I'm really surprised and pleased with our coach. The media tried to drum up "The players don't like him", but i believe that if you ask them now, they love a coach who demands results, prepares the players, and wins games. It's a hard nose winning philosophy that creates dynasties. Before the season, I had the jets at 4-12 at best. I fully supported our draft, and did not feel Leinart or Young were the long term solution. I had based my pessimistic 4-12 record on the uncertainty of Chad, and a youthful line and coach. Saying this, Chad has not been awesome, and has made quite a few mistakes. But we win anyway. Our rookies have shown flashes of their long term success, but haven't dominated to open a running game. But we win anyway. Our running backs are finally coming into their own.....by game 12. But we win anyway. Our defense was well on their way to being the worst in our history, and have finally gelled and gained respect...by game 12. But we win anyway. We go to the 3-4, underutilizing Vilma and Robertson. But we win anyway. We are now a team that has playoff hopes, when 90% of the board had them written off before the season started. I credit our coach. his scheme is still i its infancy, and for the first time since Parcells, I am excited about the future of our team. My hat goes off to Mangini. Regardless of whether we make the playoffs or not, regardless of waht Champ seems to think, we are building a team for the future-that has the ability to play now. Just my 2 cents...
There is no question that Mangini has made a huge difference in this team. I don't want to get ahead of myself, however. It's going to get a lot harder in the future. To take over a 4-12 team with the excellent picks we had in April (and following all the serious injuries to starters that we had), it was almost a no-brainer to improve upon that 4-12 record. Yeah, he's got to get good grades for taking us to 7-5 now, but I'm really anxious to see what we do in the next 3-4 years. It's one thing to take the elevator from the bottom floor, it's another thing to take it from the middle floor and ascend to the top. The challenges will become much more difficult. He's going to have to step up his own approach to a whole new level. Managing a "playoff" team with those kind of "can't miss" expectations (just look at the Giants) is a handful, especially in NY. Still, this guy seems adept beyond his years. I can see him raising the bar and raising the level of play. We'll need a few more pieces of the puzzle... like Clemens becoming the QB we hope he'll be and a legitimate running game, but so far this coach looks like the real deal. Time will tell when the challenges become more difficult.
And I'm sure you called that before the season. We had excellent picks, and didn't choose a great QB or RB. We lost Abraham, and were instituting a new defensive scheme that didn't utilize our remaining probowl talent. To say that we were definately going to improve was preposterous. Rookie coach, rookie O-line, no running back, QB in question, poor fit for existing defensive stars...and you say improving was a no brainer? I have to disagree.
I have been telling people for ages that talent is not as important as a coaches dicipline and scheme. If the coach insists that everyone do their job right you dont need superstars at every position.
One of my favorite things I've read about Mangini...he makes the players research the player they are lined up against, and makes them do a presentation on what they have studied...
Well just goes to prove how important coaching is in the NFL. Just compare Herm to Man & see the difference in the results. My bitch which MOST did not understand was how STUPID our owner was in hiring Herm cause he never outwit Belly which was proven by his record against Belly. I was angry at Woody for allowing Herm to continue to be our HC when I knew he would never/ever win us a SB which was also proven to be correct. Naturally how can ANY NYJ fan complain about the results up to now with Man & Tan so yes I agree with your post. Yesterday watching Herm implode in Cleve was for me total satisfaction & again proved he does not have the necessary skills to be a SB winning coach. You & everybody should understand that us not winning a championship is a unchangeable historical fact as is Woody not winning a SB in his 6 years so far as the owner of the NYJs.
Excellent post angry. I cant remember having this much fun watching this team play football. Even with the playoff appearances etc, this is a PREPARED team week in..week out. As a poster above noted, yeah you need the players to get to the next level..but when the system is in place..its hard to make mistakes with draft picks and free agents. In all my years rooting for this team, cant remember being more pleasantly surprised and appreciating "good sound football".
That is your most positive post regarding this team I have ever read. Does this mean that you feel that if Mangini is able to continue to have influence over our drafts nad free agents, you think we could go to a Superbowl in two years?
But Angry, I DID call that. So did many others. Go look up that poll someone put up last spring. I think my prediction was 9-7 range. It's here somewhere, I'm not kidding. Getting rid of Herm, acquiring Mangini, promoting Tannenbaum, hiring Shottenheimer, keeping Westhoff, drafting Ferguson, Mangold, Washington, Brad Smith, etc. A season of MAJOR injuries to MANY starters, CHAD coming back after sufficient time to heal this time, drafting Clemens, Nuge and Graham looking good, etc., etc. Yes, better thatn 4-12 was easily attainable. But don't take my word that I predicted 9-7... go look it up for yourself. I may have even said that 10-6 might be doable.
And a few of us said champ that there were "players" on this team...that with a new sound coaching staff, players that were disregarded in the past might just flourish. That has happened. Under Herm, players that won superbowls with the Patriots might fail here..I think we agree there. Players that were labeled "busts" here are no longer busts. That has always been a major disagreement with those so negative that claimed this team had not one player on the roster worth keeping. I guess they have more then one now.
I would not say 2 years but I think Man has the ability to be a SB winning coach. Before Man & Tan came along IMHO cause of Herm there was nothing very positive to post about
Okay, whoever you are, what have you done with Champ and how did you gain access to his computer? What are you looking for? A ransome? An autographed Bill Belichick Patriots hat? First we want to talk to him and see if he's allright.
In regards to post 17 and 18 in this thread...Im cracking up. Hey, lets hand it to champ..many doubted that he would never see a silver lining. Many of us, me included, said champ would never admit a positive. So, I'll start. Sorry about that champ. You are seeing what many of us are seeing.
That is the most important thing -- this is not a one hit wonder team -- mangini is building a sense of pride and character in this team and organization that should enable us to attract solid free agents and develop every position player!
