Erik Boland: Inside the Jets

Today is the day the Jets Blog hits the one year mark. Ken Berger was first in the saddle on April 24, 2006, talking about the upcoming draft. I thought it'd be interesting to remember what was being said at this time last year, when the Jets had that No. 4 pick, were coming off a 4-12 season, and thought that their running back would be healthy and their quarterback would not. So, with the confidence that a blog cannot plagerize itself, here's what Ken had to say 365 days and 174 blogs ago:

By Ken Berger

In less than 120 hours, we will know how the fearless new regime running the Jets will use the fourth pick in the NFL draft. The pressure is on Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini to get this one right. And to a much lesser degree, the pressure is on me to make this blog a go-to source for you, Jets fans and Newsday readers, for all the pre-draft rumors, innuendos, and sometimes even facts that pertain to one of the most critical drafts in this franchise's history.

Why is it so important? You may not know much about Mangini and Tannenbaum -- I know and like Tannenbaum but know next to nothing about Mangini -- and that's precisely the point. You've seen enough coaches and GMs come and go in Hempstead to know that all the flowery prose written about them often means nothing a few short, painful years later when they leave or are shown the door.

I don't know what it is, but I have a feeling it's going to be different this time; I fell victim to the Herman Edwards charm machine as often as the next guy, but I never really got the feeling that everyone was on the same page when he was here. Too often there were conflicting agendas within the walls of Weeb Ewbank Hall, and in the end, the health of the only thing that ultimately mattered -- the football team they were running -- suffered.

Mangini and Tannenbaum think alike. Both are obsessively committed to succeeding. Most importantly, they want the same thing -- players who fit their philosophy. And for the first time in quite a while, the people making the decisions have the same philosophy.

Think about it: When Herm and Terry Bradway were hired in 2001, the Jets were supposed to run a Tampa-style cover 2 defense. Then came the hybrid scheme between Herm's Tampa defense and Ted Cottrell's Buffalo scheme. Then came Donnie Henderson. Offensively, it was three years of Paul Hackett, followed by one year of Hackett playing philosophical tug-of-war with Edwards, followed by one year of Mike Heimerdinger.

How can an organization develop any sort of continuity in terms of acquiring players through the draft and free agency when the coaches and systems change as often as they did under Edwards?

If the Jets' methodical approach to free agency was any indication, some of the most highly regarded draft prospects won't get an iota of consideration from this new regime, and players who wouldn't get more than a cursory glance from other teams will have their names called by the Jets on Saturday and Sunday. I'll just say this: Don't put too much weight on any one pick, including the No. 4 -- if they don't trade it. With five picks in the top 100, two third-rounders and two-fourth rounders, this draft will be about stocking the roster with so-called "Mangini guys," which essentially means "Belichick guys." Give them time. I think they're on the right track.

As you'll see later this week in Newsday when I join my colleagues, Bob Glauber and Arthur Staple, in projecting the first 10 picks in the draft -- Glauber has to mock the whole first round -- I am convinced that Mangini and Tannenbaum will NOT select a quarterback with the first pick. I haven't decided whether it's going to be D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Mario Williams, Vernon Davis, or A.J. Hawk, but I feel pretty good that it's far more likely to be one of them than a quarterback.

Which brings me to a few words I want to say about this blog. The whole point of doing this is that I want to know what you think. I want to know what rumors you're hearing and reading about as you're trying to school yourself up for what figures to be one of the most interesting first rounds in recent memory. When you think I'm wrong, I want you to tell me. When you see or hear something you want me to address, I want to know about it. This blog, and by extension what I write in the paper, is for you -- nobody else. I want to know what's on your mind.

So go ahead, jump in and get things started. Other than the playoffs, with which you're unfortunately not recently familiar, this is the most exciting week of the year for the NFL fan. Post your comments, check back for my responses, and by all means give me your feedback on what I'm writing in the paper. Yes, I'm writing it because I have to, but I'm writing it for you.

Along the way, I'll let you know when something you won't want to miss will show up in the paper the next day. If I could, I would give you the heads up on exactly what the Jets will do when they're on the clock Saturday. Then again, if I knew that, I wouldn't be blogging.