Off-Season Dept. ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

Get ready for a Jets team that will look very different next year     https://nypost.com/2019/02/17/get-ready-for-a-jets-team-that-will-look-very-different-next-year/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site buttons&utm_campaign=site buttons via @nypostsports 

[kelly]

Should the Jets re-sign  Skrine  and  Claiborne ?     (via @gennapreston84)     https://thejetpress.com/2019/02/18/new-york-jets-re-sign-decline-buster-skrine-morris-claiborne/ 

[kelly]

Jets made right decision declining player options      (via @JustinTFried)       https://thejetpress.com/2019/02/20/new-york-jets-right-declining-options/ 

[kelly]

How Jets' decision to stick with 3-4 defense could impact offseason plans            https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/22/jets-3-4-defense-impact-offseason-plans/ via @thejetswire 

[kelly]

Rich Cimini   ESPN Staff Writer 

A few takeaways from the Adam Gase/Mike Maccagnan media availability at the combine: The Jets sound highly motivated to trade down in the draft. ... Both men wouldn't address Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, but there seems to be different degrees of interest. While they haven't engaged the Steelers in active trade talks, the Jets are doing their homework on Brown. It wouldn't shock me if Maccagnan and Steelers GM Kevin Colbert have a convo this week. ... Gase spoke highly of Leonard Williams, Robby Anderson and Chris Herndon, whom he called a "Unicorn." ... They're open to re-signing QB Josh McCown, but McCown still hasn't decided if he will retire. ... Lastly, Gase confirmed they will run a 3-4 base defense.

>     http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

Adding Pieces Around Sam Darnold a ‘Focal Point’ in Jets Offseason             https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/adding-pieces-around-sam-darnold-a-focal-point-in-jets-offseason 

[kelly]

Rich Cimini   ESPN Staff Writer 

The Jets' off-season schedule is set. It starts next Monday with phase one of the off-season program. They have a voluntary minicamp from April 23-25, the week of the draft. They have OTA practices May 21-23, May 28-30 and June 10-13. The mandatory minicamp is June 4-6.

>   http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

Rich Cimini    ESPN Staff Writer 

The Jets open their rookie minicamp today, except they're not calling it a "minicamp." It's an "orientation," which means no practice. Coach Adam Gase prefers it this way because he wants to eliminate the injury factor, noting many of the rookies haven't played a game since December. The focus will be on classroom work.

>    http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

It might be some time before we see the Jets’ 2019 draft picks hit the practice field.

In lieu of a traditional rookie minicamp this weekend, Jets’ coach Adam Gase will keep his young players in the classroom for something he calls “rookie orientation.” This isn’t a new concept for Gase. He did something similar during his three seasons in Miami, and Gase has two good reasons for the nonconventional method of offseason training.

The first, Gase says, is to avoid unnecessary injuries while flooding his young players with new information.“Most of these guys haven’t played since December, maybe November,” Gase said, per NJ.com. “To drag them out there, run them around – I guess I’ve seen too many times where you lose a first-round draft pick to injury. You want to get them caught up as fast as possible and when you go install, practice, correct, another install – by the time you get done with the weekend, they have no clue what happened.”This makes a lot of sense. These rookies endured a litany of draft preparation workouts all spring – from combine drills to pro days – and haven’t had a real opportunity to heal their bodies. Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake, who played for Gase in Miami, told NFL.com in 2016 that the weekend helped him rest.“This weekend gives our bodies a chance to recover from the grind up to this point,” Drake said. “We can focus on the playbook, recover our bodies and get ready for when the veterans do come in.”

If the Jets threw the playbook at their young players, they could easily hurt themselves trying to impress the coaches with concepts they may not fully understand. It happened in 2016 when the Jaguars’ No. 3 overall pick, Dante Fowler, suffered a season-ending ACL injury minutes into his first practice with the team. With an entire summer of practices still to come, it’s a much safer route to slowly indoctrinate players still learning the ways of the football world.That plays into Gase’s second reason for an orientation weekend. Gase wants to spend time educating the rookies – both with the playbook and about living the life of a professional football player. “We do all the things you want to do with rookies to kind of get them going in a real-life setting,” Gase said. “A lot of these guys, they went from high school – they were home – to college – where everybody does everything for them. Now they’re on their own. So you have to educate them about, ‘This is how it’s going to be and you’re on your own and you’re going to have to pay bills and you’re going to have to get your own food.’ There’s a lot of things that guys don’t know about.”

