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There was a big difference. There is no question about it. Will that lead to better results? We shall see . . .
Watching all the Jets’ spring practices, there was a different aura around the team, way different than last year.
And I mean that as a positive for the Jets.
First off, the practices were a lot more spirited.
A few reasons for this.
First off, the changes on the coaching staff. I want to make it clear I’m not casting aspersions on the former coaches. That is so easy to do when guys leave and new guys come in. And plus, the Jets haven’t played any games, so I don’t want to put any of the new assistants in Canton just yet.
But the new group was a lot more vocal – especially offensive coordinator John Morton (pictured above). Chan Gailey has a taciturn nature. A lot of these Jets’ offensive players needed a kick in the butt after last season, and Morton provided in the minicamps.
Morton was zinging the players all spring.
Like when he lined up as a cornerback over wide receiver Robby Anderson, and said to him, “You did nothing last year.”
He said this smiling. It wasn’t nasty. It was just his way of motivating Anderson to take his game to a new level in 2016.
A player forget his assignment, and Morton said to him, “You put your helmet on and your forget how to think.” You think that player dug into his playbook that night?
I’m not going to get into every new assistant coach here, but another one I want to highlight is the Jets’ new secondary coach, Dennard Wilson. I think Todd Bowles hit this hire out of the park. Bowles said this guy is going to be a head coach one day, and if that happened, I wouldn’t be surprised. This guy has the “it” factor. And it’s no secret the Jets secondary play was a big reason for their bad season last year. Wilson is just what the defensive backs need right now – he’s very vocal and a terrific teacher.
Wilson was much more vocal and forceful with the defensive backs this spring than the former position coach. I think the defensive backs are more willing to take hard coaching from Wilson than the former secondary coach. I will leave it that.
To me, considering how horrendous the Jets’ pass defense was last year, Wilson is a Godsend to this team. He’s the right guy at the right time, especially with two rookie safeties.
Todd Bowles is a kind of a laid back head coach, so it’s essential that he has a fiery staff. The changes Bowles made to his staff added some needed fire to the practice field and class rooms.
The Jets’ karma seemed a lot better at the spring practices than it did last year.
I will get more into the player changes, vis-Ă -vis the improved culture, on Friday.
June 29, 2017
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