MMQB / Si : Todd Bowles: ‘Nothing Surprises You’

[kelly]

Bowles : 'It Wasn't Perfect'

HC Pleased with the Win, Says Jets Have Things to Clean Up

 

video..

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Bowles-It-Wasnt-Perfect/7d078c31-ce02-4dbd-9946-a2080b56abc8

[slats]

Why is it a lie? 

Unlike most on this board, Geno is still 24 yrs old. It amazes me how so many overlook this, Geno is a kid, to Bowles he's a kid.  Geno is obviously not a finished product, Bowles knows this, but fans don't.  Bowels isn't a fan, he is going to develop Geno, that's his job, he's not worried about the dumbass fans that want him with the morning garbage.

C'mon! The lie was when he said that Geno's role in the altercation didn't effect how he saw Geno. Of course it does. He referred to the incident as "sixth grade level stuff." He doesn't take that level of immaturity into account when determining who's going to be the on field leader of his football team? No one outside of Brandon Marshall had Geno's back. The players were painfully silent in support of their QB. Think Bowles didn't notice that, either? 

I supported the plan to hand Geno the job and see what he can do, so don't lump my in with any dumbass fans (although, you could refrain from using the term to make your own points). Geno's role in the punch that sidelined him effected my opinion. I'm sure it's effected Bowles' opinion, too. If it really was a sucker punch, and the players ralłeyed to support Geno, it might be differeñt. Maybe Geno would still be the starter when he got healthy. But it's not like that. It's now Fitzpatrick's job to lose. 

[Bocajetfan]

C'mon! The lie was when he said that Geno's role in the altercation didn't effect how he saw Geno. Of course it does. He referred to the incident as "sixth grade level stuff." He doesn't take that level of immaturity into account when determining who's going to be the on field leader of his football team? No one outside of Brandon Marshall had Geno's back. The players were painfully silent in support of their QB. Think Bowles didn't notice that, either? 

I supported the plan to hand Geno the job and see what he can do, so don't lump my in with any dumbass fans (although, you could refrain from using the term to make your own points). Geno's role in the punch that sidelined him effected my opinion. I'm sure it's effected Bowles' opinion, too. If it really was a sucker punch, and the players ralłeyed to support Geno, it might be differeñt. Maybe Geno would still be the starter when he got healthy. But it's not like that. It's now Fitzpatrick's job to lose. 

mane it's not a lie Bowless may see him as immature?

[kelly]

-- The New York Giants are getting hammered because of their clock-management meltdown against the Dallas Cowboys -- and deservedly so. That it happened to a grizzled coach (Tom Coughlin) and an experienced quarterback (Eli Manning) is stunning.

Todd Bowles said he didn't watch the game Sunday night. Even if he did, he wouldn't criticize a fellow coach or an opposing player. Speaking in general terms, the New York Jets' first-year coach said he has a plan in place to handle clock-management situations.Bowles prepares by quizzing himself on hypothetical situations, but he also relies on someone upstairs in the coaches' box -- Mark Collins, the outside linebackers coach.

"Mark is calm," Bowles said. "He's level-headed. He can see replays (on the TV monitors). He understands rules and everything like that. He's very special that way."Clock management isn't easy. At times, complex decisions have to be made instantaneously in the heat of battle, which is why many coaches rely on a staff member.Going back a few years, circa 2001, former Jets coach Herm Edwards was criticized for his clock management, so he announced he was assigning the job to his quarterbacks coach, Dick Curl. At the time, Curl was in his early 60s, bespectacled and white-haired.

The clever writers who covered the team came up with two fantastic nicknames for Curl :

"Father Time"

"Grandfather Clock"

Funny, yes ?

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54172/how-the-jets-handle-clock-management-situations

[kelly]

- The major criticism of Marty Mornhinweg's offense, from people inside and outside the New York Jets' organization, was that it involved too many bells and whistles.

Too many plays. Too many formations. Too many personnel groupings. Too many substitutions. Too much verbiage.Diversity can be a good thing, depending on the players running the system. For the Jets, it didn't work. They were one of the worst offenses in the league.But that was 2013 and 2014. This is 2015, and the new offensive coordinator is Chan Gailey, who has a different approach, according to players: Less is more."They're taking what we're good at and they keep running it over and over," right tackle Breno Giacomini said Monday. "That's who we are. It feels a little bit different, but that's who we are."

Giacomini said, "We're not going into a game with 100 plays," adding that a pared-down game plan allows them to play faster. "You get the thinking out of it. Advantage, us."

Obviously, Gailey's offense requires thinking, but you get the idea. In the salary-cap era of the NFL, in which players are constantly changing teams, it makes sense to have a system that can be absorbed quickly.Gailey's philosophy came through in the first game. For much of the game, he employed "11" personnel -- one back, one tight end and three wide receivers. He mixed it up a little, occasionally replacing the tight end with another wideout, but it wasn't a revolving door on the sideline. There were times when they ran a few consecutive plays with the same personnel, which didn't happen too often under Mornhinweg.

The Jets ended up playing a clean game in their 31-10 win over the Cleveland Browns -- only one turnover, no sacks, one quarterback hit and only one penalty. It was only one game, and the competition was hardly the best, but it was a positive start."I think we can be a really good offense," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "I don't know what that means at this point, but we've got not only a lot of talent, but a lot of smart guys in that huddle. That's really important in this league and we're real competitive."

Intelligent players usually are experienced players, and the Jets are long on experience. The average age of each starter is 29.0, which gives the Jets the oldest starting offense in the AFC East. It's a seasoned group. Fitzpatrick said it allows them to make adjustments on the sideline and to react quickly to different looks by the defense. Having a quarterback with a Harvard education probably helps.

