Chemistry 101

[SouthernJet]

OK, we have moved some supposed 'good locker-room' guys in last month or so.

The scribes always say how Chemistry is a huge part of what makes a good team a great team.

I totally trust Rex and Tanny so lets discuss why Jets Brass thinks these moves will not destroy locker-room Chemistry.

Were there issues we didnt know about??

It seems Leon may have become a malcontent, also last night on radio I heard a writer say there was a rumor that Faneca had become a "locker-room lawyer" lately complaining about moving T Jones.

Thoughts on Chemistry 101?

[THE ILK]

Thes guys are all pros, there is plenty of time between now and the start of the season for them to develop the chemistry needed to be the team we want them to be.

I like the moves the organization has made, and I think we will have a better team for it!

[NIGHT STALKER]

Thes guys are all pros, there is plenty of time between now and the start of the season for them to develop the chemistry needed to be the team we want them to be.

I like the moves the organization has made, and I think we will have a better team for it!

Hey let me ask you somethng BJ. Are there any moves this organization (current) that you don't like?

[leonwash29]

We're going to be fine with the whole chemistry affect, especially since we're going to be winning alot of football games. How cant you have fun and have a good time playing together with all the talent, rex and media coverage/respect they are getting. Theres a good mix of youth and experience and everyone in there has the same goal i think theyll be just fine.

[THE ILK]

Hey let me ask you somethng BJ. Are there any moves this organization (current) that you don't like?

I'm not thrilled about LT, I wish things went different with Leon, and I don't like the timing of the Fancea thing, but if he was a locker room problem I'm glad that they did it now.

Never the less I'll wait and see how it works out before I get like a whiny little bitch over it.

Anything else officer?

[gangreenman]

OK, we have moved some supposed 'good locker-room' guys in last month or so.

The scribes always say how Chemistry is a huge part of what makes a good team a great team.

I totally trust Rex and Tanny so lets discuss why Jets Brass thinks these moves will not destroy locker-room Chemistry.

Were there issues we didnt know about??

It seems Leon may have become a malcontent, also last night on radio I heard a writer say there was a rumor that Faneca had become a "locker-room lawyer" lately complaining about moving T Jones.

Thoughts on Chemistry 101?

Do I think it is a concern? yes. Do I think the chemistry of the team might turn out to be BETTER this year because of these moves? Yes. Fact is, as Tanny alluded to last night...Its always easy to say "if it ain't broke dont fix it". Problem is, if thats your attitude, and you are satisfied with good enough, then it is impossible to become great. The Edwards/Bradway regime saw how well the Parcells regime drafted and brought players in and were hell-bent on not changing anything or messing with all that leadership and chemistry. What that resulted in was keeping players, and starting them, a year or two past their careers where their talent level fell off (Jason Fabini, Mo Lewis, Vinny Testeverde, etc). As a result, we had some younger, better talent wasting on the bench (Cotchery, Rhodes) and we would stay inactive in FA where younger better talent was available... And the team suffered as result, which lead to the chemistry suffering.

Now, we're being proactive. Getting rid of guys when we see them start to slip, as opposed to a year after it is blatantly obvious that they can no longer play at a high level. We are replacing these older guys with younger talent that is hungry and determined to prove themselves. And we still do have a very solid core of "young" vets on the team in DBrick, Mangold, Moore, Revis, Scott, Cotchery...And even some older guys like Ellis, Jenkins, and Woody. Everyone on this team is hungry and everyone on this team knows that nobodies job is guaranteed and that the CS and FO are constantly evaluating everyone and is always trying to find someone better than them, in order to have the best team possible.

I think that can have a very positive effect on team chemistry than just letting things stay the same because "if it ain't broke, dont fix it"...

[The Crusher]

]We're going to be fine with the whole chemistry affect' date=' especially since we're going to be winning alot[/b'] of football games. How cant you have fun and have a good time playing together with all the talent, rex and media coverage/respect they are getting. Theres a good mix of youth and experience and everyone in there has the same goal i think theyll be just fine.

Winning cures all ills.

[NIGHT STALKER]

I'm not thrilled about LT, I wish things went different with Leon, and I don't like the timing of the Fancea thing, but if he was a locker room problem it was a good thing that they did it now..

Never the less I'll wait and see how it works out before I get like a whiny little bitch over it.

Anything else officer?

Officer? lol...I was just a sergeant.

