Nice Piece on Bill... I think we all expect him to do well with the line this year. Bill Callahan, new Jets assistant, works in trenches as offensive line coach BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Saturday, June 21st 2008, 9:43 PM When Bill Callahan was introduced as the Nebraska head coach in 2004, he received the head-of-state treatment. His first news conference drew 200 boosters and was televised live across the football-obsessed state, pre-empting daytime soap operas. He was the new guiding light for Husker Nation. These days, Callahan is working in relative anonymity as the Jets' offensive line coach. There were no TV cameras when he was hired in January, no back-page headlines, only a modest press release. Since then, he has stayed out of the spotlight, working dawn-to-dusk days and living in a hotel near the team's facility. It's a dramatic change for a man who held two of the nation's most storied head-coaching jobs in succession, the Raiders and Nebraska. "I don't take this position any less meaningful than I did my previous positions," Callahan told the Daily News in his first interview since being named assistant head coach/offense. "This entails a huge responsibility, coming in here as the offensive line coach. It's a challenge." Now there's a mouthful. Even the casual Jets fan knows the offensive line was the biggest problem in last season's 4-12 disaster. You've heard of the Seven Blocks of Granite? Well, the Jets' line was Five Blocks of Granola, finishing 23rd and 30th in rushing yards per attempt and sack percentage, respectively - two telltale statistics for a line. They replaced the weakest links, dumping guard Adrien Clarke and tackle Anthony Clement in favor of big-ticket free agents Alan Faneca and Damien Woody, but the most significant acquisition may have been Callahan. He made his bones as a line coach, forging a sterling reputation as a Raiders assistant under Jon Gruden from 1998 to 2001. After two ill-fated stints in the big chair, he's back to his first love. "At Nebraska, I'd always take the offensive linemen through the individual periods, and really tried to keep my skills sharp," said Callahan, who was fired after a 27-22 record in four seasons. He won't be remembered fondly in Nebraska, where mediocrity is a dirty word, but he made a strong impression on Eric Mangini, who interviewed Callahan at the behest of GM Mike Tannenbaum. The Jets' coach, citing Callahan's wealth of experience, called him "incredibly flexible ? He's got a great understanding of the big picture." Callahan, 51, a product of Chicago's tough South Side, is an unassuming fellow with sophisticated tastes. He listens to classical music and fancies himself a Civil War buff, shattering the stereotype of the snarling, drill-sergeant line coach. He relies on quiet discipline and painstaking preparation. During the Jets' spring camps, Callahan distributed an in-depth critique each morning to every lineman, breaking down every play from the previous day's practice. The players were taken aback by his fastidious approach. "That might seem like a small thing, but to me, it says a lot about him as a coach - very detailed," said guard Brandon Moore, who described Callahan's daily tome as "an essay that reads like he's talking to you." Under the previous line coach, Tony Wise, the Jets were prone to mental errors, creating a domino effect that impacted every position on offense. By midseason, it was a punch line. Enter, Callahan. Even though he seems uncomfortable with the perception that he's the savior ("I don't have any magic dust that I'm going to sprinkle over these guys"), Callahan's track record suggests he'll get it fixed. In six years with the Raiders, including four as the coordinator, his unit set several franchise records for offense. In 2000, they led the league in rushing. In 2002, they were the top passing team. Callahan didn't win many friends as the Raiders' head coach in 2002 and 2003, according to a colleague who spoke on the condition of anonymity, but the colleague predicted he'd do well with the Jets as long as he sticks to his specialty - the line. "As an offensive line coach, he's as good as there is in the NFL. He's very, very sharp," the person said. Callahan's arrival could be perceived as a threat to coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, whose star dimmed last season after a terrific debut in 2006. Callahan made sure to acknowledge that Schottenheimer still runs the offense, saying, "I'll do whatever Brian Schottenheimer wants me to do." It'll be interesting to see Callahan in a new environment. For the first time as an NFL assistant, he won't have Gruden around. (They spent seven