Again, it was only one game. The first week of the NFL season can be deceiving, so beware of fool's gold. But, hey, they scored 31 points, and that happened only twice in 32 games under Mornhinweg.

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54175/can-less-is-more-approach-lead-to-more-points-for-jets

[#27TheDominator]

Falcon McCutcheon?

[slgrayson1]

Why is it a lie? 

Unlike most on this board, Geno is still 24 yrs old. It amazes me how so many overlook this, Geno is a kid, to Bowles he's a kid.  Geno is obviously not a finished product, Bowles knows this, but fans don't.  Bowels isn't a fan, he is going to develop Geno, that's his job, he's not worried about the dumbass fans that want him with the morning garbage.

Or the really dumbass fans who think this BUST will ever be smart enough to be an NFL QB

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

[kelly]

The Todd Bowles-coached New York Jets defense delivered as advertised, as Bowles and coordinator Kacy Rodgers weren't shy about dialing up pressure in the season-opening win over the Cleveland Browns.Bowles arrived with a reputation for blitzing, the kind of coach who enjoys living on the edge. It's funny because the aggressive mentality belies his understated demeanor. When you think of blitz-minded coaches, the names that come to mind are Rex Ryan and his father, Buddy, guys with oversized personalities. Bowles is a quiet man who loves to create chaos.The Jets blitzed 20 times on Sunday, just shy of Bowles' high blitz percentage last season with the Arizona Cardinals. The only teams that blitzed more often than the Jets in Week 1 were Ryan's Buffalo Bills (26) and the Green Bay Packers (23), according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Overall, the Jets had their way with the Browns and their overmatched neophyte at quarterback, Johnny Manziel, but the results were mixed when they pressured Manziel. Their containment was poor at times -- Manziel rushed for a team-high 35 yards -- and they allowed a 54-yard touchdown pass on a five-man rush, with Antonio Cromartie getting torched by Travis Benjamin. Thinking Cromartie may not have been the only culprit, I asked Bowles if the veteran cornerback was expecting safety help.

He smiled and shook his head.

"He wasn't expecting help," said Bowles, making it perfectly clear Cromartie was the guilty party.

Later, in the third quarter, the Jets used an all-out blitz to create one of the game-changing moments, an interception by Marcus Williams. They rushed seven, with linebacker Demario Davis and safety Calvin Pryor coming from the edges and with linebackers David Harris and Erin Henderson rushing behind three defensive linemen. Davis applied pressure, forcing Manziel into a horrible throw.Live by the blitz, die by the blitz. The Jets experienced both in Week 1. The Browns' passing stats when facing five or more rushers: 12-for-19, 165 yards, one touchdown, one interception and one sack, per ESPN Stats.It's one thing to pressure Manziel and his cast of pedestrian receivers, but quite another to go after Andrew Luck. The Jets will get that opportunity Monday night at the Indianapolis Colts. The Bills attacked Luck relentlessly in Week 1 and made him look awful, so it'll be interesting to see if Bowles copy-cats the game plan.

On second thought, is it even a question  ?

A couple of other takeaways after reviewing the Jets-Browns film  :

• Ryan Fitzpatrick's 15-yard touchdown strike to Eric Decker at the end of the first half was impressive for two reasons: Fitzpatrick, often criticized for his arm strength, cut loose with a Matt Harvey-like fastball. But what made the play a success was his anticipation. Fitzpatrick released the ball a split-second before Decker cut to the inside on a skinny post. In fact, the ball came out as Decker was bracketed by nickel back K'Waun Williams and safety Tashaun Gipson. Gibson helped them by coming up too quickly, leaving Williams on Decker, but it still showed great chemistry between Fitzpatrick and Decker. They saw it before it happened.

• Another note on the play: Decker was used in the slot, along with Quincy Enunwa. In training camp, Decker said he was looking forward to getting more chances in the slot, thinking they'd be able to find favorable matchups. This was a perfect example of that. Williams is the Browns' No. 4 corner, and Fitzpatrick recognized that immediately.

• For months, we've been speculating that offensive coordinator Chan Gailey would run the spread system he used a few years ago with the Buffalo Bills -- and that's what he did in Week 1. In fact, they used three- and four-receiver packages on 43 of 61 snaps, per ESPN Stats. You can't argue with the results: 8.90 yards per pass attempt, 5.5 yards per rushing attempt.

• The tight ends don't have much of a role in the passing attack (only one target in the opener), but we'd be remiss if we didn't point out a terrific block by Jeff Cumberland. On Chris Ivory's 10-yard touchdown run, Cumberland opened a huge hole with a "wham" block on inside linebacker Christian Kirksey. Also give credit to center Nick Mangold, who tossed aside rookie nose tackle Danny Shelton.

• > http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54184/jets-coach-todd-bowles-speaks-softly-but-carries-a-big-blitz

[kelly]

 -- Todd Bowles arrived in New York with a reputation for being a smart defensive coach. He evidently had a strong grasp of the Cleveland Browns' tendencies because he called out two of the biggest plays in last Sunday's game before they happened.

Moments before Travis Benjamin beat Antonio Cromartie on a 54-yard touchdown reception, Bowles -- mic'd up by NFL Films -- recognized what was about to occur."Out-and-up, Cro! Out-and-up, Cro!" Bowles screamed at the veteran corner, who was positioned in front of the Jets' sideline.Obviously, Bowles' prescient observation didn't help. Benjamin ran a double move -- more stop-and-go than out-and-up -- but the premise was the same. He went deep, beating Cromartie easily. Bowles' reaction? An exaggerated shoulder slump.

