only a single season there after playing four years at Northwestern. He is a smart kid who committed only four total penalties in five years in 52 career games. </p>
<p id="ToXM9Z">Washington ran a wide variety of routes despite playing 88% of his snaps from the slot. He has no fear, as he ran crossing routes, digs, skinny posts, sluggo routes and wheel routes. He combines quickness and suddenness along with elite hands. Washington caught 97.4% of his catchable balls (110 of 113) with some circus catches included. In spite of his size he caught 64.7% of passes in contested situations (11-17), which comes from his competitive spirit. Washington is also very elusive. He led the FBS in forced missed tackles (35), again despite playing in two or three less games than other receivers. </p>
<p id="BKJ8XA">Malik Washington has a low center of gravity which makes him tough to tackle. He will often “pinball” off tacklers who don’t wrap up, which allows for sometimes lengthy gains. He also is very agile, with great body control to contort his body so he puts himself in the best possible position to make a catch. He shows great concentration to allow him to catch even balls that are deflected. His quick feet are in constant motion, even on stop routes, so he can make a tackle-avoiding move despite his opponent being ready to pounce. He then accelerates away for extra YAC.</p>
<p id="bGu1Hh">As the great sports broadcaster Warner Wolf would say:</p>
<p id="viF8TX">“Let’s go to the video tape.”</p>
<p id="9zIK4X">This is a simple route as Washington does a 20 yard “dig” route to the heart of the Duke defense. Washington is a hands catcher, but in this instance he jumps so he can catch the ball just below his chest in anticipation of getting smacked by a safety or linebacker. Once he makes his cut inside he keeps his eyes on the quarterback, so he doesn’t know who is around him. He takes the safe route to nestle the ball to his midsection with hands.</p>
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<p id="0181C9">You can see he doesn’t just fall down on the catch once contacted. No, he catches, then immediately heads up field, but he is contacted by the free safety after a step or two. The safety aggressively wraps him up, but Washington fights for more yards. He takes another hit from a helping cornerback, then breaks away from both, only to be corralled by two other players. Tackling Washington is like tackling a bowling ball. He is small and hard as nails, with little to grab onto. For his efforts he turned a nice 20 yard pass play into a 26 yard pass play. This is who Washington is: never say die, don’t stop fighting until the echo of the whistle. </p>
<p id="fYAE8h">This is basically the same play run from the opposite side of the line. You get your 20 yard “dig” route run from the slot.</p>
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<p id="geV9si">This time it works even better as Washington clears the dropping inside linebacker, then catches the pass as he clears the zone drop. He never breaks stride, lays a nice stiff arm on the safety then accelerates to the end zone. Washington is quick, with excellent acceleration. He lacks long speed, but in short areas (20-30 yards) he is as fast as anyone. </p>
<p id="eYVCUe">This next play is in the same game on the following drive. It’s kind of like “what play can I call that no one would expect?” Let’s run a fade route to the back corner of the end zone from a player at the inner slot, next to where the TE should be, and we’ll use our shortest receiver to make the play. That sounds good.</p>
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<p id="z5FRsU">Washington is an athletic player with a tremendous desire to succeed. It’s like he is trying to always prove that he belongs in a sport where behemoths usually rule. Washington shows his agility on this play and also great body control. When you learn that Washington tied for the highest vertical jump amongst all the players at the combine, 42 1/2”, then you know why Virginia used him for this play. </p>
<p id="bAc2u5">One of the things I look for in a receiver is how well he catches the ball. It’s kind of what a receiver is supposed to do. What good is he (Allen Lazard) if he can’t catch the ball? It’s like having an auto mechanic who can’t fix your car. He can sing and dance and play the ukulele, but he can’t fix your car, so he is worthless to you. Fortunately Washington can catch the ball. He does that very, very well. As I stated earlier, he caught 110 of 113 catchable balls in 2023, some in impressive fashion, like here:</p>
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<p id="vBeVEs">This is artistry to me. Washington starts with a jab step to the inside, which freezes the slot defender. He then breaks outside. This man is running full speed downfield with a defender in his hip pocket. He leaps, makes a fingertip catch, then has the innate ability to turn his body so as to land on his back shoulder pads so he doesn’t lose the ball. This is kind of like ballet, the athletic precision is a thing of beauty. It results is a first down. Now that’s hands. </p>
