faba Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 John Idzik's honeymoon with Jets is over July, 23, 2014 JUL 23 8:00 AM ET By Rich Cimini | ESPN.com Rex Ryan showed his new boss last season that, even when speaking softly, he still carried a big enough stick to squeeze eight wins out of a team with modest talent. The New York Jets' coach received a well-deserved contract extension. Now, with the Jets reporting to training camp Wednesday in upstate Cortland, New York, for Year 2 of the Ryan-John Idzik era, we start to learn a lot more about the other half of the leadership tandem, the quiet man who prefers to stay out of the spotlight. This is Idzik's time. [+] Enlarge It's impossible to evaluate a general manager after one season, especially in a rebuilding situation, but the landscape changes after two drafts and two rounds of free agency. In the NFL, that’s enough time to get a team from the 6-10 mess that Idzik inherited into the playoffs. Idzik's predecessors, Terry Bradway in 2001 and Mike Tannenbaum in 2006, reached the postseason in their first season as GM. Go back further, and you will remember that Bill Parcells made it to the AFC Championship Game in his second year as the GM/coach. Even though Idzik is operating on a long-term plan, evidenced by his emphasis on the draft and his deliberate approach in free agency, an 0-for-2 start wouldn't look good on his résumé. He shouldn't be on the New York Mets' Sandy Alderson timeline, meaning he has to move faster than a glacier. It's just the way of the NFL. Idzik has been around long enough to put his stamp on the team. He signed, re-signed and drafted most of the projected starters. In fact, only seven starters can be considered true holdovers from the previous administration -- D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold,Muhammad Wilkerson, David Harris, Damon Harrison, Quinton Coples and Demario Davis. It's easy to notice they're the best guys on the team, Tannenbaum guys. Idzik needs to get some of his guys on that list. He already has Sheldon Richardson. By the end of the season, the list of top homegrowns should also include Geno Smith, Dee Milliner and Calvin Pryor. If Smith and Milliner are missing, the Jets will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season, which won’t bode well for Ryan's job security. Idzik has the Jets pointed in the right direction, and the strides they made last season can't be dismissed. But let's be honest: They overachieved. They were one of the softest 8-8 teams in history, and you can look it up. Their point differential was minus-97, the largest since the 1970 merger for any team with at least eight wins. The talent base should be improved this season, especially with the additions of Eric Deckerand Chris Johnson. Decker was Idzik's one big splurge in free agency, his one Tannenbaum-like move. Johnson and Michael Vick will be one-and-done players, worthwhile Band-Aids that won't ruin the master plan if they fizzle. The offseason proved, once again, that Idzik won't deviate from his script no matter how much salary-cap room he has at his disposal. For the record, there's about $22 million as of today. Idzik is doing it the right way, avoiding the temptation of the quick fix. That will pay off in the long run, but there will be problems along the way. For instance: Failing to sign a top cornerback in free agency was a mistake that could be exposed early in the season, when they face several elite quarterbacks. The cornerback issue will be exacerbated if Milliner fails to develop as hoped. The Jets believe Milliner, drafted ninth overall, will be a special player, basing much of their opinion on his strong finish. The same theory can be applied to the quarterback situation with Smith. They're placing a lot of weight on those last four games, and that can be dangerous when you consider the competition. They beat three also-rans, three teams with mediocre (at best) quarterbacks -- the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins. Now, after seven months of positive mojo, the Jets can prove it wasn't a mirage. If Idzik's investments mirror the stock market, they'll be a playoff team. If it goes the other way, he'll hear the criticism, good and loud. The honeymoon is over. This is Idzik's time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integrity28 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I read the headline. Had to stop there. So much drama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I think Cimini wakes up in the morning, pukes, and then says alright let me go write another Jets article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC36 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I think Cimini wakes up in the morning, pukes, and then says alright let me go write another Jets article. If by puking, you mean swallowing Bill Belichik, then yes he pukes every morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgb Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I read the headline. Had to stop there. So much drama. in the SUNY, it's kinda hard being John I-D and Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unbanmadmike1 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I actually think the article is more generous to Idzik than he deserves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LionelRichie Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I think Cimini wakes up in the morning, pukes, and then says alright let me go write another Jets article. I wanted to hate this article but I find myself agreeing with almost all of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I wont be surprised to find out that Cimini was the bastid child of Hess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Idzik's honeymoon never started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetfan13 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 To bad we cant say the same for you Richie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack48 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 so Tannenbaum is here for 7 years and all he has to show for it is 7 players? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 CIMINI: MAN UP IZDICK!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larz Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 according to whom ? dick cimini ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 so Tannenbaum is here for 7 years and all he has to show for it is 7 players? Well, seven starters, and Cimini thinks they're the best players on the team. So there's that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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