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Notes and observations on the Jets and the NFL:

1. MARKED MAN: This notion that the Jets are setting up Mark Sanchez to fail because they want Tim Tebow to be the starting quarterback is total bunk. (One talking head actually suggested "the fix is in.") To paraphrase Wes Welker, the Jets have 20 million reasons to root for Sanchez -- the $20.5 million he's guaranteed in 2012 and 2013. Like they say in the old mob movies, just follow the money. That's how it works in professional sports. Why would the Jets want Sanchez, the handpicked QB of Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum, to crash and burn? Yeah, the coaches and players are talking up Tebow (Darrelle Revis was in full gush), but it's just hot air in May. Here's the thing about players: They'll back whichever QB gives them the best chance to win. Right now, that's Sanchez. The organization hopes it stays that way.

2. DECISIONS, DECISIONS: QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh, in an interview with the New York Daily News, said most of Sanchez's 18 interceptions last season resulted from poor decisions. No kidding. Check out this stat: Over the last three seasons, Sanchez has thrown 38 interceptions when facing four or fewer rushers, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The bloated total, tied with Drew Brees for most in the league, suggests that, yes, he makes bad decisions when opponents use a standard rush and drop at least seven into coverage. By the way, Brees has 62 more TD passes than Sanchez against such pressure.

3. RINGING THE BELL: The Jets envision newly-signed safety Yeremiah Bell as a starter, meaning a Bell-LaRon Landry safety tandem. Here's the concern with that pairing: Both players are new to Ryan's defensive system, which is mentally challenging for the safeties. You need a cerebral player back there to make calls, and you could have the blind leading the blind with Bell and Landry. That's why Jim Leonhard was always so valuable; he knew how to get everybody lined up.

4. RUN, JOEY, RUN: Joey Clinkscales decided to leave his post as the head of college scouting, in part, because he was frustrated he wasn't given a bigger say on draft picks, according to a league source. He let his contract expire and took a job as the Raiders' director of player personnel -- maybe not a lateral move, but not a significant advancement, either. I hear the Jets, perhaps trying to convince him to stay, gave him a bigger say in the recent draft. Obviously, that didn't do the trick.

5. THE NEW GUY: The Jets hired Midwest scout Jeff Bauer to replace Clinkscales. Interesting background: He was a high-school coach in the Kansas City area and his backup QB was Mike Bradway, son of then-Chiefs executive Terry Bradway, according to the Des Moines Register. Bauer and the elder Bradway became friendly. A short time later, in 2001, Bradway was hired as the Jets' GM and he wound up hiring Bauer as the Midwest scout. Bradway remains with the Jets as a senior personnel executive. Bauer's glowing scouting report on RB Shonn Greene was one of the reasons why they drafted him in 2009.

6. MY TURN: I see that former Jets punter Steve Weatherford called me out on Twitter, claiming it was out of context to say he "ripped" Sanchez. I like Weatherford -- I wrote a glowing profile of him a few days before the Giants' Super Bowl win -- but this is a classic case of an athlete making a stink about the headline instead of owning up to his quotes below the headline. There's no doubt that Weatherford was critical of Sanchez's maturity level. That's the real story, not the headline.

7. MARSHALL PLAN: Because of Tony Sparano's background with the Dolphins, the Jets have been watching some Miami tape in an effort to learn his system. Rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill has spent a lot of time studying ex-Dolphin Brandon Marshall, another big-bodied wideout. Hopefully, Hill doesn't try to emulate Marshall's lack of balance along the sideline.

8. ROGER THAT: I'm dating myself here, but offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo's effusive defense of right tackle Wayne Hunter reminded of a long-ago quote from a long-forgotten Jets assistant. If you didn't catch it, DeGuglielmo said of Hunter, "Until they tell me otherwise, until they ship him out of this building or until they shoot me dead in my office, that sonofagun is going to be the starting right tackle." Back in '87 or '88, running backs coach Bobby Hammond was peppered with questions about the struggling Roger Vick, a No. 1 pick in '87. Hammond got fired up and said he'd "go to my grave" believing Vick would be a top back. That was a swing and a big miss; we're talking a Dave Kingman miss.

9. THE POWER OF BILL: Welker wouldn't make a good agent. He told reporters his contract negotiations have "actually gotten worse," and suddenly there's a story in the Boston Globe saying those comments weren't well-received in the Belichick bunker. So Welker backtracked, saying it was "probably a bad choice of words" and insisting he's happy with his franchise tag. At least he didn't say they were taken out of context; give him credit for that.

10. TALL TALE: 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh told a radio program that Michael Crabtree has "the best hands I've ever seen on a wide receiver." Wow, and they say Rex Ryan is prone to hyperbole.

