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Newark – You have to respect an approach Todd Bowles is taking. Mike Maccagnan also to a certain degree. It makes a lot of sense . . .
Really nice hire by the Jets today adding Bobby April as special team’s coach.
At first glance, you might look at his resume and say, “Why has he been so many places?”
Pittsburgh Steelers (1994–1995)
(Special teams coach)
New Orleans Saints (1996–1999)
(Special teams coach)
St. Louis Rams (2001–2003)
(Special teams coordinator)
Buffalo Bills (2004–2009)
(Assistant head coach/Special teams coordinator)
Philadelphia Eagles (2010–2012)
(Special teams coordinator)
Oakland Raiders (2013–2014)
(Special teams coordinator)
The answer to this is simple. He’s an excellent special team’s coach who happened to land places where coaches got fired.
The 61-year-old Louisiana-native is Westhoff-like in his knowledge. He’s seen it all, and he has a lot of energy. He’s a real character from the Bayou.
What Todd Bowles has done with his coordinators is very smart.
As a first-time head coach, he hired Chan Gailey, who is not only a good offensive coordinator, but a five-time head coach (Troy, Samford, Georgia Tech, Dallas and Buffalo). Gailey is going to be a wonderful sounding board, adviser for a new head coach, and Bowles knows that.
And then Bowles hired the most experienced special team’s coach in the NFL in April. Just like Gailey, there isn’t a lot in football this guy hasn’t seen. Special teams are 33 percent of the sport, and Bowles will have one of the most knowledgeable special team’s gurus at his side.
As for the defense, that is Bowles specialty, so he really didn’t need a veteran coordinator here, so he hired an up-and-comer in Kacy Rodgers, who he will work closely with.
And look at what Mike Maccagan is doing. He’s going to hire former Jacksonville Jaguars GM Gene Smith as perhaps assistant GM, or some position like that.
Was Smith a great GM in Jacksonville? Not really. But he’s done the job before, so he can be there with Maccagnan, as he is acclimating himself, and help him avoid landmines.
I don’t think Smith was GM material. He’s not a guy who likes being in the public eye. He’s a private person. But as a behind-the-scenes advisor, he’s good guy to have around. He was a very good scout for many years in Jacksonville, and helped them bring in a lot good talent, during their winning years.
You have to respect the approach Bowles and Maccagnan are taking. They know they have a lot to learn, so they are surrounding themselves with good bench coaches.
Bruce Arians, who is doing a heck of job as Arizona Cardinals coach, and who Todd learned a tremendous amount from in the desert (and as a player at Temple where Arians was his coach), hired Tom Moore as an offensive consultant last year, and is about to hire Dick LeBeau as a defensive consultant. Both men are in their 70’s.
I think we are too quick to cast older people to the side. They are a sea of knowledge, and Arians knows this.
And obviously so does Bowles. Gailey and April are both in their 60’s.
I thought Rex’s staff last year had too many young guys on it, and too many friends.
I’m not casting aspersions on the entire staff. There were some solid coaches mixed in, but overall, it wasn’t a top-shelf NFL staff, and it probably impacted the results.
So far, it looks like Bowles is putting together a better staff.
And the additions of Gailey and April make a heck of a lot of sense.
January 23, 2015
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