Football players know football, so taking time to teach them the things they don’t yet know is smart for Gase and the Jets to ensure their players are ready for everything the NFL will throw at them. There’s a high probability most of these players haven’t seen the amount of money they’re about to make, nor will they understand the new wrinkles of life that come with it.Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard thoroughly enjoyed these life lessons while Gase coached him. In the same 2016 NFL.com article, he said the orientation prepared him mentally for the rigors of the league.“I’ve got to know what I’m doing on the field before I can actually do it,” Howard said. “Preparing mentally is going to be very important. I don’t want to be lost when the veterans get here, so I’m glad they’re getting us ready this way.”In Miami, Gase’s orientations included events like one-on-one meetings with coaches, blood testing, playbook walkthroughs, conditioning exercises and guest speakers.

The Jets aren’t the only teams to hold a different type of rookie minicamp. Gase obviously did this in Miami, but the Rams and Jaguars have also held similar orientations in lieu of real practices. There is a lot riding on this draft class as Gase enters his first offseason in New York. The Jets are relying on players like Quinnen Williams and Jachai Polite to contribute early, and that means they’ll need to spend more time in the classroom to teach them the complexities of the NFL.

>     https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/10/adam-gase-jets-rookie-orientation/

[kelly]

It’s time for the rookies to get started.

The Jets will host all of their drafted and undrafted first-year players this weekend at their Florham Park practice facility for a rookie orientation. This year’s setup will be a little different than what the team has done in the past – thanks to new head coach Adam Gase.Still, it will be our first look at all of these new players as they kick off their Jets careers. So what are what are the most important questions that needed to be asked this weekend ?

Here’s a look at seven major storylines entering rookie orientation, which starts Friday :

1. Will bypassing the typical rookie minicamp setup prove effective?

There’s one very big difference between this weekend’s rookie orientation and the rookie minicamps that the Jets have typically held in the past – the players won’t actually be practicing.Instead, this weekend will focus strictly on classroom instruction and much of it won’t even be football related. Some time will be spent on finance and other real-life challenges that the young rookies will face as they transition from college to professional life.Gase believes limiting the information and stress on the rookies in their first few days is important. But is he correct? Or will not getting an early jump on the practice field and putting the playbook into action slow the rookies down? Only time will tell, really.

2. How is Quinnen Williams adjusting to professional life?

All eyes will be on Williams when things get underway Friday, of course. The Jets’ No. 3 overall pick has a lot of pressure on him to perform and be a force right off the bat this season. So, it’s critical that he’s already transitioning well and preparing himself for a lengthy season. This will also be the first time that Williams has spoken to reporters in person since being drafted, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the New York media and all the spotlight that comes with being such a highly touted pick.

3. At what weight will Jachai Polite play?

Polite had a terrible pre-draft process, but part of his test numbers – specifically, the 40-yard dash – may have been mitigated at least in part by a balky hamstring. But some also believe that injury was caused by Polite weighing 258 pounds at the NFL Combine, which was significantly heavier than his listed 242 pounds while at Florida. Will Polite slim back down after seeing that added weight backfire over the past few months or is he committed to playing heavier in the NFL? The edge rusher has a lot of questions circling him, including some potential character issues, but his speed, health and playing weight are definitely top of mind, too.

4. Can Chuma Edoga start burying character questions?

Edoga, another third-round pick like Polite, also has to put some off-field issues to bed. Obviously, the Jets weren’t too concerned about a suspension and rumors of a poor attitude during his time at USC, considering they traded up to draft him with the No. 92 pick. Still, with all that swirling around him, it’s vital that Edoga get off on the right foot and bring a blue-collar approach this weekend. Any signs that he isn’t focused or is lazy could send up some early red flags, given his reputation coming in. On the flip side, a weekend full of positive energy and hard work could help reassure the Jets that they didn’t draft a troublemaker.

