One Jets Drive – Energy

We have an important Jets issue to get into today in the latest edition of “One Jets Drive.” Let’s get this started . . .

Todd Bowles really needs to unleash his assistant coaches – let them coach like their hair is on fire.

I’m not saying he didn’t let his coaches get fiery in the past. Some did, some didn’t.

But when you hire a guy like Kevin Greene to coach your outside linebackers, you have to let him out of his cage and go wild.

I was talking to a former teammate of Greene’s in Pittsburgh the other day. He told me Greene was an amazing player leader for the Steelers. If guys weren’t practicing hard enough, he let them know it.

The team’s new offensive coordinator John Morton is tough as boot leather, a fiery overachieving receiver. The last couple of years, the Jets offense was coached by Chan Gailey, a classy, low-key, deeply-religious Southern gentleman. He’s a good offensive coordinator. Just look at his track record.

However, over two years with the Jets, I don’t think I ever heard his voice on the practice field when I had the opportunity to watch practices, like in training camp and mini-camps. When I watch practice during the season, the media is only allowed to watch the first half hour, and that is special teams. And by the way, Brant Boyer, really lit into his unit, dropping F-Bombs like there was no tomorrow. I know the Jets special teams weren’t great last year, but a lot of that was related to a rookie punter and pedestrian returners. But when it came to running down field on kicks and punts, I thought the Jets were tougher last year than the year before. They mirrored the personality of their fiery special team’s coach.

Boyer takes no prisoners.

Morton needs to be the same way. This guy coached under Jim Harbaugh, Jon Gruden and Sean Payton. He has seen tough love first hand with all three guys.

The Jets’ new QB coach Jeremy Bates is another firebrand. He needs to be that way with the quarterbacks.

Where am I going with this?

Todd Bowles is a very laid-back coach. Like Gailey, I’ve never heard him raise his voice on the practice field (during the time I was watching). You’ve seen Todd’s press conferences. They are very similar to watching paint dry.

Look, I don’t care about press conference content, I’m just trying to point out his personality.

So when you have a low-key head coach, you need to have some assistant coaches (and players) who pump some energy into the scene.

With that being said, it’s so important for Todd to unleash his fiery assistants to help give this team the kick in the butt it needs.

With Todd and Chan in two key positions the last two years, two low-key cats, sometimes I think it impacted the Jets’ energy.

The Jets had an energy crisis at times, especially last year.

Greene, Morton, Bates and Boyer, now in his second year, can help.

Todd needs to let them do their thing.

March 30, 2017

Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Friday.