<p id="UPqymq">This here is another beautiful play being run by a guy who knows how to manipulate a defender. This play is run from motion from the slot at full speed. No jogging here.</p>
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<p id="hCEpI2">Again this is run with precision. Washington is in motion, but he wants to leave at the snap with his defender directly in front of him. At the snap he uses that great acceleration to eat up the 6 yard cushion quickly as he runs right at his defender. When he gets a yard from his opponent Washington cuts at full speed like he is running an out. His defender follows, but watch as Washington looks back for the pass like it’s coming his way. The defender can’t see behind him so he goes to make a play on the nonexistent ball. </p>
<p id="2JD3hG">Once the defender commits he is burnt as Washington continues with his out and up and is wide open for a big play. This ends up being a 49 yard pass play with the original defender racing down only to be whacked in the face by his own man. </p>
<p id="xrBcUO">This next play is just a nice set up with some great execution as Virginia is backed up on its own 15 yard line. This is a running formation, with all 11 offensive players in tight with equal blockers to each side. </p>
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<p id="BnFNcB">At the snap Washington crosses the formation while the quarterback goes though the fake counter play to the right. The quarterback then lobs a two yard pass to Washington to the left, and Washington is off to the races. He works around a few defenders, then is finally tackled for a 29 yard gain. Washington is a very elusive player with the ball in his hands. He forced 35 missed tackles in 2023, which was the most of any receiver in the FBS. </p>
<p id="MKPQmU">Washington is a slot only player in the NFL, as he is not big enough to work outside with regularity. He is a small target for a quarterback, and NFL cornerbacks are pretty good. That doesn’t mean Washington has to play like a slot receiver. Don’t get me wrong, he can run drag, choice or whip routes just fine, but he is not confined to that. </p>
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<p id="8sBIN6">You need a first down, then send your tight end up and to the outside on a five yard stop pattern that the safety will be all over. Washington runs a nice little 14 yard “dig” route right over the middle. Washington will press his man up field, then cross his face wide open in a place where it’s the easiest throw for the quarterback to make: right in front of his face. </p>
<p id="xqmwCC">How about another out and up from the opposite side of the offense, except this time the play is being run to the short side of the field. When Washington goes in motion he has to be behind the tight end at the snap because he doesn’t want to run out of room. </p>
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<p id="vGmnL6">As Washington closes in on the sideline he looks back at the quarterback like he is expecting the throw. Now all he has to do is show his speed, great contact balance, and elusiveness to score, which he does. It starts with the nice head fake, then the hands catch above his head and away from his body, then the finish. Voila!</p>
<p id="4jLSUG">This next clip involves another out and up from the inner slot against a defender who is no match for the quickness of Washington. Washington is short, with quick feet, so he can make cuts at almost full speed, which larger players can’t do. </p>
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<p id="wFSpzz">This is basically pitch and catch down the sideline. As long as the ball is accurate and on time it will get there long before the safety does. The throw is a little too far to the sideline, which takes Washington toward the out of bounds. He wasn’t going to get much more anyway, as the safety had the angle on him. Still, this is a nearly 50 yard gain which flips the field position for Virginia. </p>
<p id="7SEXJW">This next play is a screen pass as Washington works out of the backfield, but the play’s timing is off so the blocking kind of disintegrates, leaving Washington by his lonesome. </p>
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<p id="yt0mEb">This play reminds me of the “keystone cops” for those of you who know what that is. For those who don’t there is Google. Once Washington escapes the backfield he has to elude one tackler (which he does) then he’s off to the races. Washington is fast, but he’s not 4.35 fast, he lacks long speed. Here he outraces almost the entire defense until he is run down by a defender with the angle on him. Still, this is a 60 yard play on a pass caught behind the line of scrimmage. Washington is like the Energizer bunny except he doesn’t have a drum and wears a helmet. </p>
<p id="I51IJH">Since this is a Jets site how about a Jet sweep? Washington can work out of the backfield, or anywhere for that matter. He is a very flexible receiver who can be used all over the formation. (This is actually a pass that we will call a Jet sweep)</p>
