I'm not defending schotty either, but his first year he did a really nice job, the next year was mess with a bad o-line and 2 totally different QB's playing, then the last season with a last minute change at QB and integrating Callahan's schemes. Then you toss in many reports about the players saying the plays were changing to fit Brett and that there was some "hand-cuffing" on the playcalling, it makes you wonder. If he stays here, it will be interesting to see which version shows up, 2006 or 2008.Rex will have next season to evaluate schotty and if he stinks it up again, I am sure Woody will have second thoughts of keeping him around.
I was just on ESPN and noticed that Thomas Jones had less than 300 carries on the season. 290 carries. What the !@#$. If Favre's arm was shredded, why didn't they take the ball out of his hands?
Just like Mangini did? This moronic situation just reminds me of the Jerry-Jones-Wade Phillips-Jason Garrett situation.
They are laying the ground work for bringing back Favre by keeping Shott. Maybe if Favre actually participates in an offseason workout - he'll have some wind left after week 9.
The HC has to decide who the rest of the CS is--the FO can make a recommendation but anything forced is bound to fail. Look how well it worked out for Oakland! F-that. If W forces it, he can go jump off a cliff for all I care. I have to believe he would make a recommendation but the HC has to make the call. And Shotty sucks anyway! Why the hell would you want a guy who can't adjust for shit and puts up 3 points against Seattle in a huge game? It would really hurt to have him around in 09.
I liked his offense in 2006. I like all the pre snap motions and shifting. Mangini said the reason he hired Shotty Jr was that his offense was difficult to stop. This year Shotty Jr had to completely change his offense in the middle of training camp. The one big knock I have with him is the playcalling with Favre. I have no idea what the reasoning was behind going shotgun on 3rd and 1 or 2 but it was a disaster. I also think it would be a positive for Clemens or Ratliff is Shotty Jr stays. They know his offense and wouldn't need an entire offseason just to understand a new coordinators lingo. I still think that Ryan/Spags or whoever should have final say on who works under him.
Schott had to change his offense regardless of who the QB was this year. 2007 proved the league had caught-on to the motions and shifts and that it was no longer working. If Schott was smart he would have continued to run the ball down teams' throats as per it was working all year long but he for some unknown reason decided to let Favre air it out when it mattered most and here we are.
Not saying that I agree with the plan, but it looks like the FO is pushing to keep him. The HC really should have the final say on his staff. And BS as our OC with Rex as our HC is a much better option the BS at the top! If BS flames out next year, I am sure Rex wont wait long to drop the axe. Who knows, maybe this will work out. Every year you see some crazy things happen here, that make you just kinda mumble "only the jets", then wonder, what will top this?, only to know you wont have to wait too long for the answer. I follow the Mets too, I am a seasoned veteran of torture, it builds character I hear.
I think we have more leverage with Ryan than we do with Spags, to force Ryan to accept an OC we give him. Spags has the potential to be coach in waiting for GMen, is well payed as DC for the giants, and has not interviewed with as many teams as Ryan has over the years. I think Ryan really wants an HC job now; his quotes make it sound like he is anxious for the chance. I think we have been smoke screening with Schotty a bit, with the HC front runner stuff. Not that he is not a serious candidate, I am sure he is, but I think they also want to keep him from interviewing anywhere else. The advantages to keeping him have been mentioned (continuity for the young QBs, not putting in two systems, inventiveness shown, no Mangini to handcuff him). For me, it doesn't change the fact that in 3 years, his individual game plans seem to be entirely hit and miss, and if it is a miss that week, he has shown little to no ability to fix it in game.
OK here is my take on Schotty. I don't think it is a terrible move to keep him. I think he is better than what we saw last season, and this one. Last season we just straight up sucked, horrible o-line no running game, etc.. This year we were built to run the ball yet we saw pass pplay after pass play, probably to feed or QB's huge ego. One question that I have is how much of the play calling was part of Mangini's gameplan, and how much was Schotty limited because of Mangini and Favre. As I recall he did a pretty nice job play calling in his first season, with no featured back, Pennington and Co. Just a thought.
I'm ok with Schotty staying as OC, something tells me Mangini somewhat tied his hands, only time will tell.
Don't underestimate the financial conditions impacting why we keep coaches who are under contract. It's cheaper than letting them go elswhere and in this economy that matters. The NFL is about to experience less revenue for the first time in a long time. The Jets and Giants real estate play is likely to lose them money rather than make them money right now. Times are very tough and money is a consideration.
