Content available exclusively for subscribers
New York – A couple items today in the latest edition of Dan’s Website Whispers including a look at Jets GM John Idzik’s big challenge in the war room, and an executive’s take on the Jets . . .
While we have no idea who it came from, this unnamed quote in the New York Daily News caught our attention for how astute it was.
“John (Idzik) has been in the league a long time,” one NFL source said Wednesday. “He’s been to three places (Tampa, Arizona, Seattle) and he’s worked with great people. He’s worked his butt off. He’s exceptionally bright. The biggest challenge is evaluating the evaluators and who he is choosing to listen to. He doesn’t have the experience to watch tape and override somebody right now.”
While a lot of unnamed quotes are garbage, I think this is a good one. The unnamed person makes some good points, especially, the second-to-last sentence – “The biggest challenge is evaluating the evaluators and who he is choosing to listen to.”
Right now, Idzik is working with a large personnel department, including an array of field scouts, he inherited, that he doesn’t know that well.
So when he gets opinions from them – it’s going to be a challenge for him, this year, to figure out who is great at what they do, whose average, and so forth.
A year from now, when he has a better feel for his staff, it will probably be a different story, but now, Idzik has a big challenge.
And it’s also possible, that after the draft, Idzik will make some staff changes.
Remember, it’s not a good idea, for a new GM, hired after the season, to trash his staff. When Idzik was hired, about nine months of scouting had been done preparing for the 2013 draft. It would be foolish to make changes at that point, as the draft board is starting to take shape.
So it will be really interesting to see how this draft works out, with Idzik guiding a large staff of personnel guys who he doesn’t know that well . . .
We reached out to an executive from another team for his thoughts on the Jets. We will have a little bit of what he said today, and some tomorrow.
“What they lack right now is difference-making talent at safety, and enough pass rush value at the core position of a 3-4 defense in their outside linebacker position,” said the executive.
What about on offense?
“In order to help the QB situation, the Jets need to find a way to improve their rushing attack. That starts with the offensive line before it does with the running back personnel. They need to address offensive guard. Also do they have their solution at right tackle? However, they do have two core pieces to accessorize to in Ferguson and Mangold.
“Though they added Goodson at running back; he’s been a career backup who is more of a contributing player than a carry-the-load back. The backfield appears to be projecting as a ‘by committee’ group – finding an every down running back who can provide a four quarter, three down presence would be a worthwhile acquisition. Right now, don’t see a pile moving presence in the backfield, but more complimentary parts.”
April 18, 2013
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Friday.