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<p id="cAfuTz">There isn’t a lot of great blocking here, but Washington gets what is there plus a little more. He is able to avoid a couple of defenders as he cuts back, which gains him an additional 7 yards. You can see how Washington is able to attack a defense vertically and horizontally, so they have to cover the entire field, which just makes him more dangerous. </p>
<p id="77kt1k">One of the special things about Washington is that you rarely see him catch a ball, then immediately be taken down. He’s always moving forward or sideways to get to the point of moving forward. He is always falling forward for that extra yard or two. Here’s a “spin” on another way of falling forward. </p>
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<p id="VsE5sx">This is the same type of action as in other routes, as you have the dig route with the short receiver pulling up coverage from the middle of the field. What you see here is a nice hands catch in front of his facemask. Then you see him peek at the players around him. He avoids one tackle, spins away from another, then is finally taken down. All around it’s a nice job and a first down. </p>
<p id="onvrFC">For our last clip I wanted to show you something that all these clips have in common. It’s showing why there is tackle breaking, elusiveness, great hands catching, pushing for that extra yard and all the rest. </p>
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<p id="fDHvzf">If you had a one word title for this clip it would be desire. It’s part of every clip, every play, the desire to succeed not just for himself but also for his teammates. You see it in everything Washington does. </p>
<p id="yH6APe">That’s the kind of player you want on your team. Maybe it’s because he was told he’s too small, or he has to because if he doesn’t he will never see the field, or maybe it’s just part of his nature. Whatever it is I want him on my side. Washington is a football player any way you look at it.</p>
<p id="xEt1if">All the clips you see here are from 2023. Washington played for 4 years at Northwestern because he is a smart kid and wanted an education. Yet Northwestern is a poor offense so he transferred to Virginia (another great school) to play in an average offensive system. Virginia is not a juggernaut, but he excelled there. His teammates voted him as a team captain in his only year playing at that school. That’s respect. </p>
<p id="ycvkEF">Malik Washington had more receptions than anyone in the FBS (110) and his 1,426 receiving yards were fourth in the nation despite playing in only 12 games. Those ahead of him played in 14 or 15 games. One of the shortest players, he nonetheless caught 67.4% of his contested passes. Marvin Harrison, all 6’ 3 1/4” of him, caught 43% of his contested catches. </p>
<p id="HnGaD0">Washington is not considered a must have draft pick. Most teams probably have him as a late 3rd round pick because of his size. If he was 6” taller you’d be talking possible top 10 overall pick in the draft. We shall see what happens.</p>
<p id="aVsdm1">If the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> make some trades I could see them using a mid-third round pick on him. I do know he was one of the players the Jets talked to extensively at the combine. </p>
<p id="5VWrGQ">What do you think? </p>
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https://www.ganggreennation.com/2024/3/17/24095718/a-look-at-2024-nfl-draft-prospect-malik-washington-new-york-jetsSuper Human2024-03-17T13:30:00-04:002024-03-17T13:30:00-04:00Scouting Jets defensive back Isaiah Oliver
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<p>Taking a look at a Jets FA defensive back signing</p> <p id="CiBVQL">Now that free agency is well and truly underway, we’re going to start breaking down the players acquired by the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> so far, starting today with defensive back Isaiah Oliver.</p>
<p id="icr1Eu">The 27-year old Oliver is listed at 6’0” and 210 pounds and was a second round pick out of Colorado in 2018. He has started 44 games in his career and racked up 270 tackles and three interceptions.</p>
<p id="BvIlop"><strong>Background</strong></p>
<p id="Hy4h2j">Oliver played both wide receiver and cornerback in high school before heading to Colorado as a three-star recruit. Having decided to concentrate on the cornerback position, he only started five games in his first two seasons as he played behind future NFL player Akhello Witherspoon. However, Oliver was still productive, with 13 pass breakups and an interception.</p>
<p id="BCF6v6">In his junior year, Oliver made 10 starts and was named as an all-Big 12 first-teamer as he broke up 13 passes and had two interceptions. At the end of the season, he announced he would be an early entrant into the 2018 draft.</p>
<p id="my192c">Despite being projected as a potential first round pick by many analysts, Oliver dropped to the late second round, where he was selected by the <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/">Atlanta Falcons</a>.</p>
<p id="KQVSEz">As a rookie, Oliver had a rotational role during which he started two games. He ended up with seven pass breakups and one interception.</p>