5. How healthy are Blake Cashman and Blessuan Austin?

General manager Mike Maccagnan said after the draft that Austin will likely start the year on the PUP list because of his rehab from a torn ACL. And Cashman said after he was selected that he is healthy, despite three shoulder surgeries over the last year-plus. More details on both picks’ injuries and recoveries could come to light this weekend, though, when reporters get an extended chance to pepper them with questions and draw out some more information. Just how much, if at all, will these two players be able to provide right off the bat?

6. What exactly can Trevon Wesco provide on offense?

Wesco was a surprising pick in the fourth round because the tight end was barely a factor in the passing game during his college career; in fact, he caught just 28 passes and spent a significant amount of time playing fullback in West Virginia’s system. So the question is whether or not he really is going to become a threat in the passing game or whether he’ll simply turn into a blocking tight end a la Eric Tomlinson. It’ll be tough to get a read on this one without these players taking to the practice field, but learning more about Wesco’s time at West Virginia and how he’s been preparing to become a more dynamic weapon will still be fascinating.

7. Which UDFAs can start impressing early?

The Jets’ undrafted players may be the ones most disappointed by the lack of practices this weekend because it’s one less chance for them to shine and make a big impact on the coaching staff. But that doesn’t mean the UDFAs can’t still catch some eyes by impressing in the classroom. These players are all living on a knife’s edge at this point, so it’s crucial that they take advantage of every opportunity if they want to stick on the roster and keep their NFL dreams alive. That all starts this weekend, practice or not.

>    https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/05/7-storylines-to-watch-during-jets-rookie-orientation-quinnen-williams-transition-jachai-polites-playing-weight-most-impressive-udfas-more.html

[kelly]

 Sometimes a little madness is a good thing, especially on a football field. The New York Jets tried it the other way for four years -- the calm, gentlemanly approach -- and it didn't work.

And now ?

"Adam Gase is a crazy offensive coordinator and Gregg [Williams] is obviously a crazy D-coordinator," defensive end Leonard Williams said Wednesday. "How those two go at it at practice kind of trickles down to the players, and the players go at it, too. It's in a healthy way. It's competition, getting better."

These are the new Jets -- louder, brasher and more energetic than the old Jets.

Let's not be naive: Some of it is because they have a new coaching staff. When there's a new boss, the intensity always goes up. When that new staff is led by two alpha personalities, the intensity goes way up."There's some juice in the air," said Gase, the head coach. And, no, he wasn't referring to the electrical storms that hit northern New Jersey on Tuesday and Wednesday.

✔ @RichCimini

Former BountyGate foes Joe Vitt (left) and Gregg Williams chat on the practice field. Past differences aside, that’s a helluva lot of coaching experience.

The Jets have one of the most fascinating coaching staffs in the NFL, led by Gase, Williams and outside linebackers coach Joe Vitt, Williams' former BountyGate foe from New Orleans (and Gase's father-in-law). This is one heck of a chemistry experiment and it will play out in a heated beaker this summer on the training camp practice field.Even now, in noncontact practices, it's easy to see Williams already has infused his personality into the defense. He coaches hard, as if every play is Armageddon. He never stops barking, cursing, instructing, cajoling.

"I feel like that's the mentality running through the whole team," Leonard Williams said. "There's a lot of fire in everybody right now."

A lot of it stems from the new defensive scheme, which Leonard Williams described in three words from a defensive line perspective: "Attack, attack, attack." Instead of reading and reacting, which the players say was a big part of the Todd Bowles system, the linemen are told to get upfield as quickly as possible. Worried about filling a gap? Don't sweat it. There's a linebacker who can do that.The transition has meant nuanced changes for the defensive linemen -- a new stance, different footwork and different hand-placement techniques.It's a lot different from what we were doing last year," defensive end Henry Anderson said. "It's a lot more aggressive, attacking front. As a defensive lineman, some of the guys who were here last year have to get rid of some of the habits we developed in that old scheme."

