Palladino: 5 Truths About Jets and Giants

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Palladino: 5 Truths About Jets And Giants For The New Year

 

January 1, 2014 9:12 AM

 

 

 

 

Tuesday night was the time for making New Year’s resolutions. Wednesday is the time for starting them.

 

We all know how that goes. Once that hair-of-the-dog remedy clears the haze of midnight celebration, the reality that actually keeping those resolutions takes work hits us. It doesn’t take long before all those good intentions become a pile of fiction, maybe even lies, forgotten and forgiven within days if not minutes.

 

So perhaps Wednesday is as good a day as any to lay out five real truths concerning our two football teams. No phony resolutions, but real things that have happened or need to be done in order to avoid a repeat of a sad, unproductive 2013.

 

TRUTH No. 1: Tom Coughlin will coach the Giants in 2014 and beyond, for as long as he wishes.

 

Both co-owner John Mara and GM Jerry Reese were straightforward Monday in saying they wanted Coughlin back, and Coughlin said he definitely wants to be back. Whatever discussions they’ll have to have will involve extending a contract that runs out after 2014, not immediate job security.

 

The bottom line here is that Coughlin will probably get a nominal extension, which he’ll happily take.

 

Mara and Reese are smart enough to know that Coughlin hasn’t turned dumb since 2011, and that his work ethic at a ripened 67 knows no equal. They love the guy. And those two Lombardi Trophies in the Quest Diagnostics Training Center lobby indicate that it ultimately will be Coughlin who decides if and when he steps down as the Giants’ leader.

 

TRUTH No. 2: Now that we’ve settled Coughlin, let’s talk about Reese. The heat is on him to replenish the holes that are going to pop up in the lineup. Hakeem Nicks, a talented wide receiver who spent much of the season cutting off routes, lollygagging after imperfectly thrown balls and short-arming Eli Manning’s catchable throws cannot be re-signed at the numbers he’s talking about.

 

Although Jerrel Jernigan played well in the finale against Washington, it’s a big question whether he’s the complement Victor Cruz needs. Taking a wide receiver high in the draft wouldn’t be an outlandish pick. It had better be a good one, though. In fact, Reese needs a good draft, period.

 

Less than 20 of his 47 selections since 2008 remain with the squad, and only a handful of them have made significant contributions. If he doesn’t give Coughlin better stock this year, the GM could be out of a job come 2015.

 

TRUTH No. 3: Speaking of drafts, Jets GM John Idzik shouldn’t feel too confident now that the Rex Ryan issue has been settled. No matter how famously he and his coach get along from here on, that relationship will soon sour if he doesn’t find a quarterback. Geno Smith proved this year he’s not the answer, so Idzik must start all over again. He wanted to put his stamp on the squad last year with Smith and it blew up on him. It happens. He gets a mulligan.

 

But if he doesn’t come up with the Jets’ quarterback of the present and future in this quarterback-rich draft, he’ll need to start thinking about his own job security. As many as four quarterbacks could go in the first round. One of them had better come Idzik’s way. Must do. And that’s no resolution, that’s the truth.

 

TRUTH No. 4: Ryan’s defense was fine this year, up to a point. The secondary needs help. Even if Dee Milliner takes that next step and starts to consistently play like a first-round cornerback, that position lacks depth. It might be time to spend some free-agent money on a wily veteran who can step in if Milliner stumbles again. Besides, Antonio Cromartie could be heading for hip surgery, and we all know how tricky that can be.

 

The safeties are fine, but the cornerback and nickel spots definitely need upgrading. He’ll have to use some of the $26 million of cap space he’ll clear by releasing Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes and hitting Cromartie with a pay cut on the secondary. Another must do on Idzik’s list.

 

TRUTH No. 5: Three straight playoff misses for the Jets, four out of five for the Giants. That’s a combined seven-of-eight for those keeping score, and those numbers add up to nothing but bad. The Giants may be on the way down despite a 7-3 finish.

 

The Jets, supposedly on the way up, have yet to prove it. Both teams had better come around, or the teams’ respective ownerships will be greeting a lot of hostile fans and empty seats at MetLife Stadium. That’s an owner’s worst nightmare, and that’s the truth.

[slats]

TRUTH No. 3: Speaking of drafts, Jets GM John Idzik shouldn’t feel too confident now that the Rex Ryan issue has been settled. No matter how famously he and his coach get along from here on, that relationship will soon sour if he doesn’t find a quarterback. Geno Smith proved this year he’s not the answer, so Idzik must start all over again. He wanted to put his stamp on the squad last year with Smith and it blew up on him. It happens. He gets a mulligan.

 

But if he doesn’t come up with the Jets’ quarterback of the present and future in this quarterback-rich draft, he’ll need to start thinking about his own job security. As many as four quarterbacks could go in the first round. One of them had better come Idzik’s way. Must do. And that’s no resolution, that’s the truth.