<p id="6nquea">In 2019 and 2020, he started 28 of 32 games, racking up a total of 132 tackles and 17 pass breakups. However, in 2021 he suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth game of the season.</p>
<p id="9cjNhj">Oliver signed an extension and made his return in 2022, but missed the first five games. He ended the season with 37 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception in 12 games.</p>
<p id="1xVOph">In 2023, he signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a>, for whom he started five games and racked up 53 tackles and an interception. However, they released him in February. The Jets signed him just before free agency got underway.</p>
<p id="KqniU1">Now let’s take a look at what Oliver brings to the table, divided into categories.</p>
<p id="o6U5iW"><strong>Measurables/Athleticism</strong></p>
<p id="7ITlOJ">Oliver has good size and outstanding length, with his arms being over 33 inches long. He is a good athlete, who ran track as a freshman in college.</p>
<p id="EcPxlA">While he wasn’t able to perform a full workout at the scouting combine or his pro day, he did run a 4.50 for the 40-yard dash and he reportedly posted a 37-inch vertical a few years before being drafted.</p>
<p id="a8gmPw"><strong>Usage</strong></p>
<p id="QV7OEP">Oliver is a player who prides himself on being able to play all five secondary positions. He’s played extensively in the slot and on the outside at the NFL level, and he has also made a few appearances as a safety. In college he only played on the outside.</p>
<p id="R8t1X4">As noted, Oliver also played as a wide receiver in high school, and the <a href="https://www.ralphiereport.com">Colorado Buffaloes</a> recruited him to play either role.</p>
<p id="wFH7mm"><strong>Coverage skills</strong></p>
<p id="vnGbkU">Aside from his versatility, Oliver brings a lot to the table in coverage. He rarely gets beaten over the top, uses his length well to disrupt routes and compete at the catch-point, and looks good when he can keep everything in front of him and anticipate.</p>
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<p id="CTLpRa">His ability to recover and break on the ball is excellent, although he can rely on that too much sometimes and give his man too much room or react too late to the break in their route.</p>
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<p id="0BsTpF">In all, his coverage numbers are reasonable, and he’s shown some improvement since 2020, when he was beaten for seven touchdowns. He’s only given up four since then, albeit this is partly because he’s no longer in a full-time role.</p>
<p id="fXbs6f">In addition, Oliver has only given up one pass play of more than 40 yards in his entire NFL career so far.</p>
<p id="Loc5od"><strong>Ball skills</strong></p>
<p id="ArOqDe">Oliver has an ability to get his hands on the ball, although there are times when he is late to get his head turned around and locate the ball on downfield routes.</p>
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<p id="ITmrx8">His numbers for pass disruptions have been good throughout his pro and college career and as long as he stays close to his man, his arm length and former receiver mentality gives him a good advantage at the catch-point.</p>
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<p id="RWNxwm">Oliver only had three interceptions in three seasons at Colorado and has never had more than one in any NFL season so far, but he does demonstrate an ability to come down with tough catches.</p>
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<p id="vX2jcs"><strong>Tackling</strong></p>
<p id="dxxdO8">Oliver’s tackling has generally been solid as he possesses an ability to close fast and to stop a ball carrier in their tracks. He seems to take good angles and has a knack for preventing receivers from getting to the first down marker.</p>
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<p id="IPCXUp">His missed tackle rate was good in college and, while he will occasionally miss tackles at the pro level, his overall tackle efficiency has been sound.</p>
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<p id="hPNooc">While Oliver didn’t have any forced fumbles on defense in college, he has had three in the NFL.</p>
<p id="014rdS"><strong>Run defense</strong></p>
<p id="LTNHOP">Oliver has developed into a solid run defender, who is willing to come up and contribute in run support. His production against the run has increased since he first came into the league, and he has typically graded out well in the role. In 2022 Oliver had the 8th best run defense grade among NFL cornerbacks according to Pro Football Focus.</p>
<p id="ifVCp3">He makes a good play here as he avoids getting sealed on the inside and closes fast to prevent the runner from getting to the edge.</p>
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<p id="qoa14M"><strong>Physicality</strong></p>
<p id="KHwnmk">Scouting reports for Oliver when he first entered the league note that he needed to work on his toughness, but he’s added about 10 pounds since being drafted and he seems to be playing with even more physicality than he did in college.</p>
<p id="Tv5rgB">He is competitive at the catch-point and shows effectiveness at slowing his man’s route with a jam when in press coverage.</p>