The Jets are saying they will run a 3-4 base defense, but they won't be predictable. Gregg Williams once bragged he has more than 40 different fronts in his playbook, so the Jets might take a snowflake approach -- no two are the same.Gregg Williams ran a 4-3 scheme last season with the Cleveland Browns, but he used that front only 31 percent of the time, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. He spent most of the time in two variations of a nickel package -- a 3-3-5 alignment (45 percent) and a 4-2-5 (19 percent).

Make no mistake, X's and O's are important, but a winning defense also comes from attitude. There were times, especially last season, when the Jets were passive -- especially when trying to protect a lead in the fourth quarter. This is hard to believe (or maybe not), but they registered only four sacks in the fourth quarter. It's no wonder they blew so many games.

Gregg Williams will change that. He already has their attention."Sometimes we're in [the classroom], a little half-asleep, and he comes in there yelling," Anderson said. "You saw him on the practice field. He's definitely a loud, vocal guy."

And crazy.

"Crazy in a good way," Leonard Williams said, smiling.

>    http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/80059/a-lot-of-crazy-on-jets-practice-field-with-adam-gase-gregg-williams

[kelly]

The Jets aren’t rebuilding, but they’re certainly retooling. In fact, the cupboard is now full of new gadgets and toys after a hectic, eventful offseason.

Gone are Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan. Gone are a number of underperforming players.Say hello to a new head coach, a new GM and a big crop of new players, both veteran and rookie.Over the course of this spring, we’ve graded just about every step of the Jets’ offseason individually, from free agency to the 2019 NFL Draft and beyond.But at this point, the Jets’ offseason work is effectively complete. So now that we can step back and take a look at the entire picture, what do we make of the work that this franchise has done in preparing for 2019 and beyond?

Here’s a brief look at each of the components of the Jets’ spring, followed by an overall assessment of whether or not this team is in a significantly better place now than it was at the end of 2018:

COACHING SEARCH

Analysis: Adam Gase was an off-the-beaten-path pick, considering the pool of options the Jets were picking from. But the decision to hire him does make some sense, especially in hindsight. Gase is familiar with the AFC East and is a bright offensive mind, which should pair well with quarterback Sam Darnold – even if Gase has never worked with such a young protege before. Was this a slam-dunk, can’t-miss hire? No, certainly not. After all, Gase went 23-25 in three years with the Dolphins. And there aren’t many of those surefire hires to be found in the NFL anyway. But that doesn’t mean Gase can’t be a good fit for what this team needs. His decision to add Gregg Williams as the defensive coordinator seems like a benefit, at least in the short term, as well.

Grade: B

FREE AGENCY

Analysis: The Jets indisputably upgraded their offense during free agency, adding running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Jamison Crowder – two big weapons for Darnold. But they did not fill the center spot, leaving Jonotthan Harrison as the de facto starter. And their moves on defense and special teams were questionable, to say the least. Sure, the C.J. Mosley signing was a good one, though it was a lot of money to pay for a position that wasn’t a true need. In the process, the Jets neglected to add a big-time edge rusher and failed to find a quality No. 2 cornerback. In effect, the Jets shifted around some of their question marks, but didn’t actually reduce how many questions they have to answer.

Grade: C+

NFL DRAFT

Analysis: For now, it appears Maccagnan only walked away with one definite 2019 starter in this class – Quinnen Williams – with hope for Jachai Polite and Chuma Edoga to potentially reach that level, if they have a good summer. Is that going to be enough to bolster this roster and ignite the immediate turnaround the Jets need?

Grade: C

GM SEARCH

Analysis: Joe Douglas was indisputably the best candidate on paper when the Jets opened up their search, so they were smart to lock him up. In speaking about Gase, we mentioned that there aren’t many slam-dunk hires in the NFL – but Douglas is about as close to that as you’re going to find. He has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from every corner of the NFL and is revered as a smart football mind. Even if the Jets bungled the timing and manner of the Maccagnan firing, there’s little doubt that they upgraded their GM position by grabbing Douglas. So in the end, the pain was probably worthwhile. It’s still very early, but Douglas appears to be the kind of guy who can assemble a consistent winner in the years to come.

