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A couple of different things to get into . . .
Early this afternoon, Adam Schefter announced that the Rick Dennison will be hired as the Jets’ run-game coordinator/offensive line coach.
This is a terrific hire.
True Dennison was just fired after one year as the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, but I don’t think that means anything.
First of all, the Bills have started their search for a new QB. I saw their brass on several occasions running around Mobile at the Senior Bowl, and we all know they are looking for a quarterback, in his draft, or in free agency.
So if they are looking for a QB, they clearly didn’t have an answer in 2017, so what did they expect from Dennison?
So to me, 2017 should not be held against Dennison.
Dennison has had three different offensive coordinator jobs – Buffalo, Houston and Denver.
He and Jeremy Bates run the same system.
So Dennison will be the First Lieutenant to Bates on the offensive side of the ball for Gang Green.
And remember, they both have roots in Denver, under Mike Shananan, so expect the Jets to run a zone-blocking scheme like the Broncos did, back when they used to churn out 1,000-yard rushers with late-round draft picks like Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary.
So often in this system, the running back takes the ball and heads towards one sideline. The offensive linemen all flow in the same direction pushing defenders in that direction, but then the running back plants one foot, and turns to the other sideline, against the flow.
This system doesn’t require massive linemen, generally preferring lighter more mobile linemen. Wesley Johnson would be a perfect center for this system.
I think Dennison is a great hire. He and Bates are in lockstep schematically, and the 59-year-old Dennison will be a great guy for the 41-year-old Bates to lean on . . .
I think the Jets desperately need Josh McCown back for several reasons.
First of all, Bates, the new offensive coordinator wants him back.
Bates runs a pretty sophisticated offense, and he clearly doesn’t like a young guy, who doesn’t know what he’s doing, running the show for him.
As he said late last season, “This is professional football. This isn’t Triple-A.”
Bates still hasn’t officially been named offensive coordinator. He’s clearly making sure he gets what needs to be successful in terms of staff and getting McCown back.
You want Bates to flip his lid, make him run his offense with a young guy who doesn’t know what he’s doing. No way he wants that.
Also, by the way, the Jets have missed the playoffs the last seven years. That streak needs to stop, so that is another reason they can’t start a young, green QB in 2018.
The Jets need McCown back in 2017, and they also need to pick a QB, who fits Bates system, and train him to be QB of the future. That is the optimum plan for Gang Green.
Aside from needing him under center, the Jets also need McCown in their building. To me, he helped bring stability to their organization last season. He might be the best leader in the entire building. McCown’s alpha-dog leadership qualities were a glue for the Jets during their surprising first half of last season.
They need this guy around, especially because I’m hearing the GM and head coach relationship could be better.
The Jets need McCown in the building. He’s a special guy, he’s a Rock of Gibraltar, and this organization desperately needs him right now. Let me leave it at that.
January 26, 2018
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