Later, in the third quarter, Bowles did it again.

"Coming at you, Marcus," he yelled to cornerback Marcus Williams on a third down from the Browns' 37.Sure enough, Johnny Manziel came at Williams, who responded with an interception, one of five takeaways by the Jets.

Good call, coach.

I wonder how he feels about the stock market.

 >    http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54225/jets-coach-todd-bowles-recognizes-plays-before-they-happen

[kelly]

— The Jets have an interesting situation with their defensive coaching staff.

Their rookie head coach, Todd Bowles, is a former defensive coordinator. And Bowles has a rookie defensive coordinator, Kacy Rodgers, working under him.So how will Bowles and Rodgers handle defensive play calling duties this season? Rodgers made the calls during the preseason. And he made some of them during Sunday's season-opening win over the Browns.But Bowles also "chimed in" Sunday, the head coach said. The volume of defensive play calls Bowles makes will change from week to week. 

"We all had input," Bowles said of the opener. "We kind of knew where we were going, because we were all in the game plan meeting. So play calling went fine."Rodgers, who was previously Miami's defensive line coach, doesn't mind Bowles helping out with calls. In fact, Rodgers often sees an advantage in it."I lean on Todd a lot for information, because his approach of looking at the game is very unique, in my opinion," Rodgers said. "In a lot of ways, he's farther advanced in a lot of situations than I am. As we look at our defense, he's really quick with it, if we need to make an adjustment or something like that. He knows quickly how to fix it. It's just really a smooth operation." 

It helps that Rodgers and Bowles have known each other for a while. They initially worked together on the Cowboys' coaching staff from 2005-07. Then they were together with the Dolphins from 2008-11.Seven consecutive years is a long time to spend with another assistant on an NFL staff. That's how you build a strong rapport. 

Every Friday — or Saturday for a Monday night game, like this week's trip to Indianapolis — the Jets' coaches meet and finalize their game plan."We're on the same call sheet [during the game]," Rodgers said. "We're all on the same line [with the radio headsets]. And it's crystal clear. From every call that goes on the call sheet, we've talked, discussed, from me, Todd, to the rest of the staff. We kind of know what we're going to do in this situation." 

>   http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/why_jets_defensive_coordinator_kacy_rodgers_doesnt.html#incart_river

[kelly]

Todd Bowles postgame

Jets head coach Todd Bowles discusses his team's performance in a 20-7 win over the Colts on Monday night.

> http://espn.go.com/espnradio/playPopup?id=13714671

[kelly]

 -- It's not a suspension or an arrest or a locker-room fight, but it's a coaching challenge nonetheless -- a welcome challenge, of course.

Managing prosperity is part of the job, and Todd Bowles knows it. It's better than dealing with the calamity du jour, as was the case in the summer, but mishandling the good times also can be damaging to a team. Success is intoxicating; Bowles' objective is to maintain a sober, clear-eyed determination at One Jets Drive.The New York Jets' impressive win Monday night was a perception-changing, expectation-raising accomplishment. They're 2-0 for the first time since 2011, and here come the seemingly inept Philadelphia Eagles, driving up the New Jersey Turnpike, desperate for their first victory. The way things are going for them, the bus driver will get off the wrong exit and they'll end up in Hoboken.

All of which means this is a dangerous game for the Jets. That's how the NFL works.

Bowles doesn't seem worried. Does he ever  ?

He was chilling outside the team cafeteria on Wednesday, after his daily news conference, when I asked if he's concerned about his team's mindset in these circumstances. After all, it's a new coach and a new season, and everything is still in the formative stages, including the team's identity.

No, he said.

"We have a veteran team. These guys understand," Bowles said. "Through training camp and some of the trials and tribulations -- with the injuries and the penalties and the fighting -- we understand how we win and how we lose."I covered Bill Parcells' run with the Jets, 1997-99, and I hear a lot of Parcells in Bowles. It makes sense, of course, because he was around Parcells in New York, Dallas and Miami, and Bowles considers the Hall of Fame coach a mentor. At times, they speak the same language, with an ability to simplify the game into two categories: things that make you win, things that make you lose. He sounds like a chip of the ol' Bill.

Every Monday, Bowles shows his team video clips from other games, instances in which teams lost because of critical mistakes. There are a thousand ways to lose a football game -- the Jets' closest NFL neighbors, the Eagles and New York Giants, have provided plenty of material -- and he wants to educate his players on potential pitfalls. Parcells used to do the same thing."I talk to them every day about others' mistakes -- not just our team, but other teams," Bowles said. "Something happens every week. We talk about how games are won or lost, saying, 'We can't do this' or 'We don't want to do that.' Not just our film, but everybody's film. We're mature in that way. It helps a lot."

In terms of age and experience, the Jets are a seasoned team. They have nine starters in the 30-to-32 range and a bunch of guys right behind them. The Jets have only one rookie in the lineup, Leonard Williams. That kind of veteran leadership should help them in pressure situations, as it did in the fourth quarter on Monday night, when they responded with a touchdown after the Indianapolis Colts closed to within 10-7.The Jets endured a season's worth of adversity in the months of July and August, including the stunning Geno Smith-IK Enemkpali altercation. In retrospect, Bowles said of the Punch Heard 'Round the NFL, "It can tear you apart or it can bring you together. It can open your eyes."

Clearly, Bowles believes it has unified the team. I asked him if the fight steeled their determination.

"They're all hardened and determined, but it kind of brings them together more, and they understand the job they have to do," he said. "We have so many veterans. They can go out and fight individually on their own, but if they fight together ... that's what we're trying to get done. Then they'll become a good football team. They're working toward that."