Not gonna pretend I'm sold on Geno at all, but I don't think he's proven he's not the answer, nor do I think that the Jets absolutely need to land a QB in the first round. Not at all. I'd get WRs/TEs first, and competition for Geno second.

 

TRUTH No. 4: Ryan’s defense was fine this year, up to a point. The secondary needs help. Even if Dee Milliner takes that next step and starts to consistently play like a first-round cornerback, that position lacks depth. It might be time to spend some free-agent money on a wily veteran who can step in if Milliner stumbles again. Besides, Antonio Cromartie could be heading for hip surgery, and we all know how tricky that can be.

 

The safeties are fine, but the cornerback and nickel spots definitely need upgrading. He’ll have to use some of the $26 million of cap space he’ll clear by releasing Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes and hitting Cromartie with a pay cut on the secondary. Another must do on Idzik’s list.

The safeties are fine? The nickel spot definitely needs upgrading? I think he's got this backwards, too.

[Freemanm]

Palladino's morw of a Giants fan than a Jets fan. And it shows. He's way off the mark with his comments on the draft and that the sfety position is fine

[SMC]

Palladino's point on Geno makes no sense.  By saying the Jets have to take a QB at 18 means that he thinks the Jets are going to do a repeat of 2013 next year and go through the growing pains of a rookie QB.

 

In essence, that's another wasted year.  Rex and the team aren't going to go for that.  Neither are the coaches.

[Gastineau Lives]

Palladino's point on Geno makes no sense.  By saying the Jets have to take a QB at 18 means that he thinks the Jets are going to do a repeat of 2013 next year and go through the growing pains of a rookie QB.

 

In essence, that's another wasted year.  Rex and the team aren't going to go for that.  Neither are the coaches.

 

What is the alternative? Committing to Geno?

[77DRAFT]

It's fashionable to trash Geno in the press, this moron doesn't know the game as much

as he listens to what the gay idiots at ESPN and NFL network are saying about Geno,

 

No one who bashes Geno mentions his running ability which wins games or the fact

that he beat Breeze Brady Tanhill, this year out playing all of them, he had the worst

O line in the league for a stretch, horrible play calling and no receivers.  Despite that

he is the teams offensive MVP in many peoples mind, and his interceptions went way

down last 4th of the season.

 

He misses guys because his passes sometimes fly away on overthrows, this is so much

better than underthrowing guys from a dead arm, like a lot of quarterbacks do.

 

geno actually played better than a lot of guys in their rookie year, guys who are legends 

in the NFL, look it up, its still fashionable to trash the Jets, but people have to remember

that Farve, Rivers, Romo, even Elway, have thrown countless games away with ill adviced

foolish interceptions many with the game on the line, bad decision making is a big part

of all those guys M>O>    Geno doesn't blow games late with dumb throws, he wins

them with his feet and bullets into the chest of his receivers.

 

I'm not at all worried about Geno,  The O line is more of a concern, also building a championship

receiving core.

[T0mShane]

Not gonna pretend I'm sold on Geno at all, but I don't think he's proven he's not the answer, nor do I think that the Jets absolutely need to land a QB in the first round. Not at all. I'd get WRs/TEs first, and competition for Geno second.

 

The safeties are fine? The nickel spot definitely needs upgrading? I think he's got this backwards, too.

 

 

An article written by a guy who watched one half of one game of Jets football this year.

[Bugg]

If he thinks the Jets safeties are any good he needs to rewatch the Carolina game.

[stoicsentry]

It's fashionable to trash Geno in the press, this moron doesn't know the game as much

as he listens to what the gay idiots at ESPN and NFL network are saying about Geno,

 

No one who bashes Geno mentions his running ability which wins games or the fact

that he beat Breeze

 

Yeah, who needs a windbreaker? It was great watching Geno beat the breeze.

[sourceworx]

Geno struggled during his rookie season, but improved quite a bit during the final month. How is that proof that he isn't the answer?

No way would I give up on him now. Bring someone in to push him. Don't coddle him like they did with Sanchez, but don't give up on him either.

[faba]

This guy is a Giant beat guy- he has no clue about the Jets situation

[Gastineau Lives]

Geno struggled during his rookie season, but improved quite a bit during the final month. How is that proof that he isn't the answer?

No way would I give up on him now. Bring someone in to push him. Don't coddle him like they did with Sanchez, but don't give up on him either.

 

Why does he need a push? What is a push?

[Il Mostro]

One thing is for sure, Cro's next vehicle is going to be a Rascal.  

[SMC]

What is the alternative? Committing to Geno?

No, but drafting a QB rd 1 means that Idzik is admitting after only 1 yr that he wasted a 2013 2nd rounder.  He's not going to do that.

