Donnie Abraham retires

[schweinhart]

It had been circulating that he would, but I'm still surprised that D-Abe retired.

Just admiring him handle Plaxico in the playoffs last year made me think that D-Abe is one of these Darrell Green types who can go on and on and on...But I guess not.

D-Abe was the quickest CB I've ever seen in between space. When you'd watch the slow motion replays with him in coverage, everybody looked like they were moving in slow motion except for D-Abe. His instincts and play of the ball were quite remarkable. Other teams knew that even as he hit 30 yrs old you'd be best advised not to throw the ball at him.

This is a huge hit for the Jets IMO. Derrick Strait is not very good, not even an adequate nickel IMO. David Barrett is awfully slow and needs lots of help -- he won't be handling WRs on his own too much. Pete Hunter is proly the starter to replace D-Abe, but he's not who I'd be wanting there. There is hope w/ Justin Miller but a rook is a rook, even though Erik Coleman did fine last year (Maybe Coleman can shift to CB?)

The Jets better compensate for this loss with lots of scheme to get more QB pressure.

[Who?]

Justin Miller should be starting.. He was one of the steals of the draft to me.

[AMC]

Donnie Abraham holds a spot in my collegian heart...we share an alma mater...actually taught him in class at East Tennessee State Univ. when I was a grad student there...Good guy...

[LesterLyles]

actually scheweinert it was David Barret who handled Plax. In fact Cowher said to Herm after the gamet hat Barret was the best corner the Steelers faced all year. Kind of strange b/c sure Barret was solid (not great by any stretch) all year but in both Steelers game (reg season and playoffs) Barret looked all-world. Still think he is a very solid starter in this league.

As for D. Abe, I agree w/ you that he will be missed by NY. And he actually held his own against Hines Ward if you want to talk Stellers game. He was super quick and knew how to find the ball and was a very good CB in this league right up until his last year. Jets are in a weird spot at the CB position. I like the Justin Miller pick and think he can be a stud and I actually like D. Strait. Are either ready to be a full time starter? Don't know. Mickens is probably the best nickel back of the last 10 years but being 5'9", coming off a knee injury and being 31 yeas old, is he ready to be a starter now? Will they consider Ty Law? Seems to be a lot of questions for that 2nd starting CB.

[schweinhart]

actually scheweinert it was David Barret who handled Plax. In fact Cowher said to Herm after the gamet hat Barret was the best corner the Steelers faced all year. Kind of strange b/c sure Barret was solid (not great by any stretch) all year but in both Steelers game (reg season and playoffs) Barret looked all-world. Still think he is a very solid starter in this league.

As for D. Abe, I agree w/ you that he will be missed by NY. And he actually held his own against Hines Ward if you want to talk Stellers game. He was super quick and knew how to find the ball and was a very good CB in this league right up until his last year. Jets are in a weird spot at the CB position. I like the Justin Miller pick and think he can be a stud and I actually like D. Strait. Are either ready to be a full time starter? Don't know. Mickens is probably the best nickel back of the last 10 years but being 5'9", coming off a knee injury and being 31 yeas old, is he ready to be a starter now? Will they consider Ty Law? Seems to be a lot of questions for that 2nd starting CB.

Actually Lester

You're right about Barrett covering Plax but it was only after D Abe shut down Plax early in the game. I thought it was 3 times that D Abe shut down Plax in man-on-man on end zone throws but I could only find 2 from NFL play-by-play: the 4th play of the Steelers 2nd possession in the 1st Q from the Jets 34 and the 3rd play of the Steelers 3rd possession in the 1st Q from the Jets 12.

Cowher took his shot at D-Abe with the taller Plax but was denied and realized it was a waste to try. That's when you saw Plax shift to the other side and D Abe have to deal more with Ward.

I can't remember for sure the Barrett pick...I do remember the TD by Tongue, who was wide open ... but it seems like it was a bad throw by Big Ben with other Jets DBs around helping Barrett, but I'm not sure.

I'd have to harken back to last year's season opener to say why I think Barrett is too slow....specifically on throws deep: the Chad TD and the Coleman pick late in the game. What I do like about Barrett is he's a physical corner vs. run and active downfield to find the ball. It's just IMO Barrett needs too much help to be the shut down CB on an island. He'll stay on the side he's on and will get help.