Sunday will be a great test to see how much they have developed.

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54437/todd-bowles-confronts-dangerous-game-by-channeling-inner-parcells

[Jetsfan80]

Kind of crazy that less than 2 months ago, Sheldon Richardson was arrested, and 6 weeks ago Geno was punched out by IK.  Yet through those circumstances Bowles has kept the team focused.  Had we started 0-2 those things would have popped back into our brains (We need Sheldon!  Geno needs to start!).  Major props for Coach Bowles are well deserved.  Not every coach could wade through such a tumultuous offseason then lead his team to a pair of double digit victories to start the campaign.

[GREENBEAN]

Kind of crazy that less than 2 months ago, Sheldon Richardson was arrested, and 6 weeks ago Geno was punched out by IK.  Yet through those circumstances Bowles has kept the team focused.  Had we started 0-2 those things would have popped back into our brains (We need Sheldon!  Geno needs to start!).  Major props for Coach Bowles are well deserved.  Not every coach could wade through such a tumultuous offseason then lead his team to a pair of double digit victories to start the campaign.

HERE HERE!!!  

I could not agree more. His composure thus far has been impressive. 

[rick34125]

Kind of crazy that less than 2 months ago, Sheldon Richardson was arrested, and 6 weeks ago Geno was punched out by IK.  Yet through those circumstances Bowles has kept the team focused.  Had we started 0-2 those things would have popped back into our brains (We need Sheldon!  Geno needs to start!).  Major props for Coach Bowles are well deserved.  Not every coach could wade through such a tumultuous offseason then lead his team to a pair of double digit victories to start the campaign.

I certainly won't knock Bowles focus and composure, but of all the things that could have gone wrong in the offseason, losing Richardson and Smith was among the most fortuitous. Just looking at how the season is unfolding, lady luck is on Todd Bowles side.

[bostonmajet]

Kind of crazy that less than 2 months ago, Sheldon Richardson was arrested, and 6 weeks ago Geno was punched out by IK.  Yet through those circumstances Bowles has kept the team focused.  Had we started 0-2 those things would have popped back into our brains (We need Sheldon!  Geno needs to start!).  Major props for Coach Bowles are well deserved.  Not every coach could wade through such a tumultuous offseason then lead his team to a pair of double digit victories to start the campaign.

Well said.

[Jetsfan80]

I certainly won't knock Bowles focus and composure, but of all the things that could have gone wrong in the offseason, losing Richardson and Smith was among the most fortuitous. Just looking at how the season is unfolding, lady luck is on Todd Bowles side.

Geno's injury was fortuitous if they were planning to start Geno Week 1.  However, being forced to cut IK and losing Richardson were NOT good things.  IK was a promising young LB and Richardson is at worst our 2nd best player.  Our performance to date does not meet we won't miss Richardson later on this season.  He's a dominant force on the interior.

[JetsRay]

Geno's injury was fortuitous if they were planning to start Geno Week 1.  However, being forced to cut IK and losing Richardson were NOT good things.  IK was a promising young LB and Richardson is at worst our 2nd best player.  Our performance to date does not meet we won't miss Richardson later on this season.  He's a dominant force on the interior.

You and nobody knows how Geno would be performing had the jaw incident never happened, anybody who suggests otherwise is just making noise because they can, there is no basis for it.

Geno was having a strong camp, he has the tools, he's reached the point of his development where his maturity in the game and as a leader are the areas he needs the most work, but it's revisionist history to suggest he wouldn't be having any success.

That said, Geno will remain the back up until Fitz ****s up, or he gets hurt, it's the only way Geno gets another shot, and that is the way it should be.

Even without that chance this year, people should not yet write off Geno, going into next year as well, Geno and Petty battle for the spot... If the Jets have a solid year, they would be hypothetically taking themselves out of any running at a top tier QB, the Geno era isn't over yet, and it's ridiculous for anybody to try and write it off just because.

[GandWFan]

If the Beard has a strong season, HE will be the QB next year. Geno and Petty, will be completing for QB2. 

[slgrayson1]

Those of us with eyes know exactly how GeNONONO would be performing.

Picks, fumbles, stripsacks, backwards running and probably 0-2

Thanks to IK, we have been saved from suffering through this for the third time

[rick34125]

Geno's injury was fortuitous if they were planning to start Geno Week 1.  However, being forced to cut IK and losing Richardson were NOT good things.  IK was a promising young LB and Richardson is at worst our 2nd best player.  Our performance to date does not meet we won't miss Richardson later on this season.  He's a dominant force on the interior.

my thinking on Richardson wasn't about missing him four games, but that now after this latest drug violation he could be affordable to keep with mo wilkerson and lenny williams.

[Jetsfan80]

my thinking on Richardson wasn't about missing him four games, but that now after this latest drug violation he could be affordable to keep with mo wilkerson and lenny williams.

Wishful thinking.  Either Richardson is going to implode and ruin his career (making him a guy we wouldn't want back), or he'll come back and be a good soldier long enough to get paid handsomely.  The Dolphins ignored Suh's risky behavior to give him the biggest contract a defensive player has ever received.  You just know someone with lots of cap space will do the same for Richardson if he returns to being a dominant DT.

[rick34125]

Wishful thinking.  Either Richardson is going to implode and ruin his career (making him a guy we wouldn't want back), or he'll come back and be a good soldier long enough to get paid handsomely.  The Dolphins ignored Suh's risky behavior to give him the biggest contract a defensive player has ever received.  You just know someone with lots of cap space will do the same for Richardson if he returns to being a dominant DT.

the thing with richardson is that his next violation will cost him a half season I think. how would a contract work for a player like that? less years? less guaranteed money?

