In my over 15 years of professional handicapping, one of the great benefits have been some great friendships I have made. Folks like fellow VI ‘cappers Barry Holthaus, Chris David and others here on the VI team are always good for some lively debate and good times. However, there are some other fine folks that I have met along the way that are not, for various reasons, part of the VI universe. One of those is dear friend Stan Lisowski, a well-known capper from the Jersey Shore that has been published many places and who has plied his trade exclusively with Northcoast Sports for the better part of the last ten years. I had the chance to sit down and talk to Stan on the phone earlier this week, and the subject of the Jets and Giants upcoming draft plans came up. Soon after, an email dialogue began. With his permission, here is some of what this Jersey native had to say about his beloved teams.

KF: Stan, talk about the prevailing opinion that the Jets have to trade up to get a QB.

SL: Kellen Clemens is the only quarterback on the Jets roster who has ever thrown a pass in a NFL regular season game. For his career, he has a quarterback rating of only 59.3, completing just 52% of his passes, while having an 11-5 interception to touchdown ratio. Yet new head coach Rex Ryan publically keeps insisting that New York is quite satisfied with Clemens and their other 2 signal callers, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge. At the recent mini-camps, Ryan even went out of his way to praise Clemens for his poise and his decision making. This is leading many to feel that perhaps the Jets are going to go with the 3rd year quarterback from Oregon as their starter this season and not go after USC’s Mark Sanchez or Josh Freeman from Kansas State in the draft upcoming this Saturday. However, considering General Manager Mike Tannenbaum’s shrewdness, this may be all one big smokescreen. Tannenbaum has a little history of not tipping his hand and then making creative deals on draft day to move up in the order to get the players he and the Jets have targeted. He’s done so the last two years and given how much homework they have reportedly done on the two aforementioned QBs, they may well look at this position with their first round selection, the 17th pick in the draft. If the Jets are going to go for Sanchez they will have to trade up to get their guy, but Freeman figures to be more of a project and may even last into the 2nd round.

Advertisement

KF: Will the QB, whoever that turns out to be, have any weapons?

SL: New York lost Laveranues Coles to free agency and now has almost as big of need at wide receiver as they do behind center. Chansi Stuckey, Jerricho Cotchery, Brad Smith, and David Clowney are the pass catchers left on the roster, but none of them are the type of playmakers that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer covets. Nor does this group have the breakaway speed to stretch and scare defenses. Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech and Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey are big receivers with speed that can do things with the ball after the catch. Crabtree had 41 touchdowns the past 2 seasons and is probably the premier playmaker in this draft. Jeremy Maclin of Missouri and Percy Harvin are the top speedsters coming out of college. Both are exceptional fast but neither has the size the Jets are looking for. I do not think they will take a WR early, unless Crabtree is miraculously there, which isn't going to happen.

One guy I like, but that the Jets may not take mid first round, is Brandon Pettigrew of Oklahoma State, as he is the model for what the Jets are looking for in the TE spot. Pettigrew, at 6’6 and 255 pounds is a dominating; physical blocker who has the potential to improve any team’s running game.

KF: New coach Ryan is a defensive guy, what are the options for early choices on the stop unit?

SL: One of the team’s primary needs is someone who can be an aggressive pass rusher coming off the edge in Ryan’s 3-4 defensive scheme. End Brian Orakpo from Texas is a big-time talent who displays passion and a huge work ethic, but he will probably be gone by the time New York selects. Also at defensive end are two versatile players that resemble what the Jets are in need of, Penn State’s Aaron Maybin and Tyson Jackson from LSU.

USC’s Clay Matthews has coverage ability, speed off the outside, and is a tremendous tackler, while having a great upside as a linebacker in a 3-4 defense. The incumbents are less than stellar, so if not in the first round, you can expect the Jets to focus on LB's and edge rushers in the next few rounds.

KF: Would the Jets consider the Brown kid from U Conn as an option at RB?

SL: Probably not. They have a Pro Bowler in Thomas Jones, and while is 30 years old now, they like him and feel he has a couple of years left as a starter. Any Jet RB draftees will be for depth only this time around.

KF: Now lets quickly move on to the Giants.

SL: Well, they will certainly be busy, with 10 overall selections in this year's draft. I think this will be a "needs based" draft for them as opposed to the best player available strategies of some other teams. What they "need" is a wide receiver due to the release of Plaxico Burress and the decision to not bring back Amani Toomer for his 14th season. Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards are said to be the main targets, and while nothing has happened yet, I would not rule anything out. As for helps from the college ranks, assuming Crabtree and are gone by the time the Giants select, some of the players New York may look to at this position include huge-handed Hakeem Nicks from North Carolina, Percy Harvin of Florida, Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Kenny Britt, the Big East’s all-time leading receiver from Rutgers. From a physical standpoint, Britt of the Scarlet Knights is very strong, and at 6’4 and 215 pounds, he resembles the tall-type of receiver the Giants lost in Burress. He is very much a “local favorite” as his hometown is Bayonne while the locale of his college campus at Rutgers is just a short drive from Giants Stadium.

KF: With the QB, RB, TE, and OL spots pretty firm, I imagine the next pick after getting the pass catcher will come on defense?

SL: Yes, I think so. A priority need for New York in this year’s draft should be in finding another starter in the linebacker corps. Antonio Pierce wore down and faltered in the latter part of the year, so concern is there inside, as well as the strong-side outside spot where Danny Clark could stand to be challenged as a starter. Off-season acquisition Michael Boley should solidify the weak-side backer position as New York hopes he reverts to his form from 2007 when he had 100+ tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles. Draftees that would interest the Giants at this position might include Trojans Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews, as well James Laurinaitis, son of former pro wrestler “Animal” of “The Road Warriors” fame.

KF: Thanks for your time Stan, will we see you and your bald head at the draft in NYC?

SL: Hey, you are getting closer to a dome every day too! But no, I will not be at the draft, will be watching the NBA playoffs.

KF: Always working. Have a good week, talk to you soon.