I don't see Strait being that shutdown CB either. From admittedly what litlle I saw of the Jets last year, he reminds me of Artrell Hawkins...always catching up to throw for the tackle but just not there in time to play the ball.

Ty Law would be a wise pickup for the Jets if he's healthy, IMO.

[LesterLyles]

actually scheweinert it was David Barret who handled Plax.  In fact Cowher said to Herm after the gamet hat Barret was the best corner the Steelers faced all year. Kind of strange b/c sure Barret was solid (not great by any stretch) all year but in both Steelers game (reg season and playoffs) Barret looked all-world. Still think he is a very solid starter in this league. 

As for D. Abe, I agree w/ you that he will be missed by NY.  And he actually held his own against Hines Ward if you want to talk Stellers game. He was super quick and knew how to find the ball and was a very good CB in this league right up until his last year. Jets are in a weird spot at the CB position. I like the Justin Miller pick and think he can be a stud and I actually like D. Strait.  Are either ready to be a full time starter?  Don't know.  Mickens is probably the best nickel back of the last 10 years but being 5'9",  coming off a knee injury and being 31 yeas old, is he ready to be a starter now?  Will they consider Ty Law?  Seems to be a lot of questions for that 2nd starting CB.

Actually Lester

You're right about Barrett covering Plax but it was only after D Abe shut down Plax early in the game. I thought it was 3 times that D Abe shut down Plax in man-on-man on end zone throws but I could only find 2 from NFL play-by-play: the 4th play of the Steelers 2nd possession in the 1st Q from the Jets 34 and the 3rd play of the Steelers 3rd possession in the 1st Q from the Jets 12.

Cowher took his shot at D-Abe with the taller Plax but was denied and realized it was a waste to try. That's when you saw Plax shift to the other side and D Abe have to deal more with Ward.

I can't remember for sure the Barrett pick...I do remember the TD by Tongue, who was wide open ... but it seems like it was a bad throw by Big Ben with other Jets DBs around helping Barrett, but I'm not sure.

I'd have to harken back to last year's season opener to say why I think Barrett is too slow....specifically on throws deep: the Chad TD and the Coleman pick late in the game. What I do like about Barrett is he's a physical corner vs. run and active downfield to find the ball. It's just IMO Barrett needs too much help to be the shut down CB on an island. He'll stay on the side he's on and will get help.

I don't see Strait being that shutdown CB either. From admittedly what litlle I saw of the Jets last year, he reminds me of Artrell Hawkins...always catching up to throw for the tackle but just not there in time to play the ball.

Ty Law would be a wise pickup for the Jets if he's healthy, IMO.

Barret was in Jets fans doghouse the first 4 games so your memories of barret and week 1 are right on. But he played big time as the season went on especially against guys like Andre Johnson and the Cardnials strong WRs.

As for Barret and Tounge's respectve picks, lets just say Big Ben had an off day. Still I have no problems w/ Barret starting at one corner...its that other slot I'm woried about. W/ Mickens, Strait, Hunter and Miller I like our depth.

[schweinhart]

I hear you Lester.

I'm leaning toward the Jets to unseat the Pats in the East this year, but I gotta say, at a long distance away from it all here, the loss of D-Abe looks like a bigger hit than the loss of Jason Ferguson. No Sam Cowart would be like last year as long as Vilma stays healthy, so no big loss there. You didn't seem to think too much of Tongue when Bengals fans were wondering if he might be a worthwhile pickup and I didn't see a whole lot in him either. But who replaces him? McGraw? I'll venture that Andre Maddox is the starter at SS by week 3.

Offense wise, Blaylock in for Jordan looks all right and I liked Chris Baker better than Becht anyways, plus the Jolley pickup is solid. Coles could easily have 100 catches if he's right and McCareins looked much better in the post-season than I was giving him credit for at the beginning of last year. Not to mentin Jerricho Cotchery and Jonathan Carter, who both bring nice skills to the field. Plus Fiedler is all right can ably step in if Penny goes down.

The East sure looks right tight this year, though. I'm starting to take a closer look at the Fins

[LesterLyles]

I hear you Lester.