[kelly]

Season with Eagles helped shape Jets' Bowles as coach

 -- Todd Bowles spent one season with the Philadelphia Eagles, a life-shaping year that the New York Jets coach will carry throughout his career.

Bowles was hired by coach Andy Reid as the Eagles' defensive backs coach in 2012 and took over as the defensive coordinator halfway through the season when Juan Castillo was fired. Philadelphia went 4-12 that year and Reid was also let go.But more than the wins and losses, it was the way Reid dealt with the death of his son Garrett to a drug overdose during training camp that has stuck with Bowles.

''It was probably one of the biggest learning experiences I went through from a leadership standpoint,'' said Bowles, who became Arizona's defensive coordinator after that season.

''Watching Coach Reid stand up there and address the team every day with the tragedy that happened to him and the way the team was going, and not bat an eye, just made everything status quo and go on as usual showed true leadership.''As Bowles prepared his Jets (2-0) to take on the Eagles (0-2), now coached by Chip Kelly, he remembered how Reid never made his personal struggles a focal point.He also credited owner Jeffrey Lurie and executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman, then the general manager, for how they handled their business.

''That taught me a great deal about respect,'' Bowles said, ''about leadership and about humility.''So, it makes sense that Bowles has remained even-keeled throughout his first several months on the job in New York.Meanwhile, Eagles fans are concerned with their team's early season struggles. The offense has not been the expected quick-strike, up-tempo nightmare for opponents yet, Sam Bradford has been mediocre at quarterback and running back DeMarco Murray has been a non-factor.

Still, Kelly - like Bowles - refuses to echo the anxiety of the fanbase, which is in near-panic mode.

''We're always concerned about everything here, whether we start 0-2 or 2-0,'' he said. ''We don't approach things any differently. We have to come back and go to work. You don't pat yourself on the back when you're 2-0 and you don't change everything if you're 0-2.''

Here are some things to know as the Eagles and Jets get set to play Sunday at MetLife Stadium :

MURRAY'S STATUS : After tweaking a hamstring in practice Wednesday, Murray will be a game-time decision. He was the NFL's leading rusher last season with the Cowboys, but has just 11 yards on 21 carries in the first two games after signing with the Eagles as a free agent.If he can't go, backup Ryan Mathews is expected to start with Darren Sproles also likely seeing an increased role against the Jets' solid run defense. Mathews has 4 yards on four carries, while Sproles has rushed for a team-leading 46 yards on six attempts.

CAUSING TURNOVERS: A large part of the Jets' success in the first two games has been their ability to take the ball away from opponents.New York has 10 takeaways to lead the NFL, and is just three off last season's total over 16 games. They are plus-8 in turnover margin and have scored 31 points off takeaways.''It's not easy for an offense to identify what they're doing every snap,'' Bradford said. ''I think that's why we have to spend some more time watching tape this week to try to get a view on what they're doing.''

GROUNDED JETS  ? : Cornerback Darrelle Revis didn't practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday with what the team said was a groin injury, and his status was uncertain for the game. Wide receiver Eric Decker is dealing with a sprained knee and could sit out, which means Jeremy Kerley and rookie Devin Smith - who has yet to play while recovering from broken ribs suffered during training camp - could play major roles opposite Brandon Marshall. Running back Chris Ivory could be a game-time decision as he deals with a quadriceps injury.

GETTING OPEN: Bradford's longest pass play has been 32 yards to Jordan Matthews and he's averaging just 9.5 yards per completion.Part of the problem is not having a deep threat and wideouts are simply not getting open enough, forcing Bradford to check down and throw short passes. While Matthews, the slot receiver, has 16 catches, outside receivers Nelson Agholor, Josh Huff and Riley Cooper have 11 catches combined.

THE SANCHIZE RETURNS: Mark Sanchez is back to face the team he led to the AFC championship game his first two seasons in the NFL. Though Sanchez is Bradford's backup, he's an injury or possibly an ineffective half away from playing against the Jets.Sanchez revived his career in Philadelphia last year after Nick Foles was injured and had his best statistical season. Considering Bradford has struggled in two games, New York reporters asked Kelly if Sanchez might play. After the third question about Sanchez, Kelly quipped: ''Are you Mark's agent?''

>    http://sports.yahoo.com/news/season-eagles-helped-shape-jets-bowles-coach-005402832--nfl.html

[kelly]

After two impressive victories to start the season, I wondered how Todd Bowles, the Jets’ first-year head coach, would handle his team’s first loss of the season.

I did not expect the first loss to come against Philadelphia. The Jets came into Sunday’s game 2-0; the Eagles were 0-2. The Jets entered Sunday with the No. 1 defense; the Eagles were ranked 29th on offense.Predictably, the home team suffered a first-half blowout. The Eagles raced out to a 24-0 first-half lead, and the Jets seemed like a different team. Actually, they looked like the bad parts of teams the fans have seen the last four seasons: poorly prepared, mentally whipped, physically dominated.

“They beat us at our own game,” Bowles said. “We turned it over four times, they turned it over once.”Bowles handled Sunday’s 24-17 loss to Philadelphia in the same manner he handled the victory at home over Cleveland and the impressive road win over Indianapolis: low-key and even-keeled, reminding fans that the season is a marathon.A supercharged home crowd was ready for a 3-0 Jets moment.The team had announced that Sunday would be a “Jets Whiteout” and had encouraged fans to wear white to go with the Jets’ all-white uniforms. Fans were even given white rally towels as they entered MetLife Stadium.To their credit, the Jets fought back. Their defense shut down Philadelphia’s smoke-and-mirrors offense, and the Jets’ offense, despite three interceptions and one fumble, was a mistake away from sending the game into overtime.