New OL coach Dave DeGuglielmo defended beleaguered RT Wayne Hunter on Wednesday. Actually, he played defense better than the '85 Bears. DeGuglielmo not only backed Hunter as the starting right tackle, but he staked his reputation on him.

"This guy is the starting right tackle," DeGugliemo said in his first session with the media. "Until they tell me otherwise, until they ship him out of this building or until they shoot me dead in my office, that sonofagun is going to be the starting right tackle. And he's going to play well."

DeGuglielmo was just getting started on the Hunter issue.

• On Hunter's physique: "They (should) strap shields to this guy and put him in The Coliseum."

• On Hunter's skill set: "I see many, many more great things, and I see the upside, I see the movement skills, the explosiveness. Those are the things I see on film. How it all worked out? I don't know, but I know this much: The guy I have in that room right now, the guy that communicates with me, is nothing like the guy people explained that I would have. He's not introverted, he's not any of the things people say he is. He has a great personality, great energy, great desire and great skills. It looks like the makings of something great."

• On why Hunter struggled so much last season: "You'd have to ask (former OL coach) Bill Callahan. I think he's in the directory in Dallas."

• On why he's so effusive while management has issued lukewarm endorsements of Hunter: "I speak my piece to people in power. I don’t make those decisions, but I'm telling you, this guy has skills. If you find one out there better than that playing that position, bring him to me."

DeGuglielmo, who has Rex Ryan-like candor, also tweaked his predecessor, the well-respected Callahan.

"I'm not worried about the ghost of Bill Callahan," he said. "The difference between me and Bill: I have a Super Bowl ring, and he doesn't."

DeGuglielmo won a ring as the Giants' assistant OL line coach in 2007. Callahan didn't miss by much, winning an AFC title as the Raiders' head coach in 2002.

DeGuglielmo is a piece of work. His best line of the day came when he was asked to compare the current line to the one that ranked among the NFL's elite only two years ago.

"I’m not going to compare them to what they did two years ago," he said. "Two years ago, I was 230 pounds. Now, I’m 290. So, you could say, ‘Hey, Guges, used to look good in that suit.’ But right now I can’t put one leg into it. It doesn’t matter what I was like two years ago ... I fluctuate 60 here, 60 there. It’s like peeing in a pool. Nobody knows the difference."

The most celebrated player in Jets history is perhaps the most celebrated critic of the team. Joe Namath doesn't pull any punches, not since he started his radio spot two years on ESPN New York 98.7 -- and it has frayed his relationship with the Jets, especially owner Woody Johnson.

Namath admitted as much Tuesday night at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, where he joined other former and current Jets and Giants at the United Way Gridiron Gala.

"It’s rough, you know," the legendary QB said of his relationship with the Jets. "None of us like to be critiqued, criticized in a negative way. It gets bent sometimes. I don’t like the feeling, the vibes I get back whenever I cross Woody's path. Rex (Ryan) and I have been getting along well when we bump into each other, but I know there’s some underlying sensitivity there the Jets have."

BRANDON AMONG HONOREES: Jets RG Brandon Moore was honored at the 19th annual gala. Moore and Giants RG Chris Snee received the Hometown Hero award to recognize their service to the community. Giants Hall-of-Fame LB Harry Carson was honored for his lifetime achievement.

ON THE BLOCK: TE Dustin Keller, who also attended the event, said Tony Sparano's system includes a larger variety of blocking calls than the previous system. That, he believes, will solve some pass-protection issues ... OT Vladimir Ducasse said he's been working exclusively at right tackle in early drills. Ducasse, a two-year disappointment, acknowledged "this is a big year for me." He didn't make any bold declarations about overtaking incumbent Wayne Hunter, saying only that his "ultimate goal" is to start.

In Mark Sanchez's eyes, Tim Tebow is a backup quarterback and a good business decision.

Sanchez, in an interview Friday morning on WFAN, gave his thoughts on the reason behind the Tebow trade. (Yeah, two months later, we're still talking about it.) Probably echoing the company line he received from management, Sanchez described Tebow as a cost-effective addition to the roster.

"You’re always going to have a backup quarterback and this guy can do so many other things," Sanchez said. "From a business standout, if you’re running a team, and your backup quarterback can do five other jobs, from a business standpoint, you’re saving money. It’s a solid move, just like Brad Smith used to do for us. He returned kicks and punts and did everything, and he played quarterback."

In a vacuum, yeah, you could rationalize it that way. But we all know Tebow isn't your typical backup quarterback.

