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Parcells devotes draft to linemen
Posted: Sunday April 18, 1999 08:00 PM
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- The New York Jets are comfortable with their skill position players -- Vinny Testaverde, Keyshawn Johnson and Curtis Martin. The two-day NFL draft saw them emphasize the men who make and plug holes for the stars. Five of their eight draftees weigh 300 pounds or more, including their first three picks, coming in the second, third and fourth rounds. Saturday's two selections, Mississippi State's Randy Thomas and David Loverne of San Jose State, and Sunday's second sixth-round selection, J.P Machado of Illinois, are projected as guards, where the Jets have two openings in the starting lineup. "We tried to continue our refurbishing of the offensive line," coach Bill Parcells said. "It was what we had to do in light of our situation. "We now have five candidates for those positions that we think are capable of competing. We have to find somebody to put there, so that's why we're increasing our numbers." Sunday's fourth-round pick was 317-pound nose tackle Jason Wiltz of Nebraska. "Jason will be a good inside run defender," Parcells said. "He played in a good program. He's a good, strong guy." Even bigger than Wiltz is the Jets' first seventh-round pick, 6-foot-5, 338-pound offensive tackle Ryan Young of Kansas State. The Jets, who turned over their first-round pick to New England when they signed Parcells two years ago, waited nearly eight hours before their first chance to make a selection in the second round with the 57th overall pick. That's when they took Thomas, and Loverne was drafted in the third round, the 90th pick overall. "Offensive line is a tough position to come in right away and do something," Parcells said. "You can't tell how they will fit in." Last year's starter at right guard, Matt O'Dwyer, is an unrestricted free agent who isn't expected to return. They released the starter at left guard, Todd Burger. The Jets' only lightweight selection was in the fifth round, when they took 5-7 1/2, 180-pound cornerback Jermaine Jones of Northwestern State in Louisiana. He returned two of his six interceptions for touchdowns last year. "Jermaine is a corner much in the mold of Ray Mickens," Parcells said. "He has good coverage skills and he might be able to help on the return game." Mickens, a Jets nickel back, is 5-8, 184 pounds. The team's other selections Sunday were sixth-rounder Marc Megna, a 6-1, 250-pound linebacker who played defensive line at Richmond, and 6-3, 265-pound linebacker J.J. Syvrud of Jamestown (North Dakota). Parcells said his expectations for the Jets' draftees are not high. "We have eight guys. If we can get four of them right, we'll feel pretty good."
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