The rest of the NFL caught up with the BS schemes from 06 in 07 and since virtually the same team (I don't really feel that Kendall would have actually made that much of a difference, contrary to many of you guys) was there, they could not make up with their lack of technique / strength / talent for the wool being pulled off of their competitors' eyes. A strategist's first draft might be brilliant, but success creates its own waves -- especially in the NFL where surprising success can incite a tidal tsunami. This happened a bit to BS, and the OL was not up to the furious competitive response. Sutton was selected as OC because he is a tried and true communicator whose rapport with the players is an uncomplicated effective conduit to the players from the HC. This overall situation from 10-6 and through 4-12 is Mangini's first draft growing up in the competitors' headlights. Now for round 3, guys!
Because Schott has the season before that...1 good 1 bad doesn't really mean much, especially since the bad one can be easily explained. A bad O-line is about the only thing an offensive coordinator can't hide. You can hide a QBs flaws a behind a good O-line. Same for WRs and RB. Schott's offensive game planning and play calling in '06 is probably the largest reason we went 10-6 in '06, and it ranked 18th with an average O-line. The Jets largest problem isn't coaching IMO, it's talent. BTW: Do rumors count in this? We've seen people flip out over the fact that we were rumored to a certain player that they didn't want or said couldn't fit. They get legitimately mad. Despite the huge amount of negativity, nothing about this offseason has really been bad for the Jets so far. Westhoff retiring sucks, but it was bound to happen. No doubt they'll keep his system installed in the coverage game. One thing O'Dea brings is a very good reputation working with K and P. If we're keeping the same system, then getting a guy who specializes in K and P is a perfectly logical and excellent move. Plus, it's not like Westhoff died, I'm sure he'll still remain a valuable resource via phone for Mangini.
I would rate it a slight plus at worst, last year was the first year since '04 that we had the same OC for 2 straight years. Last year was awful across the board but I do still believe in the coaches we have and I am happy the staff mostly remains intact although losing Westhoff is a major negative. Great idea for a thread though, hopefully qe see alot more on the plus side.
How about the Patriots getting beaten by the Giants in the Super Bowl. We sent a lot of negative karma to that game and it was our biggest accomplishment last season.
I'm not sold on O'Dea yet, I fear many people just don't realize how good Westhoff was/is. He was the main reason for the success of Leon Washington, Justin Miller, Chad Morton, etc., etc., etc. Whoever we put in that role is a downgrade IMO. This little blurb from Cimini doesn't help to build my confidence either.... February 20, 2008 O'Dea hired as special teams coach It took several weeks, but the Jets finally hired a special teams coach - Kevin O?Dea, who spent the last two seasons as the Bears? assistant special teams coach. Too bad he can?t bring Devin Hester along in a package deal. In 2004 and 2005, O?Dea was the Cards? special teams coach. The best thing that happened there was the emergence of PK Neil Rackers, who enjoyed a Pro Bowl year. The Jets neglected to mention in their press-release announcement that, in 2005, the Cardinals allowed four touchdowns on returns (three kickoffs, one punt). In 2004, they allowed two touchdowns (one kickoff, one punt). It?s not surprising that he was replaced after the 2005 season. O?Dea, 47, has big shoes to fill. His predecessor, Mike Westhoff, was regarded as one of the best special teams coaches in the league.
Arizona most likely had a trash special teams unit. No one wants to play for a below-average team in 105 degree weather. If O'Dea can turn Nugent into half of what Neil Rackers was in '05, his hiring will be a success. Justin Miller and Leon Washington have already proven themselves as dangerous return men. O'Dea has a lot of talent to work in the return game. I want to see Darrelle Revis return punts. Hopefully, he'll get that chance...unless someone like Chansi Stuckey or a free agent/rookie is more effective.
The difference is that Arizona had a crappy team with crappy players. Those crappy players had to play special teams. We have some pretty good special teams players already so that can only help.
This is an example of why I'm not rating the hiring of O'Dea as a positive or a negative. We just don't know how he's actually going to perform leading the Jets special teams unit. We all hope he'll be good.
Good post and I agree. Most posters on this board don't realize that Westhoff's major contribution hasn't necessarily been with guys like Miller or Leon or Nugent. His largest contributions are the things most of us don't even notice on the field... coaching guys to get the right angles for blocking and tackling... showing them formations that will work, etc. In other words, the entire STs, not just the individuals we usually credit (like Leon). If any of you have had the opportunity to see Westhoff in person at TC, you'd know what I mean. I've personally watched him for years now and been fascinated. He was always out there with them from start to finish of practice... barking orders, physically grabbing a guy and showing him the correct angle... scolding others who were out of position on returns, etc. Not knocking the job he did with the standouts on STs, but his greatest forte' with us has always been his overall STs coaching ability and especially the ability to communicate it to every single guy out there. It was as if he couldn't stand to see even one guy on STs that didn't do exactly what he wanted. THAT is the thing I will miss most about Westhoff, and that's something you won't get over the phone. My hope is that Westhoff recovers from his surgery and can come back a year from now full time. I know I read a blurb about him somehow still remaining on the payroll, so at least we've kept the door open for him to return.
That would be the best scenario and if Woody is paying to keep him attached to the Jets he's being a very smart cookie. You can't buy what Westhoff brings on the open market except when a team is losing it's focus, like the Dolphins were when they let him go.
You dont know how Bill Callahan is going to perform in his new job either, but you rated him as a positive. In fact, he has some major failures on his record but that didnt stop you from calling his hire a positive factor. It's silly to purposefully not include the new ST coach if you're going to include assistant position coaches.
Yeah...he's the offensive line coach. I was referring to the "major failures" statement. Callahan ran a nasty west coast offense with Rich Gannon in Oakland. He took over Gruden's teams and led them to the Super Bowl...only to get butt raped by his former boss's new team, Tampa Bay. Oakland went down hill from there...Callahan moved on to Nebraska, where he was supposed to change things around, and he didn't. He's a good coordinator, and position coach. He isn't a successful HEAD coach. He's best known for being a great OL coach. He did great work for the Eagles before he came to Oakland. He did a damn good at Wisconsin before switching over to the pros.
tHE point is that the new ST coach will have an impact on the team one way or another, and his hire shouldnt be omitted from this thread if the thread is what it purports to be.
There is a huge difference between adding a guy who has two very successful entries in his log running the offensive line in Philadelphia and the offense in Oakland, in which the offensive lines become dominant during his tenure there and the teams dominated the line of scrimmage, and adding a guy who got fired in Arizona two years ago because his special teams work was questionable. If you don't see the difference between what adding Callahan to do a job we know he can do well and adding O'Dea to hopefully do well at a job he's never had to do before is, then I can't really explain it to you. You have to understand what proven ability versus potential is.
