On The Clock: New York Jets

Record: 9-7, 3rd In the AFC East
General Manager: Mike Tannenbaum, Head Coach: Rex Ryan (1st Year), Offensive Coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer (4th Year), Defensive Coordinator: Mike Pettine (1st Year)

Offense Rankings: No. 16 Overall, No. 9 Scoring, No.16 Passing, No. 9 Rushing
Defense Rankings: No. 16 Overall, No. 18 Scoring, No. 29 Passing, No. 7 Rushing

Last Five Years: 37-43; Last Playoff Appearance: 2006; Last Playoff Victory: 2004 (20-17 Over the San Diego Chargers)

2008 Draft: (1-6) DE Vernon Gholston, (1-30) TE Dustin Keller, (4-113) CB Dwight Lowery, (5-162) QB Erik Ainge, (6-171) WR Marcus Henry, (7-211) OT Nate Garner

Top Picks Last Five Years:
2008 – (1-6) DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio St. & (1-30) TE Dustin Keller, Purdue
2007 – (1-14) CB Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh
2006 – (1-19) OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia & (1-29) C Nick Mangold, Ohio St.
2005 – (2-47) K Mike Nugent, Ohio St.
2004 – (1-12) Jonathan Vilma, Miami

Booms: WR Jerricho Cotchery (4th Round 2004), S Erik Coleman (5th Round 2004), S Kerry Rhodes (4th Round 2005), C Nick Mangold (1st Round 2006), RB Leon Washington (4th Round 2006), CB Darrelle Revis (1st Round 2007), LB David Harris (2nd Round 2007)

Busts: CB Derrick Strait (3rd Round 2004), OT Adrian Jones (4th Round 2004), K Mike Nugent (2nd Round 2005), CB Justin Miller (2nd Round 2005), S Andre Maddox (5th Round 2005), QB Kellen Clemens (2nd Round 2006), LB Anthony Schlegel (3rd Round 2006)

Additions:
CB Tyron Brackenridge (Free Agent)
DE Marques Douglas (Free Agent)
NT Howard Green (Free Agent)
LB Larry Izzo (Free Agent)
SS Jim Leonard (Free Agent)
LB Bart Scott (Free Agent)
CB Lito Sheppard (Trade)
CB Donald Strickland (Free Agent)

Subtractions:
TE Chris Baker (Released)
CB David Barrett (Released)
ILB Eric Barton (FA-Cleveland)
ILB David Bowens (FA-Cleveland)
WR Laveranues Coles (FA-Cincinnati)
LB Brad Kassell (Released)
TE Bradley Listorti (FA-New England)
DE C.J. Mosley (FA-Cleveland)
CB Hank Poteat (FA-Cleveland)
LB Cody Spencer (FA-Detroit)

Keepers:
CB Ahmad Carroll
SS Abram Elam
K Jay Feely
OG Brandon Moore
FB Tony Rickardson

2009 Picks:
Round 1, Selection 17
Round 2, Selection 20
Round 3, Selection 12 (From New Orleans)
Round 4, Selection 15 (From Washington)
Round 6, Selection 20
Round 7, Selection 19

Team Needs – Players of Interest (Day One):
1. Wide Receiver: Jeremy Maclin, Missouri; Percy Harvin, Florida; Darrius Hayward-Bey, Maryland; Kenny Britt, Rutgers; Brian Robiskie, Ohio St.; Hakeem Nicks, UNC
2. Defensive End: Tyson Jackson, LSU, Jarron Gilbert, San Jose St., Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn, Ziggy Hood, Missouri
3. Quarterback: Mark Sanchez, USC; Josh Freeman, Kansas St.
4. Tight End: Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma St.
5. Running Back: Knowshon Moreno, Georgia; Donald Brown, UConn; Chris Wells, Ohio St., LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh, Shonn Greene, Iowa; Glen Coffee, Alabama; Andre Brown, NC State
6. Offensive Tackle: Michael Oher, Ole Miss; Andre Smith, Alabama; Eben Britton, Arizona; Jamon Meredith, South Carolina; William Beatty, UConn

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, Purdue University Sports Information

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: DUSTIN KELLER

Purdue tight end Dustin Keller caught 68 passes for 881 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, before the New York Jets made him the 30th overall selection in the 2008 National Football League Draft.

CFI: Take us back a little right before the draft, at the combine--you weren't necessarily a household name and you really broke out in that combine, how important was that for you?

DK: I knew coming out of Purdue, just the way everybody kind of perceived me, that’s the way that was going to be. I knew the combine was going to (be that important), even though it shouldn't be that way, that a 40 brings a guy up so much. I knew that was going to be on a lot of people’s radar and a lot people’s draft boards. You know I had the best possible outcome there. I just gave it everything I had.

CFI: I remember hearing before that, people saying, “he's got good hands, he's a playmaker but he's not that fast, he's not that athletic.” Were you scratching your head when you heard that stuff?

DK: Yeah, I don't know who put that in everyone’s head, but I was definitely determined to prove them wrong.

CFI: On draft day, the Jets traded up to get you. Did you have an inkling at all that the Jets were interested?

DK: I definitely had a thought they were interested but I didn't know they were going to trade into the first round, that kind of surprised me. I thought that if I fell that far back I was going to be picked by them as the sixth pick in the second round. But I didn't know they were going to trade into the first round.

CFI: What does that feel like when a team trades up for you?

DK: It feels great. It's an awesome feeling, especially when it ends up being in the very first round.

CFI: So far, what's it like--your NFL experience, learning under veterans like Chris Baker and Bubba Franks? How helpful have they been?

DK: They have been very helpful. Those guys have been around the league for a bunch of years being very productive. Bubba has been to a few Pro Bowls, Baker had an outstanding year last year and I'm just kind of picking at their brains learning things here and there and I think it's really working out for me.

CFI: What has been the biggest challenge so far?

DK: Just adjusting to the preciseness of the NFL. Everything has to be precise, be this certain way…you have to hit a guy at this angle--it's kind of crazy how precise it is, but I think I'm coming around.

CFI: How much do you think you’re going to be used as a pass catcher in the sense that you will be lining up wide?

DK: I couldn't give you a clear cut answer to you right now but I definitely feel that they’re going to utilize me somehow in that aspect, but we'll see.

CFI: How about this whole Brett Favre thing? Have you ever experienced anything like this in college or anywhere else, this whole media circus?

DK: No. I mean you can't trade players around in college or anything like that, but we never had any situation or story at my school, I guess, that is this big because it is a huge thing for the media but it's definitely an honor to catch passes from him.

CFI: How does it feel catching the first pass thrown to you, does it feel any different? Does it feel special?

DK: You know he throws a great ball of course, that is why he‘s been around playing for so long. But in practice, it probably wouldn't feel that different except we got a huge turnout from the fans and every single pass he completed there was just a roar from the fans like we were back in the stadium.

CFI: Is this almost like a spring game?

DK: Yeah, it almost was. It really almost was.

CFI: What do you think of Purdue’s chances this year and Curtis Painter's senior season?

DK: I talked to a few of the guys and they felt really good on where they are right now. I have all the confidence in the world in them. I think they'll get it done.