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Not too much on the press conference because nothing was said, but we have another important item to get into today in the latest edition of NTM . . .
From a media standpoint, John Idzik’s press conferences are maddening because almost every topic is a private matter to him.
But this doesn’t really matter, as long as he builds a winner.
You don’t win in the press room, you win on the field.
I’m just bringing this up because Idzik did have his season-ending presser today to make it clear there is nothing to report and cover here. He didn’t say anything.
On to other matters . . .
I have been covering the Jets for a really long time, and I have to tell you, this Marty Mornhinweg is something else.
I know it’s just one season, but I can’t remember too many, if any, better offensive playcallers than this guy in Green Land.
This man is good.
Being an NFL offensive coordinator isn’t an easy job.
Tony Sparano found that out last year. He gave it his best shot, but it just didn’t work out.
Mornhinweg is a master football chess player. He’s very good at this.
I don’t want to make it seem like I’m taking away from Geno Smith, because he still needs to execute the throws, but in the Oakland, Cleveland and Miami games, the first reads Marty dialed up were consistently outstanding.
Like a lot of young quarterbacks, Smith needs a lot of work on reading defenses. That is common. So when the coordinator consistently dials up great first reads, it’s a dream scenario for a young quarterback.
I will give you some examples on the Jets’ first two scoring drives in Miami, both in the second quarter.
On the first play of the first drive, Smith ran a bootleg right and hit Greg Salas on a first read, cut-the-field-in-half play, for a gain of six.
On the next play, Marty dialed up a crossing route to Jeremy Kerley across the middle – he was wide open for a gain of 12.
Two plays later, Geno hit Santonio Holmes down the right seam on his first read. This was a mismatch on CB Nolan Carroll. By the way, Marty M did a great job of staying away from Brent Grimes, the Dolphins only real starting quality corner. The Dolphins put starting cornerback Dimtri Patterson on injured reserve early this year.
Three plays later, Geno hit Holmes on a first read for a gain of eight on the short left side.
And then Marty called a designed scramble off right guard, and Smith ran it in.
Just brilliant play-calling.
On to the second scoring drive in the second quarter
Smith hit Holmes on a first read on the left side for a gain of 10. Holmes was being covered by a safety.
Then two plays later, on a first read to Cumberland over the short middle, the tight end drew a holding call on LB Phillip Wheeler.
Then a few plays later, Marty called a great pass play down the right seam to David Nelson for a gain of 31 (great threw by Geno).
And while this didn’t look like a first read, it really was.
Geno looked left quickly (fake first read with no intention of going there), and turned quickly to the right seam, and launched a rocket to Nelson.
A few plays later, the Jets scored on another designed scramble by Smith.
Like they say on the beer commercial – “brilliant, brilliant.”
You could make a very strong argument Marty helped Rex save his job.
What a great hire!
December 31, 2013
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