Jets resist a “sexy” draft

By Darrell Laurant | Monday, May 08, 2006 | ( 0 )

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It isn't sexy to draft offensive linemen early. But in the case of the New York Jets, it was almost a necessity.

Dealt the fourth pick on April 29, rookie Jets' general manager Mike Tannenbaum toyed with the idea of trading up for either University of Southern California running back Reggie Bush or Bush's college teammate, QB Matt Leinart. This is a team without star power in a major media market, and either of these former Heisman winners could have provided that pizzazz.

But drafting an offensive playmaker without addressing problems with the O-line would have been like buying a Mercedes without gas. Or, perhaps more accurately, a Mercedes without an air bag.

So Tannenbaum resisted the lure of star power and went with University of Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson with his first pick. Then, with the No. 29 choice acquired from Atlanta in the John Abraham deal, the Jets took center Nick Mangold from Ohio State.

In reality, however, the team had already painted itself into that corner by releasing C Kevin Mawae and T Jason Fabini. Except for Trey Teague, acquired from Buffalo as a free agent and expected to start at center, the rest of the offensive line cupboard was filled largely with refugees from NFL Europe and other teams' practice squads.

Picking up OT Anthony Clement from Atlanta on April 19 was a step in the right direction, but the team still had little choice but to take Ferguson, a 6-6, 310-pounder touted as the best offensive lineman to come out of college since Orlando Pace. And in his post-draft remarks, Ferguson laid out the precise reason he was an "unsexy" choice.

"I hope you guys don't hear about me for the next few years," he said. "I hope you almost forget I'm there."

That's because left tackles -- like surgeons -- are generally only noticed when they make a mistake.

"As someone with a defensive background," Jets' head coach Eric Mangini noted, "I know that you're always looking to exploit the other team's main weakness. And a lot of times, that's the left tackle."

Ferguson didn't make many obvious mistakes at UVA, and was a force in the Senior Bowl. Mangold, a 6-3, 300-pounder and three-year Buckeye starter, also distinguished himself in that game. The plan is to bring him along slowly behind Teague, but both have the versatility to switch to offensive guard should the need arise.

Meanwhile, there's another plus with Ferguson -- his background. He played his high school football in Freeport, Long Island and grew up in the often-acrimonious atmosphere of Big Apple sports.

"He's from there," Virginia coach Al Groh told a Jets' fan site. "He's one of them."

So Ferguson won't be too taken aback if boos rain down on him during his rookie season. But that doesn't mean he plans to let that happen.

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