Sanchez, perhaps in denial, actually said Tebow's presence will help him deal with the media scrutiny. He noted there were more media at Tebow's locker during Thursday's media session than his own locker, adding, "He can take pressure off you, as weird as that may be."

Sanchez touched on other topics during the interview.

On his immediate reaction to the Tebow trade: (He paused and chuckled) "I don't know, that's a good question. A little curious."

On Tony Sparano's vocal coaching style: "It hasn’t been all smiles, he’s a no-nonsense guy. He’s pretty stern, but he’s fair … It’s loud and everybody can hear it. I'm really starting to like him, I'm understanding the system."

On his relationship with Santonio Holmes: "It feels like it did when he first arrived (in 2010)."

On the silver lining from the season-ending debacle in Miami: "Looking back now, I'm glad it happened that way because we needed to go into this season making changes. If we would've played well and won the game ... Let's say I threw five touchdowns and everything was great, do we really solve anything? We didn't make the playoffs, but is everything okay? Do we solve anything? I don’t think so. It was almost like a necessary evil."

On embattled RT Wayne Hunter: "He's just a physical freak, he’ just a monster of a human. He’s got all the ability, there no doubt. I have all the faith that he's going to have a great season."

Rich Cimini and Jane McManus discuss the Jets' quarterback dynamic this offseason, Darrelle Revis' war of words with Bill Belichick and the relationship between Wayne Hunter and Santonio Holmes.

Notes and observations on the Jets and the NFL:

1. IN TONY WE TRUST: The Jets are taking an enormous gamble, opting to stand pat at the right-tackle position. If Vladimir Ducasse doesn't step up, they'll go with the embattled Wayne Hunter, much to the chagrin of Jets fans. Suddenly, we're starting to hear stuff from Rex Ryan about Tony Sparano's system, how it will suit Hunter better than the previous system. In a radio interview last week, Ryan said Hunter was "isolated, one-on-one, for the majority of the time (last season) and I don’t know how many tackles hold up down after down that way." Two thoughts: If Sparano's system can protect suspect right tackles, how come Marco Columbo was a turnstile for the Dolphins? Didn't Ryan always praise Bill Callahan as the best OL coach in the league?

2. SLIM PICKINGS: One well-respected scout told me there were only two legitimate defensive ends in the draft -- Quinton Coples (Jets, 16th pick) and Chandler Jones (Patriots, 21st). The scout said highly-publicized 'tweeners Melvin Ingram (18th, Chargers) and Courtney Upshaw (35th, Ravens) were too short and too short-armed to be effecive pass rushers, and that they were overvalued because of the paucity of true DEs. Obviously, the Jets felt the same way.



3. LUCKY BREAK: Contrary to a report, the Jets had no interest in taking West Virginia DE/OLB Bruce Irvin with the 16th pick -- so they claim. You'd like to believe them because, despite tremendous speed-rushing ability, Irvin is a bit of a head case. An opposing scout, pulling information from his team's report on Irvin, said the player refused an opportunity to become a full-time starter (he started six games last season). According to the scout, Irvin basically told his coach, "I don't want to start, I just want to rush the passer." The Seahawks took him with the 15th pick. Said the scout: "Pete Carroll may have done the Jets a favor."

4. BOY AMONG MEN: Coples discovered at an early age what it's like to play against the big boys. He attended Hargrave Military School in Chatham, Va., and played on their post-graduate football team -- at the age of 17. "He was playing against 21-year-old men," said Hargrave coach Troy Davis, who served as Coples' defensive coordinator. "He grew up real fast and it fueled his confidence." Coples and current teammate Muhammad Wilkerson were the starting DEs for Hargrave in 2007, but they didn't go undefeated. They lost to the University of Tennessee jayvee team.

5. NEW-AGE JETS: Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, discussing why the Jets placed an emphasis on speed in the draft, made an interesting point. To build a defense in today's pass-happy NFL, he said, "You have to work backward," starting with your third-down package. In other words, get pass rushers and coverage people. It makes perfect sense, except for this quirky stat: Opponents threw against the Jets a lot less last season than 2010. The percentage of pass plays was 54.6, down from 58.3.

6. MORE MAYHEM: OLB Aaron Maybin said he's up to 240, having gained eight pounds in the offseason. He'd like to put on a few more pounds, with the hope of increasing his role on defense. He'd like to find a niche in the base package. The Jets could use him because they're awfully thin at OLB.

7. FREE-AGENT SIGNING OF THE YEAR: Kudos to Greg Schiano and the Bucs for signing former Rutgers DL Eric LeGrand. They did it right, even distributing a press release that included his college stats. How can that not put a lump in your throat?

