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At this stage of their history . . .
after their offensive struggles the last couple of years under a first-time coordinator, and after missing the playoffs 12 years in a row, they probably need to hire an offensive coordinator with past experience calling plays, who comes in the building knowing how to do the job on a high level.
In other words, don’t make this open mic night, where you hire somebody who has never done it before and let him figure out what he’s doing as he goes along.
Look, I’m all for giving people chances in life, that is important, but at this stage of the Jets’ history, not sure this is the time for them to do that with their open OC job.
Go get somebody who has done the job, and enters the position with a full grasp of what it entails.
Also, go get somebody who has proven to be a good offensive chess player.
Mike LaFleur is a bright guy, who has potential, but not sure he is an elite offensive chess player yet.
As much as Robert Saleh believes in giving people a chance, this might not be the time to hire a tight-end coach, a receiver coach, whatever, and then see if he’s up to the OC job.
They need this hire to be settled science – meaning that guy has done it and knows what he’s doing.
And the head coach could use another sage person on his staff, somebody to lean on, a bench coach, if you will. Somebody like this would not only fill the offensive coordinator job, but be a good sounding board for their young coach. They need that too.
An OC to say at the end of the first half in Seattle, when you get the ball on the 1-yard line with 45 seconds left and have protection issues, don’t try to get into field goal range. Take a knee, or try to get a few yards, and then take a knee (to avoid what happened to Buffalo vs. Minnesota when they got a safety).
Mike White ended up getting hurt at the end of this dubious drive, taking a wicked hit on the final play of the half.
I’m not one to offer a lot of clock and game management critiques, because I’m terrible at math – LOL. But while that possession was taking place, I just didn’t get it.
You have a QB playing with broken ribs. You have protection issues. Get into the locker room and re-group – don’t try to get into field goal range from your own 1-yard line with 45 seconds left.
A veteran OC maybe could have helped when this was going on. And remember, the first play call of that series was close to a Pick 6, on a square out to the left side.
Look, they might not get the next Bill Walsh to call their plays from the pool of guys available, but it should be somebody who has done it before.
This isn’t the time to roll the dice on a newbie.
January 17, 2023
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