Grade: A-

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VERDICT

Analysis: The Jets made a lot of splashy moves during the player acquisition phases of this offseason, but didn’t do a great job of addressing their depth issues. And there are still several holes in this starting lineup, too. So, that part of the spring was decent, but could have gone better.When it came to finding quality personnel, however, the Jets did a solid job. Upgrading at general manager is a major victory – perhaps the biggest one a franchise can secure, given the importance of that job. And so far, at least, Gase looks like a solid culture fit with this roster. We’ll have to wait and see if he can truly pull the best out of these players, but for right now he looks well positioned to do just that.In short: Great job on the personnel front, mediocre job on the player front. That adds up to a better-than-average offseason for the Jets, but definitely not a perfect one.

>   https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/06/jets-offseason-review-dont-call-it-a-rebuild-grading-complete-spring-renovation-including-free-agency-nfl-draft-hiring-adam-gase-joe-douglas.html

[kelly]

There won’t be many opportunities for Jets fans hoping to get a look at Le'Veon Bell, C.J. Mosley or any of the other new members of the team at training camp practices this summer.

The Jets announced their schedule of open practices on Monday and there will only be four of them this year. That’s a few more than the Eagles will hold this summer and one more than the team held last year, but it is lower than all of the other teams that have announced their summer plans thus far.

The free practices will be held on July 27, July 28, August 4 and August 11.In addition to those practices, the Jets will also hold a scrimmage that is open to the public. It will take place at Rutgers University on Friday, August 2.

>    https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/06/24/jets-will-hold-four-open-practices-one-open-scrimmage-this-summer/

[kelly]

– For the first time in a long time, the Jets entered an offseason with some continuity.

The Jets did not change any of their coordinators for the first time since 2011. Not only did the Jets bring head coach Adam Gase back for a second season, but offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and special teams coordinator Brant Boyer all returned as well.

In all, Gase only lost two low-level defensive assistant coaches, a remarkably low turnover rate. Now, Gase hopes it translates into better productivity for the Jets in 2020.“I think Year 2 is the usually the biggest kind of jump whether it’s a player, coach,” Gase said. “It’s been nice to be able to take that time off after the season, jump right into it. … Just going through our meetings, sitting in the defensive stuff and going through the offensive meetings with our self-scout, it’s been valuable. I think there’s a lot of learning that’s going on.There’s a lot of ways to close loopholes on some stuff.It’s been important this last month or so.”Gase’s first season with the Jets got off to a rocky 1-7 start, but they went 6-2 in the second half of the season. Gase hopes with the players already familiar with his offense and Williams’ defense, they can avoid the early-season learning curve that occurred last season.

“It’s that second year in the program,” Gase said. “I think guys will have a better understanding coming into it what to expect. It starts in the spring and then heads into training camp. It’s just a lot of those little, tiny things that you didn’t know when you’re a player or even a coach that you know going into it. A lot of the little details guys can clean up. That helps you in games.”

Gase was asked at the Scouting Combine this week what he feels he can do better in his second season with the Jets. He said he feels like he is already ahead of last year simply because of the relationships he built in Year 1.“It’s knowing our guys,” Gase said. “When you have more of a relationship heading into the season that’s a critical thing. It’s something that shortcuts anything that happens with players where they’re not sure on something, they’re not afraid to come ask you. You can get things cleaned up so much faster instead of everybody trying to feel their way out. We got there at the end of the year especially where guys were very open and honest, if they didn’t understand something, they came and asked. If we weren’t on the same page, we’d get it figured out quickly.”One of the arguments for not firing Gase when fans were calling for his head was that quarterback Sam Darnold could benefit from having the same system for a second year. The Jets have mowed through coaches in the last decade and players have been asked to learn new systems every year or two. Darnold already should have the basics of Gase’s offense down.

“It’s kind of like the coaching staff, that second year in doing anything you can close a lot of the questions you have,” Gase said. “You have those answers. It allows him to play faster. Heading into offseason, he’ll know so much of the system. It’s not more of a learning, ‘Hey what’s the formation, what’s the play call?’ Those things he’s got a great grasp on. It’s the fine details of if you do get a coverage that you weren’t expecting, knowing where to go with the ball, knowing your outs, knowing those little tiny things that you close those loopholes, you can play fast and you make the right decisions at the most critical parts of the game.”

