New York Jets' 2012 Nfl Draft analysis

1st Round (#16) De Quinton Coples, North Carolina

2nd Round (#43) Wr Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech

3rd Round (#77) Olb Demario Davis, Arkansas State

6th Round (#187) S Josh Bush, Wake Forest

6th Round (#202) Rb Terrance Ganaway, Baylor

6th Round (#203) G Robert T. Griffin, Baylor

7th Round (#242) Ss Antonio Allen, South Carolina

7th Round (#244) Wr Jordan White, Western Michigan

Analysis of notable Selections:

Quinton Coples: The former Tar Heel slipped to the middle of the draft due to concerns over his lackluster play as a senior. Coples has the tools to be a fine 3-4 defensive end. The Jets could have a pair of young, big and athletic defensive ends in Coples and Muhammad Wilkerson. Coples will need the right coach to push his buttons for him to reach his full potential. Players like to play for Rex Ryan. The Jets' head coach is an perfect coach and he has one of the great defensive minds in the Nfl. Coples is a scheme-diverse defensive lineman and Ryan will likely take benefit of his versatility. Coples put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks as a junior when he played defensive tackle. He could move inside on 3rd down pass rushing situations when New York goes to a 4-3 look. Quinton Coples is a good fit for the Jets' defense and New York added a very talented defensive lineman.

Stephen Hill: This pick will go a long way to manufacture or breaking New York's draft. Hill is a workout warrior at this point with so much to prove as a wide receiver. He is big, fast and can jump. However, can he read coverages and catch the intermediate pass that will be the vast majority of balls thrown his way? Can Mark Sanchez trust that Hill will be where he is supposed to be on a route and make the catch? The former Georgia Tech receiver is going to have to be much more than just a receiver who runs the go route down the sideline to be worth this selection. The Jets passed on Alshon Jeffery and Rueben Randle. They both had significantly more production than Hill did in college. Stephen Hill was a very risky pick by the Jets.

Demario Davis: New York liked the Arkansas State linebacker's speed, special teams capability and leadership traits. This is another pick that the Jets may have outsmarted themselves on. Davis was not dominant at Arkansas State and may just conduce on special teams. New York seems to believe that his speed will enable him to cover Nfl tight ends. That remains to be seen, as instincts and a feel for the passing game are just as important as speed. Davis has a lot to prove at the Nfl level and faces a huge jump in competition. The Jets passed on running back, Lamar Miller. The former Hurricane is very talented and possesses a terrifying burst to break long runs. The pedestrian New York ground game (22nd in yards rushing and 30th in yards per carry last season) contributed significantly to the Jets mediocre 2011 season. Shonn Greene was a disappointment as a lead back and Joe McKnight has done wee as a ball carrier in the Nfl. New York returns the same group, but will need much more production to go deep into the playoffs.

Antonio Allen: The former South Carolina safety/linebacker made his share of plays against Sec competition. Allen can tackle, but dropped in the draft due to concerns over how well he can cover. Allen may not have the fluid hips to be effective in coverage against Nfl receivers and tight ends. However, his tackling capability gives him a opening to be a factor on special teams. Antonio Allen made sense late in the draft.

2012 Nfl Draft Grade: C+

Bottom Line: The Jets may have found only one good starter (Quinton Coples) from this draft class. Stephen Hill and Demario Davis both have potential, but may be great athletes than football players. Mike Tannenbaum (New York's normal manager) is literally going to feel the heat if Stephen Hill does not become an explosive playmaking wide receiver. The Jets say they want to return to "ground and pound" football. The same pedestrian group of running backs returns and so does Wayne Hunter at the problematic right tackle position. New York did not fix many of its weaknesses in this draft.

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