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New Jersey – It’s time for a heaping helping of Weekend Whispers. We have a lot to get to, so let’s get this rolling . . .
John Idzik isn’t coming in with a clean slate for Mark Sanchez.
New GM’s and coaches always like to say that when they take a new job, but that clearly isn’t the case here.
He knows more about him than any of the other GM candidates the Jets interviewed.
Why?
Idzik worked with Pete Carroll the last three years. Carroll recruited Mark to USC and coached him for three years.
Enough said.
Idzik can’t fall into the trap that Mike, Rex and Woody have the last few years, where they think by changing systems, tweaking the offense, changing coaches, the player can be resurrected.
This will be his third offensive coordinator in three years. Is it the chicken or the egg?
Was it the coordinators or the quarterback?
Some reporters are already pushing this angle – “Maybe Marty Mornhinweg can get through to Sanchez.”
Enough already!
We now have four years of games to review on Mark Sanchez. I think we all have a pretty good opinion of who he is at this point.
I think he’d be ideal in a backup role. While his shortcomings as a quarterback make him a shaky starter at this point, all his game experience would make him a very appealing #2. He has 62 career starts – how many backups have that kind of game experience? That is invaluable.
And the great insight Idzik has on Sanchez, from Pete Carroll, that goes beyond what most of us know about Mark, will help him make an informed decision on what to do here . . .
The Daily News is pushing Michael Vick as an option for the Jets because of Mornhinweg’s arrival from Philadelphia.
That is such a bad idea.
First of all, the circus needs to leave town, and stay out of town.
If he came in, the circus would be right back in Florham Park and Cortland.
Secondly, the same issues that plagued Sanchez, also hold back Vick – he’s inaccurate, holds on to the ball too long and doesn’t read defenses well.
He might scramble better than Sanchez, but even there, he seems to be slowing down, probably due to the myriad injuries he’s suffered from all the hits he’s taken.
While some reporters are pushing this (probably because they want to cover another sexy angle), it’s a really bad idea . . .
Idzik’s introductory press conference isn’t until next Thursday.
Why?
He’s going to the Senior Bowl early next week to do some scouting.
Good luck getting much scouting done in Mobile.
Aside from being a scouting event – with a week of practices and then the game – it’s like a football job’s fair.
Out-of-work coaches, scouts and so forth, will be wandering around the stadium and hotels, rubbing elbows, looking for their next gig.
It’s very much like the MLB Winter Meetings in that regard.
So Idzik is going to have a hard time going anywhere in Mobile without getting stopped, and handed a resume.
So it’s highly unlikely he will get a lot of scouting done.
But honestly, that won’t hurt the Jets much.
Their whole scouting staff is still in pace from the Tannenbaum regime . . .
In his statement after getting hired by the Jets, one thing Idzik said was, ““I am honored and extremely excited to be joining the New York Jets. It has been very enlightening getting to know Mr. Woody Johnson, Rex Ryan and Neil Glat and I am very grateful for them making me feel very welcomed as a member of the Jets family.”
He brought up Glat, who was much more involved in the GM interview process than people expected.
That surprised a lot of people, and this might have turned off some candidates (according to Mike Florio). Glat is a business guy (and a good one), not a football man.
But now, he needs to go back to the business side, and stay away from the football operation.
I don’t mean this to come across as mean. I’m just dealing with reality.
He’s not a football guy.
And the same goes for Ira Akselrad – great lawyer, good money manager – not a football guy.
They need to focus on business, and stay away from football.
They are smart guys – I’m sure they realize this.
As Bill Parcells always said, “Know who you are.”
Glat (on the right) and Akselrad are pictured above.
January 19, 2013
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