I'm leaning toward the Jets to unseat the Pats in the East this year, but I gotta say, at a long distance away from it all here, the loss of D-Abe looks like a bigger hit than the loss of Jason Ferguson. No Sam Cowart would be like last year as long as Vilma stays healthy, so no big loss there. You didn't seem to think too much of Tongue when Bengals fans were wondering if he might be a worthwhile pickup and I didn't see a whole lot in him either. But who replaces him? McGraw? I'll venture that Andre Maddox is the starter at SS by week 3.

Offense wise, Blaylock in for Jordan looks all right and I liked Chris Baker better than Becht anyways, plus the Jolley pickup is solid. Coles could easily have 100 catches if he's right and McCareins looked much better in the post-season than I was giving him credit for at the beginning of last year. Not to mentin Jerricho Cotchery and Jonathan Carter, who both bring nice skills to the field. Plus Fiedler is all right can ably step in if Penny goes down.

The East sure looks right tight this year, though. I'm starting to take a closer look at the Fins

I think the season comes down to how healthy Pennington's arm is. The other pieces for the most part are in place. As we have mentioned, CB seems to be the biggest concearn at this point. As for S, if McGraw can actually stay onm the field (in 3 years he has been unable to) he is a good S. He won't be benched b/c of skills. But based on his past, it is quite possible Maddox or Kerry Rhodes is a starter at some point.

[schweinhart]

Just caught Herm on NFL Total Access and he's not showing any worry over D-Abe retiring because he expects the comp will deliver the starter.

He did rave on Law, though. So I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Law in green. He also said Law proly won't decide where he'll sign until after camp starts, which should work out better for seeing who wants to play most among Strait, Mickens, Miller, and Hunter.

But I agree that overall, a lot hinges on Pennington's arm.

I'll be catching some Jets action this year because I got the feeling they might end up playing the Bengals at some point even though they're not on the sked. :player:

[LesterLyles]

Just caught Herm on NFL Total Access and he's not showing any worry over D-Abe retiring because he expects the comp will deliver the starter.

He did rave on Law, though. So I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Law in green. He also said Law proly won't decide where he'll sign until after camp starts, which should work out better for seeing who wants to play most among Strait, Mickens, Miller, and Hunter.

But I agree that overall, a lot hinges on Pennington's arm.

I'll be catching some Jets action this year because I got the feeling they might end up playing the Bengals at some point even though they're not on the sked.  :player:

I have that feeling as well.

Listen I hope Bruschi is fine b/c he is a class act but the fact that he is missing the whole year is huge..HUGE. That defense will take a big hit. The Jets will be facing big competiton from Saben ans his stinky fish as well as Willis and the Bills but I believe that won't start until the '06 season. They are both a year away. This is the year fro NY to get it done. As for Cincy, you all know my thoughts. Pittsburgh will take a step back and a pretty major one at that. They will be in the mix but I don't see more than 10 games. They were on a roll last year and got several breaks...won't happen again. Baltimore won't be the special team everyone says they are. The D is overrated and Boller is not the answer. The Bengals have the talent and especially the QB to take that division. Even if they don't, I see them as a WC team. 10-11 win range IMO.

[schweinhart]

You've got sound reasons there Lester why the Jets are the team to beat in the East this year.

Bruschi is a huge hole and looking at who they got, I'm thinking the only player on their team who can come close to filling it is -- believe it or not -- Rodney Harrison.

McGinest, Colvin, Vrabel, Johnson -- none of those 3 are going to be able to patrol the middle the way Bruschi did.

And yes the Fins and Bills both look like they're more poised in 2006.

The Fins should improve vastly w/ the Vikes ex-OC and the line coach from San Diego, but they still got to have a QB to deliver the goods. Plus, they lost a lot at DB this year.

The Bills got a good enough D to win the East but JP Losman should struggle in his 1st yr unless he pulls a Big Ben outta his a$$ and MacGooHoo is an overrated RB IMO. They do seem like they're coming along at WR as long as Moulds stays healthy and effective.

Still gotta wonder why the Jets couldn't talk D-Abe into squeezing off one more year. He was still at the top of his game IMO.