8. SPYGATE: Former Jets coach Eric Mangini, now an ESPN analyst, said on the air last week that he regrets blowing the whistle on the Patriots for their illegal videotaping in 2007. "If there's a decision I could take back, it's easily that decision," he said. "Never in a million years I wanted it to go this way." It ruined his relationship with Bill Belichick. If that hadn't occurred, he'd probably be the Patriots' defensive coordinator.

9. BOUNTY GATE: I think NFL commissioner Roger Goodell came down too hard on Jonathan Vilma. He penalized the soldier as harshly as the generals.

10. SNL REVIEW: I'm sorry, but Eli Manning is just not funny.

New offensive coordinator Tony Sparano conducted a conference call Thursday with reporters, his first media availability since he was hired in January. Obviously, there was a lot of ground to cover, much of which is included in the main story. Here are some leftovers and take-aways from the Q&A:

1. Sparano, educated in the Bill Parcells school of secrecy, refused to say how Tim Tebow will be deployed. He wouldn't even commit to the wildcat, saying, "If we go in that direction ..." Sorry, I jusy think I had an Eric Mangini flashback.

2. Sparano said he reviewed every snap from the 2010 and 2011 seasons to gain a better perspective on the Jets' personnel.

3. Echoing what GM Mike Tannenbaum said after the draft, Sparano said it was purely a "coincidence" that they drafted three players from option offenses -- WR Stephen Hill, G Robert T. Griffin and RB Terrance Ganaway. The inference, of course, is that they wanted players for their Tebow packages.

4. Sparano danced around the Wayne Hunter question, refusing to say he'll be the starting right tackle. He repeated a story that Rex Ryan told the other day, saying his old team -- the Dolphins -- looked into the possibility of signing Hunter as a free agent. "We thought an awful lot about him, we wanted to bring him down there," Sparano said. That was last summer. In fact, the Dolphins liked Hunter as a swing/insurance tackle, but not a 16-game starter.


5. He said having a big receiver like second-round pick Stephen Hill will help a mobile QB because of his ability to run a comeback route, providing a big window for the QB. "Quarterbacks find those big targets friendly, when they're on the move," Sparano said. Obviously, we think of Tebow as the mobile QB on the team, but Sparano said he's impressed with Mark Sanchez's ability to throw on the run.

6. Sparano said he wants his system to be "as player-friendly as possible." He said he made a handshake agreement with the players, vowing to give his best every day.

7. Sparano on third-string QB Greg McElroy: "This guy is brilliant ... He's a smart, smart player."

8. Sparano defined his terms 'A' and 'B' backs. An 'A' is a big back, a la Shonn Greene, whom he said has good field vision. A 'B' is "scatty," he said, mentioning Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles as examples.

Over a three-day period, the Jets drafted eight players -- four offense, four defense. Quick thoughts on their biggest draft haul since 2006:

1. Rex Ryan shouldn't have anointed DE Quinton Coples and WR Stephen Hill as starters -- not yet, anyway. Coples, their first-round pick, arrives with the reputation of being and hot-and-cold player, lacking intensity at times. What good does it do to reward a player like that before he steps on the field? Make him earn it. Plus, it wasn't a good way to treat incumbent LDE Mike DeVito, a solid starter and respected veteran.

2. This was a boom-or-bust draft for the Jets. Ultimately, it'll be defined by Coples and Hill, a couple of extraordinary athletes who, for different reasons, didn't produce in their final college years. If the Jets' scouts are right, if these two players reach their ceilings, they will have two blue-chip talents. If not, the draft will be a bust. Mike Tannenbaum, Ryan & Co. went for broke, all or nothing, in this critical draft.

3. I will say this: They definitely improved their team speed at wide receiver (Hill), defensive end (Coples), inside linebacker (Demario Davis) and safety (Josh Bush). That was a must because, let's face it, the Jets were a slow team last season. They still have speed issues in the backfield and at outside linebacker.

4. You got the feeling that special teams coach Mike Westhoff had a lot of say in the draft. Davis, Bush, Allen and perhaps WR Jordan White should be core special teamers. This draft was like a retirement gift to Westhoff, who is planning to leave for the sunset after the 2012 season.

5. Two needs that didn't get addressed -- right tackle and outside linebacker. TannyRex did their best to sell the current personnel, claiming RT Wayne Hunter and OLB Bryan Thomas (coming off Achilles-tendon surgery) are capable of holding down their respective forts. Ryan actually said he expects Hunter "will have a big year for us," hinting that Tony Sparano's system will suit him better than the Brian Schottenheimer system. He'd better be right because there's no way they can endure another season with sub-par play at right tackle.