[THE ILK]

Do I think it is a concern? yes. Do I think the chemistry of the team might turn out to be BETTER this year because of these moves? Yes. Fact is, as Tanny alluded to last night...Its always easy to say "if it ain't broke dont fix it". Problem is, if thats your attitude, and you are satisfied with good enough, then it is impossible to become great. The Edwards/Bradway regime saw how well the Parcells regime drafted and brought players in and were hell-bent on not changing anything or messing with all that leadership and chemistry. What that resulted in was keeping players, and starting them, a year or two past their careers where their talent level fell off (Jason Fabini, Mo Lewis, Vinny Testeverde, etc). As a result, we had some younger, better talent wasting on the bench (Cotchery, Rhodes) and we would stay inactive in FA where younger better talent was available... And the team suffered as result, which lead to the chemistry suffering.

Now, we're being proactive. Getting rid of guys when we see them start to slip, as opposed to a year after it is blatantly obvious that they can no longer play at a high level. We are replacing these older guys with younger talent that is hungry and determined to prove themselves. And we still do have a very solid core of "young" vets on the team in DBrick, Mangold, Moore, Revis, Scott, Cotchery...And even some older guys like Ellis, Jenkins, and Woody. Everyone on this team is hungry and everyone on this team knows that nobodies job is guaranteed and that the CS and FO are constantly evaluating everyone and is always trying to find someone better than them, in order to have the best team possible.

I think that can have a very positive effect on team chemistry than just letting things stay the same because "if it ain't broke, dont fix it"...

Bingo! I love how so many can be excited about this without question except me.

[THE ILK]

Officer? lol...I was just a sergeant.

Excuse me Sgt.

[TheSage]

chemistry has little to do whether a player can hold a block, catch a pass, make a cut-it has influence on a player's off field actions. Is Mangold going to mess up his pass protection because Ducasse is next to him if Ducasse is making the block rather than Faneca? Faneca was there and there is little question, in my mind at least that he helped the development of the the younger linemen but they are now veterans.

In an era of a salary cap. cap management is at least as important as chemistry and that has always been Mr. T's strength.

It also appears that Leon, as exciting as he was, was going to want a hefty contract if he was healthy and performed but there presumable will will be necessary decisions on who to pay, who to let go and that process has started. The fans here are more astute than most and realize that Faneca was let go because of performance and not money-2MM was not going to affect the team's thinking in an uncapped year.

The team, under T and Rex has exceeded our realistic expectations and deserves our continured support.

[NIGHT STALKER]

Excuse me Sgt.

I can tell you're a passionate Jets fan...the Faneca thing bothered me somewhat because of the chemistry thing. But, like you mentioned in another post, if he was disrupting the locker room...see ya!

[SMC]

I understand the chemistry argument, but I think that it's more important when a team wins it all.

So, for instance, the Saints' team chemistry is more important than the Jets because that chemistry helped lead them to the promised land. The Jets chemistry was only as good as the AFCCG.

If the Saints screw with their chemistry then an argument could be made questioning the team moves because the players know that the chemistry paid off.

No matter how much the 2009 Jets players loved each other, that wasn't good enough. There's no way to know if it will be good enough if the Jets didn't make such moves.

Also, the reporters bring up the point that the Jets chemistry kept them together during the long losing streak last year.

Guess what? The Jets' talent infusion is here to prevent such a long losing streak so they won't have to rely on chemistry to overcome it. The Colts & Saints didn't need such chemistry to overcome long losing streaks since they didn't have one.

[Jetscode1]

OK, we have moved some supposed 'good locker-room' guys in last month or so.

The scribes always say how Chemistry is a huge part of what makes a good team a great team.

I totally trust Rex and Tanny so lets discuss why Jets Brass thinks these moves will not destroy locker-room Chemistry.

Were there issues we didnt know about??

It seems Leon may have become a malcontent, also last night on radio I heard a writer say there was a rumor that Faneca had become a "locker-room lawyer" lately complaining about moving T Jones.

Thoughts on Chemistry 101?

You bring up an excellent but IMO...the leader controls the chemistry mix. As long as Rex has the reigns I think we are on the right path...as much as a fan I am of Leon there were bound to have grumblings over how last year went down...not sure how we could meet his demands (both contract + playing time). Its not like he was a major contributor for Rex.

