faba Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 The Jets announced their first new coordinator hire late Tuesday. “Ben Kotwica is going to replace Mike Westhoff as our special teams coordinator,” head coach Rex Ryan said at his season-wrapup news conference. The decision didn’t come as much of a surprise as it was highly expected Kotwica would be chosen to take over Westhoff, who retired at the end of the season after a remarkable 30-year NFL coaching career. “Obviously that’s some huge shoes to fill,” Ryan said. “Mike Westhoff is a legendary special teams coach. It was a privilege for me to coach with Mike for four seasons. If you want to know how big those shoes are just ask Westy. But I love Mike, and he’s basically trained Ben Kotwica for this opportunity.” Kotwica has been with the Jets for the past six seasons. His first two years with the organization, he served as a quality control coach on defense and special teams. The last four seasons, he was the assistant special teams coach. “Ben Kotwica does an awesome job with us,” LB Nick Bellore, one of the Jets' special teams standouts, said during the final week of the regular season. “I think he’ll pick up right where Mike left off. He brings some new elements, too, and sharing some of the old stuff. Mike will be missed, definitely. But Ben does a really good job with us and really takes the time to make sure everything is working right.” Westhoff missed OTAs in the spring as he underwent the latest emergency surgery on his leg. During his absence, Kotwica handled all of Westhoff’s duties, which included 12 OTA sessions and three minicamp practices. “I don't feel we stepped back or stayed the same. I actually feel we got better,” Kotwica told newyorkjets.com back in May. “Being here six years, knowing the majority of the players, that helped a little bit as well. So it was a positive experience for me during that period of time that we got better.” The new ST coordinator also said he’s benefited and grown tremendously during his time under Westhoff. “Every day's been a learning laboratory the past five years under Mike, not only X's-and-O-s-wise but how you deal with players, how you handle the room,” Kotwica said. “I think that experience, you can't replace that.” As a unit, the Jets had their share of struggles on special teams in 2012. But from an individual standpoint, Joe McKnight finished third in the NFL in kickoff return average (27.5) and kicker Nick Folk had another solid campaign, going 21-of-27 on field goals, with three of the misses coming on blocked kicks. “I share full responsibility or equal responsibility in the disappointments and failures that we’ve experienced this year,” Westhoff said back on Dec. 27. “I don’t believe that it necessarily typifies or validates what I’ve done, but I certainly feel those disappointments. “In some points, there were just some excellent things that took place this year that I was involved in, and then some things that were at the opposite end of the scale. I have not experienced that very often.” Prior to joining the Jets, Kotwica served in Iraq, Bosnia and Korea and earned several awards as a military officer, including an Army Achievement Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal and a Bronze Star. He graduated from West Point and was a captain on the winningest team in Army football history. “Being in front of the group is good,” Kotwica said of his spring tour of duty as the Jets' interim ST coordinator. “I think my experience in the military, commanding troops, being in combat environments, being in front of the group to present material and command a room, that's something I'm familiar with.” Westhoff knows it was time for him to step away and he feels Kotwica couldn’t be more prepared for the job ahead. “I’ve been here for 12 years,” Westhoff said. “That’s a long time. I think sometimes change is a good thing. We have an excellent guy that will take over for me in Ben Kotwica. He’ll do a great job.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Anyone would be an upgrade over Westhoff. The way the special teams played looked like he had already mailed it in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFtoLong Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Super Bowl baby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Horrible hire by a horrible team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Bit Special Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Anyone would be an upgrade over Westhoff. The way the special teams played looked like he had already mailed it in! Blame Tanny. They were his players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonehands Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 At least he has two good kickers and pretty good return men to work with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurnleyJet Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Westoff look shot to me this year, his volted special teams looked more Special needs. No big loss to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Internal hire? Typical Jets. That guy is probably barely able to speak, and when he does it is only the words of this stupid franchise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Not to mention that New GM is probably seething with anger right now. Underminded again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integrity28 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Westoff look shot to me this year, his volted special teams looked more Special needs. No big loss to me. Do you mean "vaunted"? Yeah, keep making special needs jokes. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integrity28 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Internal hire? Typical Jets. That guy is probably barely able to speak, and when he does it is only the words of this stupid franchise. You were actually funny there for a couple weeks. I see things are back to normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 You were actually funny there for a couple weeks. I see things are back to normal. How pissed do you think the new GM is right now? The good thing is that he has some attributes of a Football Man (played football). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointman Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Ben... sit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Mostro Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 In Tuesday's pressser, I believe Rex stated that he was groomed for the job. Sounds like this appointment was part of the "master plan" all along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Anyone would be an upgrade over Westhoff. The way the special teams played looked like he had already mailed it in! Sad but true. There were just so many lapses this year , it was sickening. They were not special at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allybhoy Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 ****CONSPIRACY ALERT**** football outsiders website had the jets ST ranked in the top 10 in the first 8 weeks of the season. In the second half they plummeted to 32.....lets hope Westy was coaching the 2nd half rather than the first....... special teams coach Mike Westhoff remains the most lovable, quotable Jets assistant. Few coaches in the league are worse at hiding their feelings than Westhoff. Follow this series of quotes, all from one press conference about the kicking competition, and see how easy it is to read between the lines: "I want to create the most competitive atmosphere that I possibly can"; "We want to have a viable battle here to see who’s going to win our job and to get the best possible guy that we can put on the field"; "There were a couple of guys I liked (in the draft), one in particular. We just weren’t able to do it. It didn’t happen … (much to) my consternation"; "Actually at this point in time, I believe (Brown’s) the most viable candidate." So, in the spirit of a viable battle, Brown is the most viable candidate, except for the mystery kicker I really wanted (probably Blair Walsh), and if Nick Folk is listening, he should probably start packing his DVD collection into cardboard boxes and calling realtors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 In Tuesday's pressser, I believe Rex stated that he was groomed for the job. Sounds like this appointment was part of the "master plan" all along. Yes. Ben taking over has been the plan all along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgb Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 All internal hires is a bit suspicious and can be seen as power consolidation rather than careful evaluation of available candidates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 At least he has two good kickers and pretty good return men to work with. Nick Folk is a free agent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allybhoy Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Nick Folk is a free agent. and likely to stay that way.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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