6. Sparano must have been one happy dude. The Jets drafted a 241-pound running back in the sixth round (Terrence Ganaway) and a 340-pound guard (Robert T. Griffin) on the very next pick. Ground and Pound, baby. By the way, Ganaway and Griffin were teammates at Baylor.

7. ESPN analyst Bill Polian, the former Colts GM, made an interesting comment on the air Saturday. He noted that Hill, Ganaway and Griffin all came from option offenses in college, suggesting the Jets did that to suit running QB Tim Tebow. Not surprisingly, TannyRex wouldn't admit to that. Tannenbaum said it was "a coincidence."

8. Realistically, how many of these picks will have roles this season on offense and defense? Obviously, Coples and Hill will see significant action. Beyond them, though, there are no guarantees. Maybe Davis, because he can run, can work his way into a sub package on passing downs. If Bush can cover, he could be a dime back. Maybe Allen can be used as a situational blitzer, a la Drew Coleman, 2010.

9. Here's a positive: The Jets didn't draft anyone with major, off-the-field issues -- at least none that we know of.

10. With Hill targeted for a significant role, there's really no need to re-sign Braylon Edwards. With two new safeties, the Jets seem willing to move on from Jim Leonhard.

11. Ryan said Coples reminds him of Shaun Ellis and Trevor Pryce. Hill was compared, athletically, to Calvin Johnson. And Ryan said Davis reminds him of a young Bart Scott. Ellis/Pryce, MegaTron and Scott -- that's a hell of a draft.

Wayne Hunter's hold on the right-tackle position is tenuous.

Even though no offensive tackles were chosen in the first three rounds of the draft, Hunter "will be competing for a position there," GM Mike Tannenbaum said Friday night at the conclusion of the third round. "There are three young guys that we like in Caleb (Schlauderaff), Austin (Howard) and Vlad (Ducasse), so we will see how that goes."

Schlauderaff is a guard, but Ducasse and Howard are tackles. In a follow-up question, Tannenbaum was asked if, in fact, Hunter is competing for his old starting job.

"I’d say Wayne is our right tackle now, and that’s something that we’re going to continue to look at," he said. "I think the offensive line is something that we will continue to monitor here the next couple of weeks, as we will at all positions, once we get through the draft and evaluate the depth chart."

Hunter has a $2.45 million guarantee for 2012, so it's unlikely he'd be released. But if the Jets can trade him and get something in return, they might deem him expendable. Hunter struggled last season in his first year as a full-time starter.

Quick thoughts on the first two days of the Jets' draft:

1. In recent years, the Jets have become a size/speed drafting team. That philosophy, which can be dangerous, was never more apparent than with their first two picks -- DE Quinton Coples and WR Stephen Hill. For different reasons, neither player produced a lot last season, but they're big and fast and they performed well in the Underwear Olympics -- a.k.a. the scouting combine. As team officials discussed the picks, the words "athleticism" and "potential" kept coming up. Buyer, beware.

2. The Jets have been doing that a lot in recent years, taking height/weight/speed prospects with questions about productivity, level of competition and football traits -- i.e. Vernon Gholston, Vladimir Ducasse, Muhammad Wilkerson and Kenrick Ellis. It's like they've become infatuated with 40 times and wing spans. Sometimes it works out (Wilkerson), sometimes it doesn't.

3. That said, I like the Hill pick. Yeah, he's raw, having played in a run-oriented offense at Georgia Tech, but his arrow is pointed up. From all reports, he has the right attitude, he's willing to work, he's a tenacious blocker and he has a good football acumen. You'd rather take a chance on a player like that, as opposed to Coples, whose motivation came into question after a lackluster senior year. Both players have high ceilings, but at least Hill is going in the right direction.

4. The Jets had a first-round grade on Hill. A lot of teams did. This is what one NFC scout told me about him: "It's hard to predict [his future]. I saw him catch more balls at the combine than I did during the season, but he's got all the talent. He could be a big-time player."

5. Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm having a hard time with LB Demario Davis in the third round. Why? He's a bit of a projection, a 4-3 OLB becoming a 3-4 ILB. At 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, he's undersized for the Jets' 34 front. Their inside 'backers are responsible for taking on guards, and that will be difficult for him. This also wasn't a "need" position. Sure, they can use some young legs behind David Harris and Bart Scott, but they had bigger needs at safety and offensive tackle. The Davis pick has Mike Westhoff's fingerprints all over it; he rated Davis as one of the best special teamers in the draft.

6. In case you're wondering, the Davis pick doesn't mean the end for Scott. GM Mike Tannenbaum, in an unsolicited remark, said Scott isn't going anywhere. But now his heir apparent is on campus.

