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2009 Offensive Line Analysis - New York Jets

2009 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: D’Brickashaw Ferguson
Left Guard: Alan Faneca
Center: Nick Mangold
Right Guard: Brandon Moore
Right Tackle: Damien Woody

2008 Injuries:
None

2008 Statistics:

ALY (Adjusted Line Yards): It is an alternate measure for yards per carry developed by Football Outsiders that takes into account various factors including down, distance, situation and opponent.
Source: www.footballoutsiders.com

Overview:
The New York Jets made major changes to their offensive line last off-season and there is no doubt that it paid off despite winning only nine games. Brett Favre was the big name acquisition but the ones that truly improved this team are Alan Faneca and Damien Woody. In 2008, the Jets averaged an impressive 4.7 yards per carry, an improvement of 0.9 yards per carry over the 2007 season. The Jets also allowed only 30 sacks as opposed to 53, although this may have had more to do with Favre who is known to get rid of the ball quickly.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson will return as the starting left tackle for the fourth consecutive season. Ferguson has not missed a start since being drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft but he had been disappointing until last year. After allowing 10 sacks in his rookie season, he did not show any improvement in his second season but last season he ranked 14th amongst left tackles with 4.0 sacks allowed. Ferguson gained some strength last season which helps him but he still remains below average in run blocking. The inconsistency at the left guard position in his first two seasons certainly did not help him adjust to the NFL game but that should be under control now with Alan Faneca. He certainly has not lived up to expectations thus far but he is still a good starting left tackle in the NFL and should continue to improve. Starting opposite to Ferguson at right tackle is the 31-year old Damien Woody who was acquired as a free agent from the Lions last off-season. He was named to the Pro Bowl team in 2002 as a Patriot but has not been able to match that performance since signing with the Lions in 2004. Woody struggled with injuries in Detroit and did not get along with head coach Rod Marinelli. He managed to stay healthy in 2008 and was a big part of the running game for the Jets. Woody allowed 6.5 sacks which ranked him 22nd amongst right tackles but it was still a nice improvement over Anthony Clement who allowed 9.0 sacks in 2007. There are still plenty of question marks surrounding the 6’3” and 325 lbs Woody including his intensity and lack of motivation at times but he is a good player for this line. The main backup at tackle is 28-year old Wayne Hunter who was in uniform for 14 games last year but he has yet to start a game in his five-year career.

The left guard position had been troublesome for the Jets but the situation was addressed last off-season with the signing of Pro Bowler Alan Faneca. Faneca is a master of run blocking not only because of his strength but also his awareness and agility that make him great when pulling to the outside. He has been named to eight straight Pro Bowls and his last missed start was in 2001, his only one in the past eight years. The downside with Faneca is that he has lost a step and his weaknesses were exposed in pass protection last season. He ranked 29th in the NFL amongst left guards with 7.0 sacks allowed but his skills as a run blocker definitely still make him one of the five to ten best guards in the NFL. On the right side will once again be Brandon Moore, an undrafted free agent who has been a starter for the Jets for the past five seasons. Moore has always been underrated but finally seems to be receiving some credit now that the line has improved overall. He is a very good run blocker and was pretty good in pass protection as well with only 2.0 sacks allowed. Moore will probably never be a Pro Bowl guard but he has not missed a start in four years and is a very useful player for the Jets. Adding depth at the guard position are Robert Turner and Matt Slauson. Robert Turner was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent but he did not see much action in his first two seasons. Turner has limited physical abilities but he is a hard worker and is very aggressive in his blocks. Matt Slauson, sixth round pick in 2009, has to improve his technique to be effective in the NFL but he is very strong and smart so he could be a starter in a few years.

Starting at center will be Nick Mangold for the fourth consecutive season. He was selected late in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft and has not missed a start in three seasons. The 6’4” and 300 lbs center is a very smart player and his ability to read defenses is an asset for this offense. He is a very good run blocker who plays with intensity and has improved his pass protecting skills in his last two seasons in the NFL. Mangold was rewarded for his excellent season in 2008 with a first Pro Bowl selection.

2009 Outlook:
The Jets spent a lot of money last season to improve their offensive line and it was worth it even though they failed to qualify for the post season in 2008. They should continue to have one of the best running games in the NFL and hopefully pass protection will improve now that this group of five had a full year to work together. Even though four of the five starters have not missed a start in three years, injuries can happen at anytime in the NFL and the Jets aren’t in very good shape when it comes to depth. None of their backups have ever started a game in the NFL so the offense is likely to struggle if any of the linemen were to be hurt. Overall you should expect more of the same for this line in 2009 but all five starters need to stay healthy.

See all of our 2009 Offensive Line Analysis Articles