These are not the same old Jets.

For the last few seasons each Jets campaign was about the boisterous former coach, Rex Ryan. I got that and actually liked it — at first.Ryan’s mission was to change the Jets’ losing culture. He came in breathing fire, huffing and puffing, challenging New England and making his tenure a personal battle between him and Patriots Coach Bill Belichick. Ultimately, a coach’s act is only as good as the record. After 2010, Ryan’s act wore thin.

Bowles does not seem to have an act.

Whether responding to a player’s off-the-field trouble, a starting quarterback having his jaw broken by a teammate, mounting injuries or a loss like Sunday’s, Bowles’s demeanor remains the same. The message is also the same. The season is a journey filled with wins and losses.“We’ve all suffered our share of losses,” he said earlier in the week. “We understand it’s early in the season and we have a long way to go.”Bowles watched helplessly in the second quarter as Brandon Marshall played hero ball and saw it backfire.After Philadelphia took a 17-0 lead, Marshall made a catch, ran 15 yards and tried to lateral to Jeff Cumberland.

Bad move.

The ball hit Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin, and Jordan Hicks recovered. Seven plays later, Darren Sproles scored to make it 24-0.After the game, out of the moment, Marshall knew that he had badly blundered. He called the attempted lateral “probably the worst play in N.F.L. history” and “backyard football.”

“It was a bone-headed play; you can’t do that,” Marshall said. “The damage outweighs the reward so much.”Afterward, Bowles acknowledged the blunder in almost the same way he might have acknowledged a touchdown.“He knows he can’t make that play,” Bowles said. “We both know he can’t make that play.” Bowles said he talked to Marshall and said Marshall understood that he had made a blunder.“It was way too late, but he understood,” Bowles said.Bowles also acknowledged quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s subpar play.

“You’re not going to win a game throwing three interceptions,” Bowles said.But when someone tried to stir a quarterback controversy, noting that Geno Smith was active on Sunday and wondering if he would move up the Jets’ depth chart, Bowles was not having it.“Ryan’s our starter,” he said. Calm, even-keeled, not too high, not too low.

The Eagles were a better team, and Sproles wrecked the Jets.“They played better than us,” Bowles said. “Give the Eagles credit, they came in here to play. We played hard; we didn’t play smart at times.”Asked how it felt to lose the first game, Bowles repeated his mantra.“Long season,” he said. “The same way we won two games we were not going to get too high, and when we lose one game, we’re not going to get too low.”This long view has become the view in the Jets’ locker room.

The season “is a 16-round fight,” linebacker Demario Davis said after Sunday’s loss. “We won round one and two, we lost round three,” said Davis, who was victimized by Sproles but also came up with a fumble recovery in the second half.The Jets play Miami in London next Sunday, and then they have an off week before hosting Washington. On Oct. 25, the Jets will have their annual midterm exam at New England.In his typical matter-of-fact manner, Bowles said the team would correct its mistakes, “figure it out this week and move on.”

Whether you see the season in chapters or rounds, there’s much more left. I’m not ready to shout “Same old Jets” just yet.

>     http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/sports/football/no-histrionics-from-todd-bowles-just-an-even-keeled-reaction-to-a-jets-loss.html?ref=sports&_r=0

[kelly]

-- After days and months of micro preparation for traveling overseas -- the sleep therapist, the orange sunglasses, the how-to-combat-jet-lag brochure, etc. -- the New York Jets' most effective wake-up call was delivered by Todd Bowles.Before the game, Bowles imparted the theme of the day to his players: early aggression. So, on the first play Sunday at Wembley Stadium, the call was a "double go" -- deep routes by outside receivers Devin Smith and Brandon Marshall, who was covered by the Miami Dolphins' best cornerback, Brent Grimes. Ryan Fitzpatrick reached back with his oft-criticized arm and fired a 58-yard completion to Marshall.

"That," said Chris Ivory, who scored one play later, "set the fire."

It sure did.

In a matter of about 10 seconds, the Jets delivered a "Welcome to London" postcard to their ill-prepared opponent, which suffered a serious case of Dolphin lag in a 27-14 loss. Bowles dialed up the perfect strategy, attacking. That, he figured, would generate early energy, minimizing the chances of his team suffering a sleep-deprived letdown. It worked. It carried the Jets for three quarters before things got sloppy.You have to like the mentality Bowles has brought to the Jets. His football philosophy belies his even-keeled demeanor. He's a calm man whose hawkish side emerges by the way he manages a game, especially on defense. Instead of trying to sit on a 27-7 lead by pulling back on defense, he kept dialing up blitz after blitz. It was stunning, really.

The Jets blitzed on 35 of Ryan Tannehill's 48 dropbacks, a 73 percent blitz rate -- the highest any quarterback has faced this season. Bowles' fury was carried out by the defensive backs, mostly slot corner Buster Skrine. All told, they rushed a defensive back on 22 plays, the most by any team in five years, according research from ESPN Stats & Information."Today, he was preaching aggressive, aggressive," Fitzpatrick said of Bowles. "I mean, at the end of the game, if you watch the amount of times they went after the quarterback, that fires us up on the sideline. He just has supreme confidence, not just in the scheme, but the players out there. It's a lot of fun to watch and be part of."One quarter into the season, the biggest takeaway on Bowles is that he doesn't flinch. He handled the off-the-field tumult during the preseason, and he brought the same, steady hand into the regular season, letting the players play. They love it when the coach lets them blitz, play man-to-man coverage and take chances on offense; it shows a level of trust. Things got sloppy -- 14 penalties for 163 yards is inexcusable -- so there's still work to be done. But Bowles leaves you with the sense he'll figure it out.

