I decided to put some thoughts down in a new thread after having a discussion with some friends about the Belichick philosophy and how Mangini has been going about implementing it so far. And after thinking about it for a while, I think I've come to the conclusion that such an overarching philosophy does not exist. I keep trying to find the parallels between the way Mangini has run the Jets and Belichick has run that Patriots, but outside of the switch the 3-4 (which was already underway), the hardnosed practices, and not talking to the press, I don't really see too much. I even think that Belichick has failed to keep to any real "philosophy" while in N.E. as well. I mean, for years people said they mixed and matched their O-line and didn't spend high draft picks on them. Then Mangini's first move here is to draft two offensive linemen in the first round. People used to say that they could opperate without a brand name running back, that the in their philosophy the line was more important, and then they spend a 2nd rounder on Dillon and a 1st rounder on Maroney. People also used to say that a lot of their sucess came from putting blue-chip players at a few important posititions and filling the rest out, i.e. seymore and law, arguably the best at their positions in the league. But then they won a superbowl with a bunch of secondary players no one had heard of before the season and have not been rated particularly highly even now. It seems to me that there really is no "philosophy". Mangini and Belichick are just like any other coaches. They just put longer hours in, try harder, and game plan better than other coaches. I don't think any of these thoughts are revolutionary, but people spend so much time talking about the Belichick philosophy that it seemed interesting to me that I couldn't really even identify one when I tried.
The season has 13 games to go -- so who knows what is store for the jets. But, we the coaching staff looks like nothing phases them. We dont waste time outs. We seem to know the rules. We dictate temp of the game. We actually adjust to exploit weaknesses and to address problems. I still think 8-8 is a reasonable goal. There is no reason to think that we wont trip up at least once against the dregs: hou, det, oak, cle, green bay
100% dead on. When you are only noticing the coaching staff because adjustments are being made..or players are being pulled..thats a good thing...and Its exactly what the herm defenders never understood. Between that and a rough camp..two things lacking in the past and all many of the detractors ever wanted...the Jets could finish the season with 5 wins...and that would never change my mind that this team is headed in the right direction. There just isnt any panic on the sidelines..and when that camera points to Mangini...you just know when looking at him that he is in total control..whether we are getting blown out..or winning....total control. If the defense starts to grasp the new system by week 8...and with the easy schedule down the stretch..this could get interesting. My goal has always been for the christmas game against the dolphins to mean something..and it just might. Now 2 tough ones back to back coming up..and if we are 2-3 going in to week 5...this team still has a shot to make a little noise. We somehow win one of the next two...hmmm.
One thing that I have noticed that in Mangini's press conferences especially after games, he always talks about the x's and o's about why plays work and don't. That is what I think the basic "philosophy" is... Have your players prepared, know what thier resposibilties are and execute the play.
I think the answer to the "philosophy" guestion is embedded in the first post; flexibility. We've heard Tannebaum and Mangini say it a milliion times, they want smart, tough, character type of guys. That defines a football player that can adapt to many different game plans and can adjust on the fly in the face of adversity.....