On Faneca and TJ...I'm more inclined to think of the rule...its better to move a cut a guy lose a year early than a year late...although I would have preferred keeping Faneca another year...have to trust the coach staff especially Callahan that he could plug and play Slauson or Vlad in Faneca's spot.

[Bugg]

Overrated nonsense written by lazy sportwriters after the fact.

Have you ever heard of a losing team that had great chemistry?

A football team is a workplace and it does matter that people get along, might even be a good thing if they like each other. Going to a place every day with people you like is a good thing. But to say that means such a situation is a requirement for success is a leap. There are successful organizations in sports(the 1970s Yankees and A's) and business where success and not being in love with everyone at work still was successful. And think of it like this; in your office there are people you like and don't like, but they work to gther anyway. You don't have to go to the park and hang out to succeed.

Emotions might more matter in football than in most businesses, but as we learned in the Herman Edwards and Mangini Errors too much or too little invested in emotion is a pointless grind. Edwards was a cheerleader without a technical clue, Mangini a technocrat without a heart. Both aproaches are going to fail without the balance we have under Ryan. Edwards didn't know what he was doing in the crunch, Mangini got lost in the details. One thing Ryan and Tannebaum told this team yeaserday is that it's a business based on whether you produce.

Look at it like this-I couldn't imagine 2 people more different than D'Brickshaw Ferguson-solid, middle class, hard-working, intelligent-and Antonio Cromartie-(uh, I leave adjectives out here). Whether they hang out or like or hate each other doesn't really matter as long as they both do their jobs.

About Washington-loved the guy and wish him well. But after a compound fracture he is going to lose a step. And he probably on't be ready in September.

About Fanceca-as per analysis at Football Outsiders, he graded otu at the lowest 10% of all NFL guards and blew more blocks than any of'em.

[Biggs]

OK, we have moved some supposed 'good locker-room' guys in last month or so.

The scribes always say how Chemistry is a huge part of what makes a good team a great team.

I totally trust Rex and Tanny so lets discuss why Jets Brass thinks these moves will not destroy locker-room Chemistry.

Were there issues we didnt know about??

It seems Leon may have become a malcontent, also last night on radio I heard a writer say there was a rumor that Faneca had become a "locker-room lawyer" lately complaining about moving T Jones.

Thoughts on Chemistry 101?

I wonder how great Faneca and Jones would be in the locker room when they weren't big contrigutors on the field? It's easy to have great chemistry when you're playing and winning. When you're sitting and think you should be playing different story.

The Jets leadership going forward should be Brick, Mangold, Revis and Harris and Sanchez probably becomes this team leader outright in year 3 or 4. Those are the guys that are Jets from day one, the best players on this team and have been around long enough to step up and lead. Faneca and Jones were brought in to stabilize the ship but they were essentially mercenaries. The core of this team is old enough and been around long enough to establish the locker room.

[Mentos]

It seems Leon may have become a malcontent, also last night on radio I heard a writer say there was a rumor that Faneca had become a "locker-room lawyer" lately complaining about moving T Jones.

Faneca was known to be that way in Pittsburgh, too.

Washington will be 28 years old when the 2010 season starts. Even though he's only been in the league for four years, he might already be past his prime, regardless of whether or not he can fully recover from his awful injury. In my opinion, the Jets did good to move on from him.

[jason423]

Chemistry is important, but have the Jets really brought in players that are known to disrupt team chemistry? These guys they have brought in may have some character flaws, but Im not sure I have ever heard of them undermining the locker room. Jason Taylor may have worked to undermine coaches and is a me first guy, but Imnot sure I ever heard players say they hated working with him. Tomlinson hated Norv Turner but again I never heard teammates say he ruined the team. These other guys were all just off the field problems. Even if he thought the two old stars were a problem, I think the circumstances help ease those fears. In Taylors cane Im sure the Jets expect him to be humbled by the fact that 31 other teams did not want him. In LTs case only 1 other team showed real interest and he knows this is his last chance.

The other thing is that you need young leaders sometimes to step up. Eli Manning clearly benefited from the removal of Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey. Granted Thomas Jones was not that kind of "me first" vocal leader, but still you need this to become Mark Sanchez' team, not Thomas Jones'. This allows the players to rely on Sanchez rather than Jones. Similarly the line is Mangold's line. Faneca could possibly get in the way of that.

Its clear that this is what Rex wants. Rhodes got in the way of this becoming Scott and Leonhards defense. Thats why he was shipped out. His team. His guys. Not Manginis guys that were around when the team flopped and floundered.

