You don't teach young players to win with a clueless HC. If you draft the right players, they already know how to win and have a burning desire to win. On a team like the Jets where there will be a LOT of turnover over the course of the next 2 years, you're not really gaining anything by winning meaningless games. IMO your "Losers Lose. Winners Win." is Neanderthal level thinking.
I actually think we ARE - or have been - that bad at drafting the RIGHT players. What I mean by "right", is players who have a lot of heart, and who know how to play the game. I think too often they've gotten caught up in the raw numbers shown by a player, and overlook the other aspects which I think are more important. I think that's behind the success of Belichick - he sees the qualities and character he values and drafts guys who fit that mold. In my experience, there are guys who are born winners, and sometimes - often even - they're not the best physical specimens, but they always wind up on winning teams. Why? Because they're winners and elevate the play of those around them. How many GMs passed on Brady, but Belichick saw a winner. Meanwhile, look at all the guys with gaudy stats who have failed. Sure, developing players to learn the right techniques, and to learn your system - and devising a system that maximizes the players you have - are all important, but you can teach all that, what you can't teach is heart and a winner's mindset.
I disagree with the last part of your post. I agree that we should be cheering for something to click in Bryce Petty so that he clearly will be the starter in 2017. If that happens and we beat the last 3 teams, fine. I can live with that. The ideal situation imo is that Petty plays well, shows clear progress and maybe even lights it up in a game or two, but as usual the STs and D shit the bed, and the team loses. In that way, they have their QB, they have their draft position, and maybe, just maybe, we have a new HC or at least new coordinators. Winning out with Petty not playing well is a nightmare scenario imo. In that situation, there would be little or no changes to the CS or in philosophy or approach. Woody would learn nothing, Bowles would learn nothing, and it wouldn't matter if some of the players learned anything, because probably 1/3 of them, and maybe as much as 1/2 won't be here in 3 years anyway.
Good post, toon. I agree with the sentiment. You have to build a core of players that just show up, and not fall in love with combine/pro day numbers, because the ones that get it, in practice and scrimmage, they show a head for the game. The core of the team has to show competency, intelligence and technique, and love for football, not the guy whose agent had him training with the best 40 specialist. Once you have a competent team built, and you are winning games, you can start taking chances on projects. Not the other way around.
There was a real chance of losing out and onl getting the fourth pick, so I have no problem winning at SF or against Miami or Buffalo. Just look at our draft history, especially in the top 10. What advantage do you get from picking 4th to 8th? We don't really know yet. Garrett is the best prospect. He's going top 2. We were never getting No. 2. There's no franchise LT or can't miss QB either.
What I don't get - or I don't agree with - is the idea that since we've blown so many high draft picks in the past we should either root to get a lower pick, or trade down. To me that's a loser's mindset. What you're saying is like going up to the casino table that has a lower pay out because you figure you're going to lose anyway. If the Jets lose and as a result "earn" a higher pick, they need to do their best to get the BPA that lines up with their needs. The good news is that they have a lot of needs so they have several different ways they can go with the pick. But if you want the GM to trade down because you're afraid he's going to blow the pick, then you ought to be rooting hard for the GM to be replaced more than rooting for him to minimize his losses.
Tell me the guy you want at 4 who's so much better than the guy at 6-7? We were not getting into top 3. So tanking was out of the equation. You don't tank for the 4th pick. Like you said we have plenty of needs. We'll get a good player
What could go wrong taking a RB at 4. Maybe in 1984 but most teams use committes and it's a passing league. RBs are a dime a dozen.
When Peyton Manning was at the top with the Colts he had a great RB. Also when he did well with the Broncos. A RB who can break any given play for a big gain/TD is going to take a lot of pressure off the QB. look at yesterday. If it wasn't for Powell, Petty wouldn't have been able to do what he did. The problem with relying on Powell as that "great RB" is that he's never done it for a whole season. Short of finding that "franchise QB" - which the consensus is that there is none this year - a franchise RB would have the biggest impact. Note: I am NOT saying the Jets need to be a "ground and pound" team. I'm saying that a great RB helps the PASSING game by keeping the defense guessing and off balance, and this RB also becomes another dangerous receiver, so there is nothing in this approach that isn't in line with the pass friendly rules of today's game.
Good thing I didn't ask you what your opinion was. A head coach doesn't become a head coach by being a clueless coach. He may not be a very good coach, but he's not clueless. No NFL game is meaningless. These meaningless games that you keep calling meaningless are the games that our young new core are using to grow and build as players. So shut the hell up about meaningless games because they are far from that.
Which is why I think people, including myself, think they need to trade down. We have so many holes, one pick isn't going to fix it. So accumulate as many high picks as possible to get as many good players in as many holes as possible.
One of my lifelong dreams is seeing the Jets smartly trade out of the first round for multiple picks. Most teams won't give you fair value when you try to do that. Macc just isn't a good enough negotiator to swing a decent trade, so I don't see it happening. And from what I've seen, only GMs who have the kind of situation where they can make moves without fear of losing their job are the ones that make those smart trade downs. I'll be shocked if I ever see a Jets GM trade out of the first round.
This is not Rocket Science If I were a GM I would just look to see what the perennial playoff Teams do to draft eg Giants Steelers Cowboys and yes New England As I recall these teams never trade down for quantity over quality...they Scout and Research good players and then decide how to get them
The Jets will trade up and take a DT(hopefully linebacker) or corner. Bowles and Mac and maybe even Gailey will retain their positions. Gailey will most likely be the scapegoat and some underachieving/overpaid vets. The Jets need a youth movement again, but not like Idzkis turn/failure. We need a rebuilt offensive line combined with active free agent period. The Jets need more leaders. Linebacker and corner are obvious necessity. Bowles has turn this defense to underachieving pile. It was nice seeing him pull out a win against 1-11 San Fran on the road though. Still need to see a little more Petty too. It's possible the kid can play in this league. Final thought... Jets are missing Snacks Harrison on the line. 3rd and short snacks is a monster still.
Belichick is certainly fearful about losing his job. He's trying to make a splash for the owner. Did you even read my post?
Step #1, draft a franchise QB. This is very difficult and requires a fair amount of luck. Step #2, do whatever you want.
Were you around in 2005? When Terry Bradway traded out of the 1st round for Doug Jolley and then picked Mike Nugent? I think that went a long way to help him get demoted.
