Dolphins & Jets: Completely Different Team Building Approach

When the topic of the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets come up with each others fanbases, there is nothing but sheer venom spewed about the other. In all of sports, the rivalries that have more hatred between 2 teams are few. This is not even a rivalry built solely on the actual games themselves, though many legendary games have gone on between the two. This rivalry has a lot to do with geography. Many Jets fans reside in Florida, and it helps intensify this disdain for one another. The animosity between the two teams changes little regardless of win-loss record, or whether the game has any playoff implications. I have said that in my opinion the best thing to ever happen to the Dolphins-Jets rivalry was Rex Ryan becoming the coach of the Jets. The reasons I love Rex Ryan and hate Rex Ryan will be documented in an entirely different article, most likely being written upon completion of the Jets being on HBO’s Hard Knocks series. This article will detail how amazingly different the two teams are in how they go about filling out the roster.

While Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan have only been together for the last calendar year and a few months, the foundation of the Jets was really put into place starting when Tannenbaum took over as GM in 2006. Tannenbaum’s first pick as GM of the Jets? LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson. With his remaining picks in the draft, he added center Nick Mangold, Kellen Clemens, Brad Smith (versatile Wildcat type QB who makes plays as well as WR, KR, and PR) and Leon Washington. In the 07 draft, the Jets traded up not once, but twice, to acquire CB Darrelle Revis and ILB David Harris. The 08 draft brought Vernon Gholston (I will not bring up his bust factor as a huge deal, because as is the case with most draft busts, how many more spots would he have fallen before someone else took him) and added Dustin Keller. 2009 found the Jets with Rex Ryan now as the head coach, and once again trading up not once, but twice to acquire QB Mark Sanchez and then RB Shonn Greene. I am sure that Rex, fresh off going to the playoffs with a rookie QB and great defense in Baltimore, had a lot of influence into the decision to go and get Sanchez. Thus far in this offseason the Jets have brought in Ladainian Tomlinson, Brodney Pool, former Dolphin castoff Rodrique Wright, and heavily pursued Jason Taylor (a genius move by the Jets , even if he ultimately resigns with the Dolphins)

Eerily similar is the path that Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland have taken in the 2+ years since they arrived to save the disaster that was the Miami Dolphins. Ireland’s first pick as GM of the Dolphins? LT Jake Long. That draft also showed an importance to the trenches in that they spent picks on DE’s Philip Merling and Kendall Langford, and OG Donald Thomas. Miami found their hopeful QB of the future in Chad Henne, and also found a good backup RB in Lex Hilliard. Free agency that year brought Justin Smiley to help strengthen and solidify the offensive line. The 2009 draft brought Miami CB’s Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, Pat White (drafted to be a wildcat threat, and I am sure they envisioned his athletic skills being used much the way Brad Smith is used for the Jets) and a good WR in Brian Hartline. Miami added C Jake Grove in free agency that year as well. The offseason thus far has netted ILB Karlos Dansby, and OG Richie Incognito.

You will notice many of the names mentioned for both teams play the same positions, and that an emphasis is placed on great offensive line play and a great running game. The approaches took a vastly different turn in the offseason that we have witnessed thus far. This is where I think Rex Ryan comes into play quite a bit. Where the Dolphins covet daft picks like gold, the Jets have shown an attitude of wanting to acquire proven commodities, with little regard of giving away picks. Both Miami and the Jets have young QB’s who could use all the help they can get. The Jets traded for Braylon Edwards last year before the trade deadline, and only last night pulled the trigger on a trade to bring in Santonio Holmes. An argument could be made that Miami may have the worst WR group in all of football. Edwards or Holmes would immediately be the best WR on their roster. However, the coveting of draft picks, combined with the Dolphins placing an emphasis on “the right 53, not the best 53” means that Miami never seriously considered acquiring either of these two players. Also available on the market was Antonio Cromartie, a once destined for superstardom CB who seemed to fall off a little bit in the last few years. The Jets, knowing that they would always have Revis lined up against the opponent’s number one WR, could put Cromartie in a place where the pressure would not be as great as compared to his going to another team. Additionally, Rex Ryan loves putting his CB’s in man coverage and releasing guys from everywhere on blitzes. Man coverage is where Cromartie is at his best. Getting Santonio Holmes for the 151^st pick in the draft is a steal, no matter how one would want to say otherwise. He has one year left on his contract, and is suspended the first 4 games of the season. If the Jets get absolutely nothing from Holmes, they easily could have gotten that same nothing from whomever they picked at 151. They can move on at the end of the year, as they are not invested long-term. If I were the Jets, I would do nothing contract extension wise with him until close to the end of next year, as then you know what you traded for. A great risk-reward trade, in that very little to lose, but if Holmes plays anywhere near to his capabilities, the reward is great.

The Jets see an opportunity, and are not afraid to try and seize the moment. The argument against the Jets newfound all-in approach that I have seen used most is the Washington Redskins of the Daniel Snyder era. I disagree with this comparison. With the exception of LT and possibly JT, the rest of the bold moves the Jets have made are for young guys entering the prime of their careers. As I stated earlier, I don’t think that the Dolphins-Jets rivalry has ever been as intense as it is right now, and these two completely opposite approaches to how a championship team is built only makes it all the better. I could sit here and argue that the Jets are showing no concern for 2014, and that they are making a mistake. Or Jets fans could argue that hoping and praying 3^rd and 4^th round picks may pan out will leave the Dolphins with a team of average talent. Nothing I say or they say will mean anything until the 2010 season begins. How the upcoming draft unfolds will be very interesting. Kind of discouraging in all of this is that Miami and New York have similar needs, a NT, pass rushers, S. Both had a need for WR, and the Jets  eliminated that need and still have the most valuable of their picks. You can bet whomever the Dolphins pick at 12 will be a name that is high on the Jets board, and the same applies with the Jets at 29 for Miami. Looking at how these teams have been built tells you the draft boards of both probably are not all that different.

Tags: 2010 draft, Miami Dolphins