Take the source for what it is - I don't know much about it. But I like Pat Fitzgerald. He coaches good hard nosed football teams every year and is a real CEO of football style coach who I believe would hire a good staff. He's been floated around for NFL jobs for a while. Not married to the idea of him but this is an encouraging candidate.
He is in a similar mold but I think Fitzgerald is more respected. Northwestern has the least recruiting tools in the conference and will be going to their second Big Ten Championship game in three seasons. Rhule was 4 games over .500 in college while Fitzgerald is 25 games over .500. In more games, but also a much harder conference. But they would be classified under the same umbrella, yes. CEO of football. You coach the offense, you coach the defense, I will coach everything with all of you and we will play hard and rough people up and make the right decisions in-game.
JV You know I am not a college football fan and I have no idea who this guy is. But based on what you say, sign me up. I just hope it is Joe D’s decision.
Please God, no. Pat Fitzgerald 2006: 106th ranked offense (out of 119 teams). 2007: 73rd ranked offense (out of 120 teams). 2008: 75th ranked offense (out of 120 teams). 2009: 71st ranked offense (out of 120 teams). 2010: 65th ranked offense (out of 120 teams). 2011: 51st ranked offense (out of 120 teams). 2012: 42nd ranked offense (out of 124 teams). 2013: 83rd ranked offense (out of 125 teams). 2014: 102nd ranked offense (out of 128 teams). 2015: 114th ranked offense (out of 128 teams). 2016: 87th ranked offense (out of 128 teams). 2017: 57th ranked offense (out of 130 teams). 2018: 101st ranked offense (out of 130 teams). 2019: 126th ranked offense (out of 130 teams). 2020: 85th ranked offense (out of 127 teams). _______________________________ An average offensive ranking of 82.5 (throughout 15 years of head coaching @ Northwestern). Which are offensive statistics that Pat Fitzgerald fans will intensionally keep hidden from you (I won't). ______________________________ He only cracked the top 50 1x throughout 15 years (42nd) and finished within the bottom 100 5x (101st, 102nd, 106th, 114th and 126th) and finished below his seasonal average of 82.5, 8 times. _______________________________ Within an offensive driven league; i want absolutely nothing to do with him (whatsoever). Trevor Lawrence deserves better (as does our entire offensive craved and starved fan base).
I'm really not sure what Jet fans love fest or obsession with Matt Rhule is all about because he's far from the offensive guru that Jet fans try and make him out to appear as... Matt Rhule: Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks coach from 2008-2010 @ Temple. 2008: 82nd ranked offense. 2009: 41st ranked offense. 2010: 79th ranked offense. Offensive coordinator/tight ends/recruiting coordinator (2011). 2011: 40th ranked offense. Temple Head Coach (2013-2016). 2013: 88th ranked offense. 2014: 100th ranked offense. 2015: 61st ranked offense. 2016: 43rd ranked offense. Baylor Head Coach (2017-2019): 2017: 98th ranked offense. 2018: 63rd ranked offense. 2019: 27th ranked offense. An average offensive rating of 65.6 (throughout 11 years of NCAA OC/HC experiences). Carolina Panthers Head Coach (2020): 2020: 19th ranked offense in total yards and 21st in scoring offense (4-7). I don't know. I just don't get it, I don't understand it and I just don't see it (to each our own).
You're welcome man and just because it didn't work out with Adam Gase doesn't mean I'm ready to quit on the next offensive driven minded head coach for our Jets especially with Trevor Lawrence a real possibility (or Justin Fields if #2). I'm just tired of these glorified defensive guys in a league that hasn't been defensive since the early 2000's. And I'm tired of my user name too i can't wait for the day we draft (hopefully Trevor Lawrence) where I can change it to OffenseWinsChampionships (OWC) on draft night; And signing Pat freaking Fitzgerald would completely stop me in my tracks and make me pause from making the switch to the point of saying fk it and just remain as DWC lol I'd absolutely blow a head gasket if we signed this man as our next HC.
I don’t need my head coach to be an offensive guru, I want my HC to hire an offensive guru. DWC can pump out stats & rankings til he’s blue in the face which he probably already is, Matt Rhule is a great coach. I knew more about Rhule in college being in Philadelphia than I do Fitzgerald but if he’s anything like Rhule then sign me up. I still prefer Campbell who I’ve been following for awhile but Fitzgerald seems like a nice candidate too.
I'm not a big Rhule guy, but I agree with your first paragraph. Let the offensive coordinator coach the offense. It's not a mind-blowing scenario. Unfortunately we missed out on the Shanahan coaching trio that look to be stud head coaches. We shouldn't go chasing that formula because it's likely surpassed. I'm not even 100% sold on wanting Fitzgerald. I just like the fact that we're looking at a candidate like him.
This. Let's not overpromote a co-ordinator again. Rex and Bowles would have made solid DCs but couldn't deal with the transition to HC. I don't want some offensive mastermind who nullifies himself by taking the Head Coach position. Get me a HC that can recruit wisely and defers to a viable OC and DC. I don't know the first thing about Fitzgerald but, if he's good at recruitment, get him in
He's an interesting guy. It would be an inspiring hire but I really doubt he wants the job. He probably makes the same or more now at Northwestern than he would with our Jets and the guy is a legend there, why would he ever wanna leave so he can be fired from the Jets in 3 years? I guess maybe unless he wants to prove he can win at the NFL level or something, people are funny. -- I doubt it even more now since he declined a chance to interview to coach freakin Aaron Rodgers: [At the end of the 2018 season ] there were rumors in the sports world that the Green Bay Packers were interested in interviewing Coach Fitzgerald for their vacant head coaching position. At the trophy presentation after the game, Fox broadcaster Joel Klatt asked Coach Fitzgerald about the rumors. To the delight of the Wildcat faithful, Coach Fitzgerald put the rumors to bed saying: "Hashtag Go Cats man, I'm not going anywhere. I'm here forever."
Would be a great hire. Anyone who can turn Northwestern into a top 10 program can coach his ass off. This is the kind of thinking we need from the Front Office. Rhule is already putting his stamp on Carolina and turning them around in his 1st season. Throw out the stats and all that other bs. It's about wins and losses and Fitzgerald knows how to develop players and win.
I couldn’t fathom why anyone would leave a cushy, high paying college job for this disaster especially after turning down a chance to coach Aaron Rodgers with one of the greatest franchises of all time.
That is a very good point. But having been burned so often by the Jets hiring a defensive leaning HC who knows nothing, and cares less about, offense, I'm leery of going down that road again. However, as you said, the important thing about a good - hopefully great - HC, is that he's more like a CEO, not favoring any one aspect of the team, but ensuring that they all work well together. If Fitzgerald is that type of HC, I'm all for him.
Switching your username from one extreme to the complete opposite is a fool-proof way to earn respect and credibility.
You know you can change your handle at any time. Maybe you ought to go ahead and change it now under the "build it and they will come" philosophy.