7. The common denominator with all three picks is speed. The Jets wanted -- and needed -- to improve their team speed, and they've done that. Coples (4.71 in the 40), Hill (4.31) and Davis (4.52) all have above-average speed for their respective positions. Asked about the need for speed, VP of college scouting Joey Clinkscales said, "I'm sure that was in the back of our mind. We wanted to get faster. The league is getting faster with spread offenses and being able to score points. It was important to add that."

8. Obviously, the Jets aren't going to emerge from this draft with an offensive tackle who can pose an immediate threat to embattled RT Wayne Hunter. Does that mean another season of Hunter? You can't get a straight answer from the Jets. Tannenbaum, speaking in code, said Hunter is "still competing for the position." Asked if that means it's an open competition, Tannenbaum said Hunter remains the starter "right now" -- the Tannenbaum kiss of death. Look for them to make a move in post-draft free agency.

9. On Day 3, the Jets will wait -- a lot. They have no fourth-round pick (Tim Tebow trade) and no fifth-round pick (sent to the Seahawks in the trade-up for Hill), so they don't pick until the sixth round. They have five picks left, four of which are compensatory -- and those picks can't be traded.

10. I guess Santonio Holmes doesn't have much pull in the personnel department. They haven't picked any offensive linemen.

We continue our series on players the Jets will consider with the 16th overall pick:

Player: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 316 pounds

Scouts, Inc., ranking: 14th

Draft projection: First round (12th to 20th)

Scouting Report: DeCastro is considered one of the best guard prospects in years, but the buzz in league circles is that the Jets could draft him as a right tackle to replace Wayne Hunter. That would go against conventional thinking. DeCastro has the frame to play right tackle, but he lacks the athleticism and arm length (33 inches) to excel at the position, according to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay. Said McShay: "You're making a mistake if you try to make him something he's not." But DeCastro recorded the best three-cone time (7.3 seconds) of any offensive lineman at the combine, so he obviously has some agility.

If it doesn't work out at right tackle, the Jets could move him to guard in 2013. Remember, LG Matt Slauson and RG Brandon Moore are entering the final year on their contracts. Food for thought. As a prospect, there's really nothing not to like. DeCastro is the complete package: Textbook technique, great intangibles and an ornery attitude on the field. New OC Tony Sparano, a former OL coach, would love to add a player like this. Some teams wouldn't take a guard as high as 16th because it's not a so-called "value" position, but if the Jets see him as a tackle ...

Key Stat: DeCastro said he gave up only one sack in his career, his freshman year to UCLA's Brian Price. DeCastro started 39 games at right guard, on an offensive line that protected his roommate, Andrew Luck, like the Secret Service. (No wisecracks.) Stanford surrendered only 24 sacks over those three seasons.

Red flags: None.

In his own words: "There's a lot to work on -- just technique in general. Football is something where you're always chasing perfection. There's a lot I can get better at -- using my hands, being more balanced ... I mean, the list goes on." (On his strengths): "I'm aggressive. I like playing football. I enjoy it. Good balance, good leverage."

This is the fifth part in a nine-part, position-by-position breakdown, analyzing needs and draft possibilities:

Position: Offensive line

Depth chart: LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, LG Matt Slauson, C Nick Mangold, RG Brandon Moore, RT Wayne Hunter, T/G Vladimir Ducasse, G Caleb Schlauderaff, OT Austin Howard, OT Dennis Landolt, G Trevor Canfield, C Kris O'Dowd.

Not under contract: N/A

Scouting report: Surprisingly, the Jets haven't made any moves in the offseason to shore up their once-formidable line. (Last time I checked, Tim Tebow doesn't play O-line.) Hunter was on the bubble, but his $2.45 million salary became guaranteed in February, improving his chances of sticking in 2012. Clearly, he was the weak link, allowing 8.5 sacks and 11 penalties. The Jets say he's the starter at right tackle (for now), but he's simply holding the fort until someone better comes along -- and that may not take long. It's now or never for former second-round pick Ducasse, who will get a chance to compete at right tackle. Slauson (shoulder surgery) and Moore, who made the Pro Bowl as an alternate, are entering the final year of their contracts. That creates a need at guard.

Pro Bowlers Mangold and Ferguson are locked into mega contracts, so they're not going anywhere. Ferguson (9.5 sacks) needs to step it up after a slight decline last season. GM Mike Tannenbaum knows he did a terrible job of building depth last season, so you know he'll be carrying that thought into the draft.

The last time: How quickly we forget. In 2010, the Jets drafted Ducasse in the second round (61st overall). He failed at two positions, left guard and right tackle.