This is the first time the Jets will have the same offensive system since 2016 when Chan Gailey made it to his second season. Since Brian Schottenheimer was fired in 2011 the Jets have gone through six different offensive coordinators – Tony Sparano, Marty Mornhinweg, Gailey, John Morton, Jeremy Bates and Loggains. On defense, the Jets made changes in 2013 and then in 2015 when Todd Bowles was hired as head coach. The Jets went through five different special teams coordinators in five years before Boyer managed to retain the job.

The 2020 Jets have not had that offseason change. Now, they hope it results in some in-season changes in the win column.

>    https://nypost.com/2020/02/28/the-long-awaited-advantage-adam-gase-has-in-second-jets-season/

[kelly]

he NY Jets have some very important decisions to make this offseason and one of the most crucial will be whether or not to re-sign Brian Poole.

The NY Jets have a number of key internal free agents to make decisions on in the coming weeks. And perhaps the most important of which will be cornerback Brian Poole.Poole was signed by the Jets to a cheap, one-year, prove-it deal this past offseason worth just $3 million. But by the end of the season, it’s safe to say that he significantly outplayed that meager contract.The nickel cornerback played perhaps the best season of his NFL career providing stability to a previously unstable cornerback group. While the likes of Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts faltered and were later replaced, Poole remained steadfast holding down his starting role for the entire year.

On an injury-riddled Jets defense, Poole was one of the many bright spots who stepped up and made the unit one of the best in the league despite their glaring holes.After three seasons of decreasing play with the Atlanta Falcons, Poole regained his rookie form with the Jets and is expected to be paid handsomely for it come free agency.

So with Poole set to hit the open market, will the Jets be able to bring him back ?

Should the Jets re-sign him ?

Out of all 21 of the Jets unresected free agents this offseason, Poole should be the easiest decision.The 27-year-old earned an excellent 79.0 Pro Football Focus grade for his efforts last season which ranked ahead of star cornerbacks like Tre’Davious White and Marshon Lattimore. In one season, he established himself as one of the premier slot corners in the league.

Expect him to want to be paid as such too.

Last offseason, the Denver Broncos signed Bryce Callahan to a three-year, $21 million contract while the Detroit Lions signed Justin Coleman to a four-year, $36 million deal. Expect Poole’s to be somewhere in between those two.Perhaps a three-year, $27 million deal worth around $9 million per season seems fair given his stellar play in 2019. If that’s the price tag, there’s little argument that the Jets should pay it.There’s no sense in losing your most valuable player at a major position of need especially when you could afford the contract.

The Jets must do everything they can to bring Poole back in 2020.

Will the Jets re-sign him?

With any free agent coming off a career year, there’s always a little hesitation. But with Poole, it seems unlikely that the Jets will think twice about wanting him back.He was too good in 2019 and is too valuable for the team to simply let him walk without a fight. The Jets will make a play for Poole — but whether they could re-sign him or not remains a different story.Perhaps a three-year, $27 million deal worth around $9 million per season seems fair given his stellar play in 2019. If that’s the price tag, there’s little argument that the Jets should pay it.

There’s no sense in losing your most valuable player at a major position of need especially when you could afford the contract.The Jets must do everything they can to bring Poole back in 2020.

Will the Jets re-sign him?

With any free agent coming off a career year, there’s always a little hesitation. But with Poole, it seems unlikely that the Jets will think twice about wanting him back.He was too good in 2019 and is too valuable for the team to simply let him walk without a fight. The Jets will make a play for Poole — but whether they could re-sign him or not remains a different story.The market for him will likely be extensive, meaning that the Jets’ best chances are coming to terms on a deal before the start of free agency. If not, they risk entering into a bidding war that they might not want to even win.

Still, it does seem likely that Poole will be back in green and white in 2020 given everything that we’ve heard so far.At the moment, it seems more likely than not that the Jets will find a way to re-sign Brian Poole.

Odds of re-signing: 60%

>    https://thejetpress.com/2020/03/01/ny-jets-re-sign-decline-brian-poole/