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Mobile, Alabama – Checking in from the Senior Bowl in Mobile with a helping of notes on the practices and the Jets. Let’s get into it . . .
I know this is a moot point because Todd Bowles is the Jets coach, but I keep hearing, even here at the Senior Bowl, that Manish Mehta’s full frontal assault on Doug Marrone as a candidate, had an impact on the Jets’ brass.
Mehta and to a degree Mike Lupica, destroyed Marrone as a candidate. As strange as that seems, I’ve heard from two sources, that it did have an impact on Woody backing off Marrone, because he didn’t want to deal with the bad PR.
I have no special-pleader for Marrone, but if this is true, it’s sad . . .
I saw a lot of good things from Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson in practice today.
He had four outstanding completions in the practice, including two deep balls, one to Miami of Florida speedster Phillip Dorsett, who might be the fastest player in the draft.
He’s a guy the Jets should consider in the middle rounds.
He helped turn around a moribund Colorado State program, and helped their coach get the Florida job.
To me, the Jets picking a quarterback in the first round is a mistake, They have missed the playoffs four years in a row. They can’t do down that road right now of picking a QB high, forcing him into the lineup too quickly, and having five or six straight years out of the playoffs.
Sign a veteran QB, and to throw him in the hopper, along with Geno Smith, and draft a Grayson or Petty – somebody like the middle rounds, and develop him the right way. Take your time . . .
I’m not going to get into the press conferences today because I wasn’t there. I’m in Mobile. I will get into them later in the week when I can review it more.
But I want to comment on the hiring of Chan Gailey.
It’s a great hire.
The guy is an excellent offensive coordinator. He’s an inventive play-caller, who actually doesn’t overwhelm his players with a very complex system.
He also does a nice job of putting players in position to play to their strengths and make plays.
And what a marvelous guy for Todd Bowles to lean on –a two time NFL head coach (Dallas and Buffalo) and a former college coach (Georgia Tech).
The Jets get a lot of bang for their buck with this hire. A top-shelf offensive coordinator, and a heck of sounding board for Bowles . . .
Wisconsin OT Rob Havenstein is yet another Badger linemen entering the league pretty far advanced on the growth curve. Watching him the last two days – he already has terrific technique.
The Maryland-native should be able to start as a rookie.
Terrific offensive line school . . .
One long-time NFL quarterback told me today in Mobile – “What New England did (deflating balls) is no big deal. Every team does it (tweaks footballs).” . . .
A lot of agents at the Senior Bowl, talking to clients, talking to teams, stealing clients. Everywhere you turn, there is a prominent agent.
I heard a national NFL insider say to the Jets’ favorite agent Neil Schwartz, “We’ll talk.”
I’m sure they will.
Schwartz is gold to writers.
January 21, 2015
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