[BurnleyJet]

Ok Five points, 2 Giants, 3 Jets, all the Jets "points" negative. Giants all is well because Couglin Won 2 superbowls on luck, miracle catch, and a miracle drop.

Weaponise Geno and see if he can make the jump I'm 2014. We are a young team with perhaps the best D-Line in football, lets add some weapons and start turning heads. This guy is Cimini lite.

[bitonti]

if this article was written week 10 i'd be right there with him with qb at 18. now i'll take BAP WR, CB, OLB, FS, TE, OT, whoever. Geno finished the season stronger than the national media realizes. They will get him competition maybe around the Revis pick top of rd 3. but gut feeling it's not likely at 18.  the best available player might be a defender and Idzik seems to be against reaching for need.

 

btw rd 2 WR like odell beckham jr, donte Moncrief and rd 3 te like cj fiedorowicz iowa might be better than rd 1 wr marquis lee or te jace amero 

[faba]

The perception would be saying I made a mistake in 2013 and will try again in 2014 if Idzik drafted another QB first round. The chances of that happenning not very likely IMO

[pedro55]

if this article was written week 10 i'd be right there with him with qb at 18. now i'll take BAP WR, CB, OLB, FS, TE, OT, whoever. Geno finished the season stronger than the national media realizes. They will get him competition maybe around the Revis pick top of rd 3. but gut feeling it's not likely at 18.  the best available player might be a defender and Idzik seems to be against reaching for need.

 

btw rd 2 WR like odell beckham jr, donte Moncrief and rd 3 te like cj fiedorowicz iowa might be better than rd 1 wr marquis lee or te jace amero 

  

 If the Jets wind up picking more defensive players than offense in the draft, Idzik is a moron.

[HessStation]

Who is this dick to say what to do with Geno.

[slats]

No, but drafting a QB rd 1 means that Idzik is admitting after only 1 yr that he wasted a 2013 2nd rounder.  He's not going to do that.

  

The perception would be saying I made a mistake in 2013 and will try again in 2014 if Idzik drafted another QB first round. The chances of that happenning not very likely IMO

Worst possible reason to not take a QB in the first. If he has faith in Geno, then by all means build around him. But if he thinks he did make a mistake, then he needs to be able to move on quickly. We don't need another GM who holds onto draft picks to save face.

[SMC]

  

Worst possible reason to not take a QB in the first. If he has faith in Geno, then by all means build around him. But if he thinks he did make a mistake, then he needs to be able to move on quickly. We don't need another GM who holds onto draft picks to save face.

But there is no evidence whatsoever to think that Idzik believes he made a mistake.

 

Even if Idzik is not sure about Geno, he won't take a QB at 18.

[slats]

But there is no evidence whatsoever to think that Idzik believes he made a mistake.

 

Even if Idzik is not sure about Geno, he won't take a QB at 18.

I don't think he will, either.

Just saying that if he had such an interest, concern about the perception of having whiffed on Geno should be the last reason on Earth to prevent him from pulling the trigger.

[flgreen]

The perception would be saying I made a mistake in 2013 and will try again in 2014 if Idzik drafted another QB first round. The chances of that happenning not very likely IMO

 

If the BAP at 18 is a QB, and Idzik doesn't take him because he took Smith in the 2nd round last year, it will be disaster for the Jets.  More of the same stuff we have had for the last 40+ years.

 

If the BAP at 18 is a QB, pull the trigger

[faba]

Oh BAP is in the eyes of the beholder. Idzik holds those cards

[flgreen]

Oh BAP is in the eyes of the beholder. Idzik holds those cards

 

They will have a big board up in the draft room before the draft starts.  If the top guy on their board is a QB, he is the BAP

[faba]

the point I am making to be clear is all GM's will say they are taking the BAP- only the future will be able to judge that and Jet fans to argue over

[SMC]

If the BAP at 18 is a QB, and Idzik doesn't take him because he took Smith in the 2nd round last year, it will be disaster for the Jets.  More of the same stuff we have had for the last 40+ years.

 

If the BAP at 18 is a QB, pull the trigger

In that situation I think Idzik woukd try to trade the pick to get more picks.

[Maxman]

Not gonna pretend I'm sold on Geno at all, but I don't think he's proven he's not the answer, nor do I think that the Jets absolutely need to land a QB in the first round. Not at all. I'd get WRs/TEs first, and competition for Geno second.

 

The safeties are fine? The nickel spot definitely needs upgrading? I think he's got this backwards, too.

 

Yes, he was way off.  Lost credibility with that line.

[Larz]

 

The safeties are fine? The nickel spot definitely needs upgrading? I think he's got this backwards, too.

 

this is dis-info season.  if he's lusting S's in FA or the draft, why telegraph it ?

[flgreen]

In that situation I think Idzik woukd try to trade the pick to get more picks.

 

Why?

 

The Jets need a QB