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So what are the Jets getting in new head coach Todd Bowles? Let’s take a closer look . . .
Something the Jets new GM Mike Maccagan said today rings so true about Bowles.
“When we first met, it was immediately clear how sincere and very real he is,” said Maccagnan.
This is dead-on.
I remember this from 2000, when he was the Jets’ secondary coach, he made a lasting impression from that one year I covered him. Very impressive guy and decent human being.
Bowles is a really good guy – not a phony at all.
“From entering the league as an undrafted free agent in Washington to becoming a very successful coordinator in Arizona, Todd has earned everything he has achieved,” said Woody Johnson.
Bowles played eight years in the NFL as a safety from 1986-93. Entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie, Bowles went on to play in 117 games with the Washington Redskins from 1986-90 and 1992-93, and the San Francisco 49ers in 1991. In his career, he registered 636 tackles, 15 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. He also started on the Redskins Super Bowl XXII championship team.
This is a self-made man coming off the rough streets of Elizabeth, NJ.
Elizabeth is so bad that Mo Wilkerson’s family got him out of there, and moved him into Linden High School.
Bowles went to a low-level Division I football school after being lightly-recruited, and made the NFL as an undrafted free agent. And has been in coaching forever working towards this day.
“He does a good job of relating to players and they want to play for him,” said Charlie Casserly
“He is a hard-working and dedicated leader who has garnered the respect of players and coaches,” said Johnson.
Players respect him. Not just because he’s a good coach, and played in the NFL, but because he came from rough neighborhood, and overcame it. So many players in the NFL come from the wrong side of the tracks. There is an inherent respect for a coach who has overcome what they have. This creates a strong bond.
“While he appreciates the need for discipline, players love playing for him,” said Maccagnan.
This is really, really important. The second part of that sentence also applies to Rex – “players love playing for him.”
The first part – “he appreciates the need for discipline,” is so important for the Jets. Discipline wasn’t a strength of Rex. The Jets need to take the discipline thing to another level. A lack of discipline can lead to an undisciplined team, and that is what we saw from the Jets the last few years.
“We’re sorry as hell to lose him but we all knew this day was coming, especially with the job he did here the last two years,” said Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians.
Bowles really did a heck of a job that last two years in Arizona, truly coming into his own as a defensive coordinator.
I think he’s ready for this job, and when you look at all his attributes pointed out above, I think the Jets made the right hire.
January 14, 2015
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