I think he tried too hard to be the "calm demeanor HC" instead of himself... (castrated by Woody?) Having no QB didn't help his cause (no one can win without one these days), not to mention forced to can his OC, then canned 5 games in as Rodgers was getting back into "playing shape" (then even the defense went to shit too) Hard to really get a fair read as him as HC imo... Seems like a good guy, so good luck to him.
I actually think the opposite and I was one of the one’s who had the pitch fork out to fire him ASAP. I think he’s probably a better head coach than we gave him credit for. He made a great OC hire in LaFleur and the franchise forced him out of the building to convince themselves he was the problem and not Zach Wilson. They then strapped his future to Hackett, a disastrous head coach and offensive coordinator that hasn’t called plays in a decade, and subsequently Rodgers.
Saleh did not handle the QB position well though. He handled Wilson with kiddie gloves, was a fanboy to Rodgers, and often didn't even seem to play the guy he wanted to play. You gotta be decisive and authoritative in this league.
Bowles has been an average NFL coach at best since leaving, and he's had consistency at the QB position since he took over for Arians (Brady and Mayfield).
Absolutely. The problem I have is this: Why can't the Jets find an average HC that can get them to win the division 3 times in a row? The Jets have won the division 3 times ever. Ever. That has nothing to do with Todd Bowles being average -- he actually won more games his first season with the Jets than he has any season with Tampa-- it just pisses me off that the Jets never ever ever ever ever ever ever win.
Not that Tennessee is a model franchise by any means but he's already starting off on a better foot with Cam Ward at QB. I'd also assume the Titans won't saddle him with a diva vet QB that requires all his friends as the coaches and players.
This 100%. Saleh got a dealt a dealt a bad hand in NY. Most of his "failure" lies in being yet another guy getting caught up in the always present inner building vortex of Jets fail. Which is typically always going to eat up and spit out a fairly flawed representation picture of who a guy really is or can be as a HC. For all intents and purposes Saleh came in and gave us a better case scenario outcome that can be (rationally) expected out of a defensive minded hire. He was also the best coach in that building when we fired him. Take the Aaron Rodgers stuff completely out of the equation and I believe the post-Zach pivot picture, that was wildly cheered for at the time mind you by the same people/fanbase who latter wanted to rip Saleh to shreds over it, likely plays out a lot different/better. That all said Tenn t is rough follow up gig to make work. Beggars can't be opportunity choosers though I guess. Lot riding there on who his OC hire ends up being. A reunion with McDaniel would be kinda fun to see play out though if McDaniel doesn't land a HC gig of his own.
Saleh was a flawed HC but I agree with others he got a raw deal. His first OC hire was a strong one and he should never have been fired. No way it was his call. And even for a new OC with QB pairing, the handpicked QB whisperer died in a freak accident before the year. His DC hire was a good one too. The other fatal flaw was not his: drafting Zach Wilson. If they kept Sam, traded the picks, and kept LaFleur, things would have been different. Not sure Sam becomes exactly what he is today, but I think the overall trajectory of the team is much better and he may be still coaching. He also should not have been fired midseason in 2024. Got a bit of a raw deal but don't think he was a great HC either. And weird hire for Tennessee. The dude is going from HC at one dysfunctional franchise to another. They freaking fired Mike Vrabel... Doubt it will work out for him there. I'm sure he'll bring someone from the Shanahan tree though so that'll help
I also think, both at the time and upon reflection, that he was done in by the one disastrous decision to drop Sam and draft Wilson and the many destructive shock waves that rippled out from the epicenter of that catastrophe. Nobody could tell me that Sam+Saleh+Lafleur+those extra draft picks and we might not be looking at wild card level playoff Jet teams right now. I'm not saying for sure, but I am saying for sure it would at least be possible if not even probable.
Imagine we trade down, pick up extra picks and then take, say, Ja'Marr Chase or even Peneii Sewell. What could have been
I always felt Jets fans got a raw deal having Saleh as coach. "I gotcha receipts right here, tough guy!"
Agreed. Bob picked his QB like AG did, and he did it twice. He proved he could win 7 games. I know it sounds great compared to Glenn, but just because he is better than complete garbage doesn't mean he is good. He is a decent defensive coach. Let's see who his OC will be, as McDaniel is going to be the Chargers' OC, back in California. And it is possible he learned some thing from the 1st HC stint, but as of right now the Titans do not instill fear in my hear with him as a HC.
I’m not going to defend or blame RS tenure, but to be clear, he got totally screwed and run over by Woody wishes and JD BS. He had zero to do with the Sam release and selection of Zach, and even less with the AR pick, and bringing in Hackett, a complete useless OC and forced to fire a very good young talented OC. . This Jets leadership is slow poison. He will do much better else where.
How is it that both of you guys can be so assertive - but 180 degrees apart - on who was responsible for the quarterback installations during Saleh's time at the Jets? Which of you will take credit for being so assertively wrong?
I’m really curious to see how he does at Tennessee… I don’t know who was really the final decision maker on the QB selection, in a perfect world you’d like it to be the case where the GM and HC are really partnering well and it’s truly a joint decision in them both wanting the same guy. That’s how I imagine it is on the well-run teams. But we are the Jets…Woody always sticks his ignorant nose into stuff like this with a strong eye to PR instead of production, and then too often we’ve had GMs and HCs not aligned (Rex and Idzik, etc.) so who the fuck knows with this team. Plus we’ve had absolutely dogshit GMs for the most part paired with horrible to mediocre coaches.
I always got the feeling that Saleh got stuck with Wilson and then when that turned into a mess, he actually did want Rodgers. Former DC’s or defensive coaches always prefer known commodities at QB. And I sort of trust that Saleh saw immaturity in Zach early on in the process. I’m not sure what the fuck Douglas saw. And Woody’s eyes definitely lit up at the thought of getting a relatable nepo-baby he could hang out with.
Happy for Saleh, but I am surprised he got hired after just one year away. Do Tennessee fans know he's Muslim? LOL. Seems like an odd fit. This is a franchise that not long ago had AJ Brown, Derrick Henry and were coached by Mike Vrabel. Going from us to them almost seems like the logical step - down.
Saleh strikes me as a total beta, he's not a leader. He's a players coach to the deepest part of his core. If he's ever going to work he needs pit bulls for his coordinators.