Potential targets: They need to own up to the Ducasse mistake and find a right tackle that can contribute immediately. It would be an upset if they pick a right tackle in the first round, but that's okay because there are plenty of second- and third-round options -- Bobbie Massie (Ole Miss), Mitchell Schwartz (Cal), Mike Adams (Ohio State) and Kelechi Osemele (Iowa State). All four players project as right tackles in the NFL. The Jets brought Massie in for a visit; some teams are divided on his potential. A fifth- or sixth-round possibility is OT Jeff Adams (Columbia), who has drawn considerable attention from Jets scouts. Things will get interesting in the first round if G David DeCastro (Stanford), regarded by some as the best guard prospect in a decade, slips to 16. Then we'll find out if the Jets are picking for need or best available player. The last true guard to go that high was Shawn Andrews (Eagles, 16th, 2004).

Need Rating (on a scale of 1 to 10): Tackle -- 7; guard -- 4.

Next: Special teams

Notes, thoughts and observations on the Jets and the NFL:

1. If the Jets sign a veteran safety in free agency -- Reggie Nelson? -- it will give them more flexibility in the draft. The No. 1 item on their wish list is pass rusher. Rex Ryan has told friends he absolutely wants to add a blue-chip rusher to his defense, sources said. They really like Courtney Upshaw (Alabama), Melvin Ingram (South Carolina) and Andre Branch (Clemson). This is a must-get for the Jets, who have ignored the pass rush for too long.

2. The Jets have seven draft picks, one in each round, according to the team. There's also a chance they could receive a compensatory pick for free-agent losses in 2011.

3. The team continues to shop LB Bart Scott in trade talks, source said, but his $4.2 million guaranteed salary is a deal breaker. Scott's days with the team appear numbered. If they dump Scott, you have to wonder if ILB Luke Kuechly (Boston College) becomes a consideration with the 16th pick.

4. Drew Stanton, the Jets' new backup QB, already has won a game for the Jets. In Week 9 of the 2010 season, he replaced an injured Matthew Stafford with about six minutes to go, with the Lions leading, 20-10. Coming out of the two-minute warning, Stanton ran a third-down bootleg, but instead of simply falling down and taking the sack, he threw an ill-advised incompletion to stop the clock. His brain cramp saved the Jets, who had no timeouts remaining, from certain defeat -- and they rallied to win in OT. Maybe the Jets felt like they owed him one.

5. Loved Ralph Wilson's comments to the Buffalo News the other day on the signing of stud DE Mario Williams. "I'd like to see us make the playoffs and possibly the Super Bowl while I'm around," Wilson, 93, told the newspaper. "I don't expect to be around that many years ... I don't give a darn about the money. I can't take it with me." It reminded me of Leon Hess's famous news conference in 1995, when he pronounced, "I'm 80 years old and I want results now." For the Bills' sake, they'd better hope it works out better than the Hess declaration. That news conference was to introduced Rich Kotite and ... well, you know the rest.

6. Speaking of Williams, the Bills said they will use him at left end. That could be a problem for the Jets, considering their issues at right tackle. Wayne Hunter remains on the roster, but I'm told Vladimir Ducasse will get every opportunity to win the starting job.

7. Woody Johnson took some grief (at least in the twitter-sphere) for saying in a TV interview that the Jets "passed on" Peyton Manning. It probably wasn't the best choice of words, but he was right. As I wrote at the start of the Peyton sweepstakes, the Jets formulated their entire off-season blueprint around Mark Sanchez and would've tossed it only if Manning threw himself at the Jets -- and that was NEVER going to happen.

8. The Jets must feel confident in Bryan Thomas's Achilles-tendon rehab because they guaranteed about $600,000 on his one-year contract. He's only five months removed from surgery, but he still has four months to training camp. This signing sends a positive message to the locker room, a departure from last year when they dumped elder statesman-type leaders -- i.e. Shaun Ellis, Damien Woody, et al.

9. Hey, Peyton, decide already. This is getting old.

10. Nice signing by the Patriots, picking up WR Brandon Lloyd. He's the outside threat that Tom Brady has lacked. Adios, Ochocinco.

This was a relatively quiet day for the Jets, who usually love the big splash on Day 1, but a few trends developed:

1. Despite being about $14 million under the salary cap at the start of the day, the Jets didn't get involved with any upper-tier free agents, at least none that we know of. This could indicate a more conservative approach than in the past. Remember, they spent major bucks last year, with Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie and David Harris. Maybe they're going to be more like the Giants, going slow and waiting for the market to settle. Or maybe owner Woody Johnson just told his football people to chill out until next year.

2. I was surprised they re-signed OLB Bryan Thomas so soon, considering he's only five months removed from Achilles-tendon surgery, but it was only a one-year deal and it sends a message -- character counts. A year ago, the Jets unloaded a bunch of good locker-room guys and we all saw the result. It's too early to say that retaining Thomas and NT Sione Pouha signal a shift in philosophy, but it's a positive sign. Maybe they learned their lesson.