<p id="jmsEZL">It can be difficult for Oliver to get off blocks at times. He’s generally more effective when he anticipates and avoids the blocker altogether or at least has a leverage advantage when contact is made.</p>
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<p id="cB0Wkb">In terms of his on-field discipline, Oliver has shown some growth since being flagged nine times in 2019. He more than halved that number in 2020 and has had just four penalties in the past three seasons.</p>
<p id="JZwapB">For his career as a whole, Oliver has been called six times for pass interference and seven times for defensive holding, illegal contact or illegal use of the hands. He has had just one personal foul for a helmet-to-helmet hit. He had just seven defensive penalties in three years in college.</p>
<p id="AjE7h1"><strong>Blitzing</strong></p>
<p id="Wjy8pm">Oliver basically never rushed the passer in college, where he had no sacks. However, he’s been a weapon rushing from the slot at times in the NFL. He has had a good pressure rate and two sacks.</p>
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</figure>
<p id="mODojM"><strong>Special teams</strong></p>
<p id="hv0gMF">Oliver is a player who brings a lot to the table on special teams. He had an expanded role with the 49ers last year and made a career-high nine special teams tackles.</p>
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<p id="oGCsxF">Oliver has contributed at the pro and collegiate levels in punt protection, and as a blocker on kick returns. He drew four penalties and forced a fumble in college where he saw some action as a gunner, but he hasn’t played that role in the NFL.</p>
<p id="KF5HKa">Oliver, who also blocked nine kicks in high school, has had two penalties on special teams at the NFL level, for offside and holding.</p>
<p id="YrE3hU"><strong>Instincts/Intelligence</strong></p>
<p id="PPeJ5z">With the versatility he has displayed, you would expect Oliver to have a good understanding of his assignments and an ability to read and anticipate what the offense is doing. Oliver does display these traits on film.</p>
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<p id="gzE26N">Early on in his career, Oliver had a high-profile blown coverage which allowed the winning touchdown in the closing seconds of a loss to the Bengals.</p>
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<p id="q2OZfd">However, since that time, he hasn’t had a lot of blown assignments of this nature. He will, however, sometimes be guilty of reacting rather than anticipating in coverage, since he’s got into the habit of using his recovery speed to get back into plays. This doesn’t always work out for him.</p>
<p id="Kr70Ad">He received honorable mention all-Colorado academics recognition when he was still a student.</p>
<p id="NlhF5Q"><strong>Attitude</strong></p>
<p id="qq49gC">Oliver has no character flags and has been described as a team-first player with good spirit, competitiveness and leadership traits.</p>
<p id="ALAybC">He comes from a background with an NFL pedigree as both his father and uncle are former NFL players.</p>
<p id="m0ybcv"><strong>Injuries</strong></p>
<p id="NN1OL4">Oliver’s career was somewhat de-railed by an ACL tear with damage to his lateral meniscus during the final year of his rookie contract. That caused him to miss the last 12 games of the 2021 season and the first five in 2022.</p>
<p id="YnxRmc">Aside from that, Oliver had a minor shoulder injury in 2019, was bothered by a finger injury in the 2018 offseason and missed two games due to a leg injury in his junior year at Colorado.</p>
<p id="KJD8PW"><strong>Scheme Fit</strong></p>
<p id="GB6G2r">Oliver should be an excellent scheme fit with the Jets, who already have good familiarity with him since he played in Atlanta while current Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was on the coaching staff.</p>
<p id="Wt5wj3">He also just spent a year with the 49ers, whose system still shares plenty of similarities with the one current Jets head coach Robert Saleh ran there, and still runs today.</p>
<p id="ojC7fX">In addition, Oliver’s versatility could make him an ideal backup. While he’s not a threat to beat out Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed or Michael Carter II, he could fill in at any of their positions or even, in an emergency, at safety. He’s a good bet to see action in dime packages is everyone is healthy and the ability to contribute on special teams is a bonus.</p>
<p id="iYdGvi">He has been a teammate of current Jets Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Javon Kinlaw and Wes Schweitzer in the past.</p>
<p id="i5HFbH"><strong>Conclusions</strong></p>
<p id="5ntRSE">This move may have gone under the radar, but Oliver is a capable addition to the secondary who should have a good chance of making the roster and locking down a utility role.</p>