years together in Philadelphia and Oakland.) Callahan finally emerged from Gruden's shadow in 2002, taking over the Raiders and leading them to the Super Bowl - only the fourth rookie coach to make it that far. The only thing faster than Callahan's rise was his fall. Starting with a blowout loss to Gruden's Bucs in the Super Bowl, the Raiders imploded, turning on Callahan and finishing 4-12 in 2003. They became the league's most dysfunctional team, with Callahan fueling the unrest by saying they were "the dumbest team in America." "Having been a head coach, it has allowed me to see coaching - and life - through a different set of glasses," said Callahan, who was fired after only two seasons as the Raiders' coach. "It will make me a better assistant. It can only increase my understanding and knowledge of the game. I bring a unique skill set to this organization." Because of his job description, and Mangini's tight reins on assistants talking to the media, Callahan can coach without a hot seat for the first time since 2001. But the diehard fans know who he is, and they expect big things. While waiting for a table recently at a Long Island steakhouse, he received a "please-fix-the-Jets" plea from a fellow diner. "I got a face full of Jet fan," Callahan said, laughing. "I was a little taken aback, but I truly understand." In these parts, as the new coach is learning, the Jets are a never-ending soap opera.
If Callahan does drop into theganggreen.com room to blog for a while I hope he reads my reply to the above Daily News artical. Please Please Please help are O-fense line protect our QB. Please give our QB more the 2 seconds to throw or run hte ball. Please let our receivers have time to run the routes. Please let us WIN.
Thanks, NDmick, for posting this. I've been looking to see what about Callahan for a while now. The only way we're going to really see his impact is when the season actually begins. One thing, however, that I think might be an indicator of the team's perception of his success / failure will be whether they practice the long ball heavily or just a few times. Those folks that get the chance to go out to Hoffstra in July would do well to keep an eye on downfield emphasis. I'm looking forward to seeing how Callahan works it out.
Jets are not going to have a heavy emphasis on the downfield passes. WHY. First off they don't have the oline to do it. Look who they have on OLine. Dbrickshaw Ferguson isn't a very good pass blocker yet( even though thats was his supposed strength coming to the NFL. Alan Faneca strength is run blocking and never was a great pass blocker. Last couple years his pass blocking has slipped further- ask any Steeler fan. RT Damien Woody- more a run blocker who never was that great in pass protection. (whether it was at center, guard and now tackle) What it means is Jets will try to run the ball alot next year ,and use that running game, to set up the passing game. Jets get in known passing downs with the oline they have, they are going to be in trouble. Bill Callahan isn't a magician . HE can only work with what he has. Can't make chicken salad out of chicken ----.
no way in hell. a post from Jeaux that makes sense. oh man. this is scary. anyways, our OL will be undoubtedly better than last yr. why? cuz it couldnt get worse
Only way your Oline could be worse, if it fails to produce results in the running game? (as expected) WHY? Now your locked into those same players on the oline, for at least a couple years. Than what do you do.
The NYJ OL is being built to make the running game successful. The best offensive response to a successful running game is play-fakes that result in downfield passes, not five-yard-dumpoff "surrogate running plays". I believe the NYJ OL can be successful with these RBs. If they are, then play-fakes and downfield passes will flourish.
... And if Clemens is the starting QB, he has the arm strength for the 45 yard bomb. I hope Pennington's play action acting can rub off on the kid, then we'll have an exciting young QB to watch grow on gamedays.
Yea and if your going to play similiar to the Raiders(not that they only one to trademnark it) Be a run first and pass off the run. Who would you rather have run blocking. Kwame Harris or Brickshaw Ferguson. Thats all IM going to say.
JMO - ONe BIg Problem with the Jets supposedly building this offensive line that can run block. You still have a very round hole, and your trying to fit a square peg into it. What I mean no matter what you do- Dbrickshaw Ferguson never going to be effective run blocker. Alot of those other run blockers you have ,are questions in pass protection. Jets better be able to run or your looking at a very long season.