I really dont see chemistry ruining this team. If they lose maybe that will be blamed, but I dont think its really the case. Alot of these "great chemistry" teams that overachieve and dont change much usually come back and stick the following year, such as those happy dancing Dirty Birds of Atlanta after their Super Bowl run. If the Jets lose this year its going to be because of poor QB play or lack of depth on the defensive line to go along with the overconfidence the team has. Overconfidence was probably as big an Achilles heel as anything last year.

[SouthernJet]

About Washington-loved the guy and wish him well. But after a compound fracture he is going to lose a step. And he probably on't be ready in September.

About Fanceca-as per analysis at Football Outsiders, he graded otu at the lowest 10% of all NFL guards and blew more blocks than any of'em.

+1000

[Larz]

Winning cures all ills.

that is what I was going to post

plus, there are 45 guys active on gameday, and we still have plenty of solid leaders

the media is over blowing the chemistry thing because they want the jets to be the SOJ, in a nice and easy box so they don't have to change thier thinking

f them

[#27TheDominator]

Chemistry is important, but have the Jets really brought in players that are known to disrupt team chemistry? These guys they have brought in may have some character flaws, but Im not sure I have ever heard of them undermining the locker room. Jason Taylor may have worked to undermine coaches and is a me first guy, but Imnot sure I ever heard players say they hated working with him. Tomlinson hated Norv Turner but again I never heard teammates say he ruined the team. These other guys were all just off the field problems. Even if he thought the two old stars were a problem, I think the circumstances help ease those fears. In Taylors cane Im sure the Jets expect him to be humbled by the fact that 31 other teams did not want him. In LTs case only 1 other team showed real interest and he knows this is his last chance.

The other thing is that you need young leaders sometimes to step up. Eli Manning clearly benefited from the removal of Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey. Granted Thomas Jones was not that kind of "me first" vocal leader, but still you need this to become Mark Sanchez' team, not Thomas Jones'. This allows the players to rely on Sanchez rather than Jones. Similarly the line is Mangold's line. Faneca could possibly get in the way of that.

Its clear that this is what Rex wants. Rhodes got in the way of this becoming Scott and Leonhards defense. Thats why he was shipped out. His team. His guys. Not Manginis guys that were around when the team flopped and floundered.

I really dont see chemistry ruining this team. If they lose maybe that will be blamed, but I dont think its really the case. Alot of these "great chemistry" teams that overachieve and dont change much usually come back and stick the following year, such as those happy dancing Dirty Birds of Atlanta after their Super Bowl run. If the Jets lose this year its going to be because of poor QB play or lack of depth on the defensive line to go along with the overconfidence the team has. Overconfidence was probably as big an Achilles heel as anything last year.

+1

Tomilinson is probably an upgrade in this regard. All his teammates seem to love the guy. Jones was considered a lockerroom leader, but had gotten into at least 2 fistfights we know of (Rhodes and Benson) and both he and Leon were busting balls about their contracts for the last year.

[GREENBEAN]

Everyone on this team is hungry and everyone on this team knows that nobodies job is guaranteed and that the CS and FO are constantly evaluating everyone and is always trying to find someone better than them, in order to have the best team possible.

.

I think that's the best way to look at it. If these guys think their jobs are set in stone because of their past accomplishments, they can get complacent. This is becoming a team that guy know if they slip on the field, they will slip right off of the team. I like it. I like it a lot.

Well said GGM

[Bruce Banner]

I think the anti-chemistry people are making sound arguments but Rex himself has gone on and on about the need for the team to bond by going to Cortland and stuff like that. It does seem weird for Rex to make a big deal about being a team and then let so many people go. And I honestly think these moves were more about money than people seem to think. Lack of PSL sales will kick Woody in the nuts financially.

[SMC]

I think the anti-chemistry people are making sound arguments but Rex himself has gone on and on about the need for the team to bond by going to Cortland and stuff like that. It does seem weird for Rex to make a big deal about being a team and then let so many people go. And I honestly think these moves were more about money than people seem to think. Lack of PSL sales will kick Woody in the nuts financially.

Good point, BB. But at least that bonding can happen again when they get to Cortland. The new guys and the old one that are still here will get a chance to become acclimated to the new situation.

In other words, better to have this happen now. EY and Bleedin mentioned the benefit of it happening early so by September the departure of Leon & Faneca would be distant memory.