<p id="Wf8QQB">While he perhaps hasn’t completely lived up to his pre-draft hype, he’s been a solid contributor and is the type of player who can make a big play from time to time without hopefully giving up many big plays while he’s in the game.</p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2024/3/17/24102271/scouting-new-york-jets-defensive-back-isaiah-oliver-free-agent-nflBent2024-03-17T11:59:00-04:002024-03-17T11:59:00-04:00Building A GGN Big Board 2024: Prospect No. 27
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<img alt="Michigan State v Iowa" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QNaKnO-cHoiEmY2jYZ9zlsraYZk=/0x50:3600x2450/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73213263/1716643360.5.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Let’s crowd source a 2024 NFL draft big board</p> <p id="0G52NJ">We have a tie for the 27th prospect on the 2024 GGN Big Board. And the winners are: Tyler Guyton, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma, and Cooper DeJean, Cornerback, Iowa! With Guyton and DeJean taking the 27th and 28th spots, our crowd sourced Big Board now looks like this:</p>
<ol>
<li id="1k1C3P">Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver, <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a>
</li>
<li id="lGiUF0">Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC</li>
<li id="8o9j4E">Joe Alt, Offensive Tackle, <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a>
</li>
<li id="4xuxTc">Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina</li>
<li id="frVIQ6">Malik Nabers, Wide Receiver, <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com">LSU</a>
</li>
<li id="B5uTwp">Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Offensive Tackle, Penn State</li>
<li id="dbNEsI">Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU</li>
<li id="ylokCQ">Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Washington</li>
<li id="CxF6jA">Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia</li>
<li id="wnijek">Taliese Fuaga, Offensive Tackle, <a href="https://www.buildingthedam.com">Oregon State</a>
</li>
<li id="aGJ0AP">Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama</li>
<li id="5px6zK">JC Latham, Offensive Tackle, Alabama (Tie)</li>
<li id="c9qtoi">JJ McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan (Tie)</li>
<li id="9J4q1O">Jared Verse, Edge, <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a>
</li>
<li id="e2avSp">Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA</li>
<li id="g14zUH">Terrion Arnold, Cornerback, Alabama</li>
<li id="30g5J1">Brian Thomas, Wide Receiver, LSU</li>
<li id="H5reXh">Amarius Mims, Offensive Tackle, Georgia (Tie 18)</li>
<li id="2spELL">Troy Fautanu, Offensive Tackle, Washington (Tie 18)</li>
<li id="1qRRfO">Michael Penix Jr., Quarterback, Washington</li>
<li id="vzUhqI">Jackson Powers-Johnson, Center, Oregon</li>
<li id="dmdUpD">Bo Nix, Quarterback, Oregon</li>
<li id="WyiOTt">Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State</li>
<li id="HB3YEd">Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback, Alabama</li>
<li id="BcAvcH">Byron Murphy II, Defensive Tackle, Texas (Tie 25)</li>
<li id="F4nree">Quinyon Mitchell, Cornerback, Toledo (Tie 25)</li>
<li id="971zZb">Tyler Guyton, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma (Tie 27)</li>
<li id="2DHCSZ">Cooper DeJean, Cornerback, Iowa (Tie 27)</li>
<li id="ib8oj1">?</li>
</ol>
<p id="wpHu03">From now until late April I’ll be putting up a daily poll asking GGN to vote on the best available players from a rolling list of 15 candidates. The idea here is to build a generic Big Board reflecting the community’s view of this year’s draft class regardless of the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/new-york-jets">Jets</a>’ (or any other team’s) particular needs. So for instance, you may think the Jets don’t need a QB this year, but that should not necessarily prevent you from placing a QB high on the Big Board if said QB warrants it. Each day we will close the previous day’s poll and the candidate with the most votes will be added to the GGN Big Board. In the event of a tie vote both players will go up on the Board. By the time the draft rolls around we should have enough players on our Big Board to cover two rounds of the draft.</p>
<p id="aiuEqE">If a name you think should be on the poll is not there you can write in candidates in the comments. If a player gets support in the comments I’ll consider adding him to the poll. If a player repeatedly gets zero votes he may be dropped from the poll for a few days.</p>
<p id="K8XH5Z">We all have different views. What we’re looking for here is a composite of the best players in the community’s collective mind. Your views may or may not coincide with the community’s, and either way that’s OK. Life here on GGN would be pretty boring if we all agreed on everything.</p>
<p id="jFyr0E">So let’s get to it. Today we continue with the number 29 prospect on the crowd sourced GGN Big Board 2024. Who will it be? Vote early, vote often, and let’s hear who you think are the best players in this draft.</p>
<p id="T2t6UG"></p>
<div id="JizGW2"><div data-anthem-component="poll:12281622"></div></div>
<p id="UuqbTA"></p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2024/3/17/24103854/building-a-ggn-big-board-2024-prospect-no-27-new-york-jets-nfl-draft-tyler-guyton-cooper-dejeanMacGregor Wells