Bowles still hasn't had a chance to make critical, game-management decisions in a close contest, so we don't know if he can handle crunch time, but his players are buying into his program. Nothing sells like success. In typical fashion, he downplayed the 3-1 start."For four games, I'm happy," he said. "For 16, we'll see."Linebacker Calvin Pace, the oldest player on the team, already has a sense something special could be developing. He said, "We're playing for something bigger than 8-8 or 4-12" -- their records in 2013 and 2014, respectively.A couple of months from now, if the Jets still are in serious contention, they will look back to the opening of Sunday's game. Bowles said they "talked about being aggressive," and he backed it up by giving the green light to Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick was asked if Marshall was the No. 1 option on the play, and he joked that Marshall always thinks he's the No. 1 option. They could've started out like the Dolphins, with a maddening number of conservative screen passes, but the Jets decided to be bold."They've got a great player," Fitzpatrick said of Grimes, "but we feel like our guy -- 15 -- is better than anybody he goes against."With seven catches for 128 yards, Marshall became the first Jets player since Al Toon (1988) to post three straight 100-yard receiving days. Ivory ran for a career-high 166 yards, the offensive line won most of the rounds against Ndamukong Suh & Co., and Muhammad Wilkerson (two sacks) led a defense that held the Dolphins to 0-for-12 on third down and 0-for-4 on fourth down -- mind-boggling.

The Jets certainly handled the travel and the five-hour time change better than the Dolphins, but they didn't win the game because of a sleep therapist or 350 rolls of toilet paper from home. They won because their coach was aggressive and was able to connect with his players. The Dolphins? They played as if the game were in Tokyo, because their coach's message was lost in translation.

>    http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/54787/under-todd-bowles-jets-are-playing-for-something-bigger-than-mediocrity

[kelly]

Jets report card: What a week of coaching by Todd Bowles

Offense

The Jets rolled up 425 yards and were aggressive from the start. RB Chris Ivory (29 rushes, 166 yards, one TD) set a career-high in rushing yards after missing last week with an injury. He ran over, around and through the Dolphins. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (16-of-29, 218 yards, one TD, one INT) was not perfect, but made plays when he needed to. He ran for three first downs, too. WR Brandon Marshall (seven catches, 128 yards) set the tone with a 58-yard grab on the first play for the Jets.

Grade: A-

Defense

The defense turned in another tremendous performance. It gets marked down because of some big penalties. Back-to-back pass interference calls on Darrelle Revis and Marcus Gilchrist gave the Dolphins 58 yards and led to their first touchdown. Outside of that, though, it was hard to find issues. They were aggressive and shut down the Dolphins’ run game (59 yards). Muhammad Wilkerson had two sacks and led the effort against the run.

Grade: B+

Special teams

They allowed another big punt return this week (28 yards), but stopped Jarvis Landry before he got to the end zone. The Jets’ return game is non-existent. Punter Ryan Quigley had a bad day, ending with a net of 29 yards per punt. Nick Folk missed a 40-yard field goal that felt like it might come back to bite the Jets.

Grade: C

Coaching

The challenge of this week was huge. The team had to come across the Atlantic, get used to the time difference and adjust to playing in unfamiliar circumstances. They handled it beautifully, and that credit goes to Todd Bowles. Chan Gailey called a great game. He saw Ivory was hot and kept feeding him the ball. How many times do offensive coordinators go away from the hot guy? The plan on defense was to blitz, blitz, blitz, and it worked.

Grade: A

>      http://nypost.com/2015/10/04/jets-report-card-what-a-week-of-coaching-by-todd-bowles/

[kelly]

Todd Bowles’ best qualities are making these Jets special

— The Jets and Dolphins both played like their coaches Sunday.

The Jets came out aggressive and were unfazed by adversity, just like first-year head coach Todd Bowles. The Dolphins looked like a pushover, meek and unsure of the answers, just like head coach Joe Philbin.In the end, that is what could get Philbin fired this week and it is what should give Jets fans hope that owner Woody Johnson found the right coach after a 27-14 Jets win at Wembley Stadium.These Jets have taken on Bowles’ personality. The 51-year-old longtime assistant coach is equally unfazed by success and adversity, an often-preached but rarely practiced trait among head coaches. Two straight wins? Stay the course. A loss to the Eagles? Stay the course. A flight across the Atlantic to play a division opponent? Stay the course.“The thing about Todd is he’s pretty even-keeled, never too up, never too down,” said veteran linebacker Calvin Pace, who played for Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan before Bowles. “I think we embody that. He preaches poise a lot because you have to have that. Would we love to go out and get three-and-out every single series? Yeah, but that’s not realistic. Those guys get paid to play, too. We’re just about staying the course.”Bowles does not have the colorful quotes of Ryan or the Boy Wonder feeling Mangini had in his first year. He won’t be appearing in any TV shows or making any movies.

For Bowles, it’s all about football.

