The Jets spend two years getting rid of bad contracts and focusing on drafting. They realized that they had major issues on their lines. They went after Faneca who is still one of the best lineman in the league who will completely change the attitude and ability of the entire line. Jenkins has his past issues but everyone knows he has the talent to be a dominating player. I don't think you can argue against either of these moves. They had serious issues on the lines and they went out and got the best two lineman available. I do not believe in the quick fix but they had cap room and spend it wisely. They didn't give 30 million to some overrated wide reciever and safety.
I do think they overpaid for Woody. I'm not sure if they really expect him to start at RT of he's just going to be the 6th lineman who can play 4 positions. I still expect them to draft a right tackle in the second round. I think they could have gotten Woody a lot cheaper.
As far as Pace, he has the perfect size (6 5 270) for OLB and he's still young. I really don't know how good he is after one year in the 3-4. I don't think he was worth the money but if they drafted a linebacker and spent 2 years developing him they still would have no pass rush. It's not like no one else was bidding on him.
In conclusion, I think Mangini learned a lot from Belichick/Pioli. He learned that until you have greats lines you have nothing.
I just dont see it.
Its one thing to look at the lines, its another think to spend boatloads of money on them. The Patriots have built one of the best OLs in the NFL with:
a 2nd round pick
a 1st round pick
a 5th round pick
an undrafted player they developed
a 3rd round pick
They have not signed a FA OL since 2001 when they brought guys in cheaply almost off the scrap heap.
Its not a matter of Faneca not being good, but what did they pay for a G? Paying that kind of money for a G just throws your cap out of whack.
Its not that Jenkins is awful but you spend a top 5 pick on the guy he is replacing, he is 5(?) years older, he has never played a 3-4 and he is injury prone.
Its not that a 2009 4th round pick has no value, but you traded a top 15 pick who is what, 25?, to get it.
Woody is a ridiculously expensive reach. He moved well for a C, ate himself into being a medicore G, got benched and was thrown in a T due to injuries and you just gave him 5 mill a year. If you seriously think you paid 5 mill for your '6th OL' you should start writing letters requesting the entire front office gets fired.
Its not like Pace isnt the right size for a 34 OLB, but you paid him as if he were a stud and he has never shown he can be. I mean, come on. The guy was a backup for the CARDINALS, starting 6 games in 3 years before this season. You tout him as the answer to your pass rush, and he had 6.5 sacks last year. He has 14 in 5 seasons. For the money you paid him, he would have to match his 5 year total in sacks each season to be worth it. Think about that. If he cannot figure out how to get as many sacks in 16 games next year as he has been able to muster in 67 porfessional games, you overpaid with that 7 mill a year contract.
The fact that the trenches win football games does not mean the right thing to do is to spend boatloads of money overpaying guys to play there is smart.