3. It doesn't look like the Jets will get their top choice at backup quarterback, Chad Henne (Dolphins). They reached out to Henne, according to a source, but he set up visits with the Jaguars and Seahawks, according to multiple reports. He will be out of the Jets' price range, and they know it, which explains why they set up a visit with Drew Stanton (Lions). Big dropoff from Henne to Stanton.

4. They investigated the safety market, showing interest in LaRon Landry, Brandon Meriweather and Reggie Nelson. This isn't a great group -- they all have flaws, especially Meriweather -- but the Jets are desperate. Prediction: They sign a veteran and look for another safety in the draft.

5. Lots of big-name receivers on the market (well, there were), but the Jets flirted with ... Chaz Schilens. Who? He's a 6-foot-4, 225-pound receiver from the Raiders, and the Raiders' former WRs coach, Sanjay Lal, is now the Jets' receivers coach. So there you go. Schilens fits the profile of what the Jets need -- size and speed -- but he's battled injury problems and he has only 72 receptions and seven TDs in four years. The Cards are also interested.

6. Cause for concern: The Bills reportedly are showing significant interest in stud DE/OLB Mario Williams -- and that doesn't bode well for the Jets, who have a major issue at right tackle with Wayne Hunter/Vladimir Ducasse. In case you're wondering, Williams was used mostly over the right tackle last season by the Texans (65 percent of all rushes from the defensive left, according to Pro Football Focus). A lot of fans are asking about RT Eric Winston, released by the Texans. So far, there is no known interest by the Jets.

7. The Jets want to re-sign free agent PK Nick Folk, according to a source, but he would have competition in camp.

The Jets' actions (or non-actions) in free agency will tell us a lot about what they think of their recent drafts. By that, I mean they have a few needs that could be filled in-house -- if they're willing to promote former draft picks that have been waiting in the wings. That's the way it's supposed to be done, the cost-effective way, but we know the Jets have a tendency to throw money at problems.

The dilemmas:

RT Vladimir Ducasse -- Most Jets fans groan when they hear his name, but here's the reality, folks: The front office still holds him in high regard and will give him every opportunity to be the starting right tackle (regardless of what GM Mike Tannenbaum said in a recent interview about incumbent Wayne Hunter).

I was sitting in Tannenbaum's office last season when he told me Ducasse, despite his obvious struggles, will have a "great" career. We'll see if that's just lip service because, if the Jets go out and sign a veteran right tackle, they'd basically be admitting they wasted a second-round pick on Big Vlad.

RB Bilal Powell -- Remember when everyone was scratching their head last April when the Jets drafted another running back? Well, this is the reason why. LaDainian Tomlinson (free agent) isn't coming back, and they need a backup for Shonn Greene.

So it's decision time: Give the job to Powell or hit the free-agent market for stop-gap player like Ronnie Brown. (Joe McKnight apparently is viewed as a better third-down candidate.) Powell's rookie year was basically a red-shirt (13 carries for 21 yards), so there's not much to go on. But they thought enough of him to pick him in the fourth round; now we find out if they have the courage of their convictions.

NT Kenrick Ellis -- We already know what the Jets think about the former third-round pick because the Jets just gave incumbent Sione Pouha a three-year contract. Ellis, out of tiny Hampton (Va.), was overmatched as a rookie. His transition to the NFL will take some time.

QB Greg McElroy -- The Jets won't have to draft a developmental quarterback because they still believe in McElroy and plan to make him the No. 3. It would be too risky to make him the No. 2, so they'll have to seek a veteran such as Chad Henne.

FREE-AGENT BUZZ: Most of the speculation has focused on LaRon Landry (Redskins), but the safety-needy Jets also could make a run at Brandon Meriweather (Bears). They showed interest in Meriweather at the end of last preseason when he was released by the Patriots. He signed a one-year deal with the Bears early last September.

BT EXPRESS: Longtime Jets LB Bryan Thomas, an unrestricted free agent, told the Star-Ledger of Newark that his rehab from Achilles'-tendon surgery is "right on schedule." Thomas could be a fallback option for the Jets at OLB.

"I talked to my agent, I asked, ‘Am I in the plans (for the Jets)?’ He’s going to talk to them," Thomas told the newspaper. "Like I said, I’d love to be back. I appreciate the game, but when you are watching it and not being able to be out there for the first time ever, you appreciate it so much more."

SPEND MONEY: The Jets are expected to be about $14 million under the cap, not counting Pouha's contract.