This week was the latest challenge in his first season with Gang Green. The trip to London presented plenty of obstacles from logistics to keeping players focused on a football game while in a foreign (literally) environment. He reminded the players why they were coming to England and did not let up until the postgame when he told the victorious team that sweat pants were the required uniform for the long trip home.“It was a business trip from the beginning,” nose tackle Damon Harrison said. “We came into the stadium wearing our suits because we knew it was going to be a business trip. We get to leave a little more comfortable. We came here and handled business, plain and simple.”Bowles’ plan for the Dolphins was to be aggressive from the opening kickoff until the final whistle. Bowles likes to talk about football being like a boxing match. The Jets came out like a young Mike Tyson in this one, with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick connecting on a 58-yard pass to Brandon Marshall on the Jets’ first play. Bowles then battered the Dolphins defense with a barrage of Chris Ivory body blows.If the offense was Tyson, the defense was Muhammad Ali, pounding away at Ryan Tannehill and Co. with equal parts speed and power. Just when it looked like they were on the ropes in the fourth quarter, they hit the Dolphins in the mouth with a red-zone stop. Bowles does not know the meaning of a prevent defense.

The Jets blitzed Tannehill on 35 of 48 dropbacks (73 percent), according to ESPN, the highest blitz percentage any quarterback has faced this season. Tannehill is going to see Jets cornerback Buster Skrine in his sleep.“At the end of the game there, if you go back and watch the amount of times they came after the quarterback,” Fitzpatrick said about the Jets defense. “That fires us up on the sideline. He just has supreme confidence not only in the scheme but in the players out there. It’s a lot of fun to watch and be a part of.”Jets fans have been down this road before with head coaches. Herm Edwards, Mangini and Ryan all made the playoffs in their first seasons with the team. The romance with the coach always started quick but fizzled out before too long. Is Bowles the long-term answer? No one knows. He does not have a franchise quarterback to partner with, and that remains a big hole for the Jets’ long-term success. If he is the next Bill Belichick, the Jets better find his Tom Brady.But the long-term questions are for another day. Right now, the Jets are 3-1 just 10 months after finishing 4-12. Bowles has brought a new attitude to the Jets and it is working.Gone are the brash days of Ryan. Bowles is about pragmatism, not posturing.

When asked what he thinks of his team at the quarter pole of the season, Bowles paused.

“Through four games, I’m happy,” he said. “Through 16 games, we’ll see.”

Stay the course.

>    http://nypost.com/2015/10/04/todd-bowles-best-qualities-are-making-these-jets-special/

[Villain The Foe]

This is why the Jets will be successful. This man STRESSES the right things constantly. I almost cant believe it! This guy is a good coach. 

 

 

[kelly]

Bowles: 'We Haven't Accomplished Anything'

On Conference Call, Jets HC States the Early Bye Has Arrived at a Good Time

 

>    http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/audio/Bowles-We-Havent-Accomplished-Anything/ad1e81b3-c5d2-48d6-a328-e0e7701d7e02

[kelly]

Todd Bowles won’t overhype Jets’ best start in 5 years

The Jets were able to enjoy their long plane ride home from London after a 27-14 win over the Dolphins sent them into the bye week at 3-1.

A quarter of the way through the season, the Jets are off to their best start in five years, but they are not celebrating yet.“We understand we’ve only played one quarter of the season and all we did is get off to a good start,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We haven’t accomplished anything. We know we have a lot of work to do. Our mindset is such.”After three years of mediocrity at best and putrid play at worst, the Jets should be feeling good after their hot start, but Bowles is making sure to keep them level-headed about it.

The Jets hit the bye week doing a lot of things well. Their defense has been dominating. They were No. 2 in total defense behind the Broncos before Monday night’s game between the Seahawks and Lions. Their 13 takeaways lead the NFL and equal the amount they had in the entire 2014 season.On offense, Chris Ivory is third in the NFL with 314 yards despite missing one game. He has given the offense a spark with his bruising, relentless style.Wide receiver Brandon Marshall is sixth in the league with 400 receiving yards. His 58-yard catch to start the game Sunday set the tone for the team.

As the season has gone on, the Jets’ confidence has grown.“I think we’re growing together,” Bowles said. “I think everybody is starting to realize that we can become a good team, but we’ve got to cut out a lot of mistakes ahead and we have a long haul to go. It’s not going to happen overnight. But the guys are getting a lot more confident.”

The Jets players sound like they are getting Bowles’ message to not get too excited off the fast start.“At 3-1 right now we know it’s early in the season,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “It was a fun plane ride back for the guys that were able to stay awake. Knowing that it’s a long NFL season and knowing that we’re just looking at this thing one game at a time, I think guys are going to enjoy their rest for the next week and then get back into it.”The players have meetings on Tuesday and then are off for the rest of the week. The coaches will work through Wednesday.When they return, they play host to the Redskins and face the Patriots in Foxborough. That is the next stage of the season.“Three and one isn’t going to get you to where you want to go,” linebacker Demario Davis said. “You’re not going to know where you are until the end of the season. Everybody in this league knows that real football kind of starts in November. It’s too early to tell. It’s too early to be excited about anything.”

The bye week arrives early for the Jets. They have it this week after playing in London on Sunday. But the timing is good for the Jets, who suffered a few injuries in Sunday’s game.Fitzpatrick said this is the earliest bye week he has ever had, but thinks it is always good whenever it arrives. The Jets go into this one feeling good after getting the win against the Dolphins a week after losing to the Eagles.“When we sat and talked last Monday, the sky was falling and we had lost our first game and the undefeated season was gone and all that,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s just another week. We happened to win this game. A very important thing in the NFL is to just keep everything in perspective. It’s such a week-by-week deal.”The biggest correction the Jets have to make is cutting down on penalties. They had 14 against the Dolphins. Bowles called his team “mature.”

“We’re working on how to become a cohesive unit and how to win ball games,” Bowles said. “We’ve still got to get better from a penalty standpoint. Our guys know that.”

>  http://nypost.com/2015/10/06/todd-bowles-wont-overhype-jets-best-start-in-5-years/