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Jets offseason preview: Offensive line
February, 12, 2015
Feb 12
8:00
AM ET
By Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
With the NFL scouting combine (Feb. 17-23) and free agency (March 10) approaching, we take a position-by-position look at the New York Jets as they head into the offseason:
Position: Offensive line
2014 snaps:
•D'Brickashaw Ferguson: 100 percent
•Breno Giacomini: 100 percent
•Willie Colon: 99 percent
•Nick Mangold: 89 percent
•Oday Aboushi: 66 percent
•Brian Winters: 34 percent
•Dalton Freeman: 11 percent
Key stat: The line wasn't as shaky as you might think. The Jets ranked 10th in pass-protection percentage (51.5), defined as the percentage of plays in which the offense controls the line of scrimmage on a pass play, per ESPN Stats & Information. In a related stat, they posted the third-highest percentage of coverage sacks (28.5), which indicates the quarterback had a tendency to hold the ball too long and/or the receivers struggled to get open. Yep, sounds about right.
Pending free agents: Colon (unrestricted), Ben Ijalana (unrestricted)
2015 cap hits (position rank among all linemen)
•Ferguson: $11.7 million (No. 4)
•Mangold: $10.4 million (No. 9)
•Giacomini: $5.1 million (No. 54)
•Winters: $778,969
•Aboushi: $634,750
•Dakota Dozier: $585,146
•Freeman: $510,000
•Wesley Johnson: $510,000
•Sean Hooey: $435,000
Money matters: Welcome to the high-rent district. The line is eating up $30.2 million in cap space, third-highest among offensive lines. The Jets are the only team with two linemen ranked in the top nine, based on 2015 cap charges. The Ferguson and Mangold contracts have reached the point where the team could actually save cap space by cutting them, but that would serve no purpose. First of all, they're still good players, especially Mangold, who was selected to the Pro Bowl. Secondly, the Jets have more than enough cap room to handle the contracts. That, too, is the reason why there's no need to renegotiate; all they'd be doing is pushing money into later years. If Ferguson's play declines, however, it might make for a tough decision in 2016, when his cap number balloons to $14.1 million. Mangold ($2 million) and Ferguson ($1 million) have big roster bonuses coming up. Giacomini isn't going anywhere, as $2.5 million of his $4.5 million salary is fully guaranteed.
Big picture: The Jets are expected to stand pat at center (Mangold), left tackle (Ferguson) and right tackle (Giacomini), but they have decisions to make at the two guard positions. Aboushi, Colon and Winters received negative grades for last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Winter blew out a knee and was replaced by Aboushi, who was actually an upgrade at left guard -- but hardly a finished product. Colon brings plenty of intangibles, but he was penalized more times (14) than any guard in the league. It might be time for fresh blood at guard. It'll be costly, but a top-tier free agent such as Mike Iupati or Orlando Franklin would be a major upgrade. Another possibility is sliding Giacomini to guard and using the sixth pick to select the top tackle in the draft, Brandon Scherff, who can play right tackle. How they handle the line will tell us a lot about new general manager Mike Maccagnan. Will he wait on his predecessor's draft picks to develop or will he be proactive in trying to import proven talent?
Free-agent market watch: Pending free agents include Bryan Bulaga (RT), James Carpenter (LG), Dan Connolly (LG), Franklin (LG), Doug Free (RT), Iupati (LG), Davin Joseph (RG), Michael Oher (RT), Jermey Parnell (RT).
February, 12, 2015
Feb 12
8:00
AM ET
By Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
With the NFL scouting combine (Feb. 17-23) and free agency (March 10) approaching, we take a position-by-position look at the New York Jets as they head into the offseason:
Position: Offensive line
2014 snaps:
•D'Brickashaw Ferguson: 100 percent
•Breno Giacomini: 100 percent
•Willie Colon: 99 percent
•Nick Mangold: 89 percent
•Oday Aboushi: 66 percent
•Brian Winters: 34 percent
•Dalton Freeman: 11 percent
Key stat: The line wasn't as shaky as you might think. The Jets ranked 10th in pass-protection percentage (51.5), defined as the percentage of plays in which the offense controls the line of scrimmage on a pass play, per ESPN Stats & Information. In a related stat, they posted the third-highest percentage of coverage sacks (28.5), which indicates the quarterback had a tendency to hold the ball too long and/or the receivers struggled to get open. Yep, sounds about right.
Pending free agents: Colon (unrestricted), Ben Ijalana (unrestricted)
2015 cap hits (position rank among all linemen)
•Ferguson: $11.7 million (No. 4)
•Mangold: $10.4 million (No. 9)
•Giacomini: $5.1 million (No. 54)
•Winters: $778,969
•Aboushi: $634,750
•Dakota Dozier: $585,146
•Freeman: $510,000
•Wesley Johnson: $510,000
•Sean Hooey: $435,000
Money matters: Welcome to the high-rent district. The line is eating up $30.2 million in cap space, third-highest among offensive lines. The Jets are the only team with two linemen ranked in the top nine, based on 2015 cap charges. The Ferguson and Mangold contracts have reached the point where the team could actually save cap space by cutting them, but that would serve no purpose. First of all, they're still good players, especially Mangold, who was selected to the Pro Bowl. Secondly, the Jets have more than enough cap room to handle the contracts. That, too, is the reason why there's no need to renegotiate; all they'd be doing is pushing money into later years. If Ferguson's play declines, however, it might make for a tough decision in 2016, when his cap number balloons to $14.1 million. Mangold ($2 million) and Ferguson ($1 million) have big roster bonuses coming up. Giacomini isn't going anywhere, as $2.5 million of his $4.5 million salary is fully guaranteed.
Big picture: The Jets are expected to stand pat at center (Mangold), left tackle (Ferguson) and right tackle (Giacomini), but they have decisions to make at the two guard positions. Aboushi, Colon and Winters received negative grades for last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Winter blew out a knee and was replaced by Aboushi, who was actually an upgrade at left guard -- but hardly a finished product. Colon brings plenty of intangibles, but he was penalized more times (14) than any guard in the league. It might be time for fresh blood at guard. It'll be costly, but a top-tier free agent such as Mike Iupati or Orlando Franklin would be a major upgrade. Another possibility is sliding Giacomini to guard and using the sixth pick to select the top tackle in the draft, Brandon Scherff, who can play right tackle. How they handle the line will tell us a lot about new general manager Mike Maccagnan. Will he wait on his predecessor's draft picks to develop or will he be proactive in trying to import proven talent?
Free-agent market watch: Pending free agents include Bryan Bulaga (RT), James Carpenter (LG), Dan Connolly (LG), Franklin (LG), Doug Free (RT), Iupati (LG), Davin Joseph (RG), Michael Oher (RT), Jermey Parnell (RT).
