I'm not surprised Mangini got fired either. I was surprised he didn't get fired last year. But the reason for the Jets collapse isn't his alone. Brett Favre deserves a big part of it, too.
Many armchair Quarterbacks are blaming Brett Favre for the meltdown, but those folks are borderline delusional. Yes, its true that Favre was intercepted a lot, but rewind to last season when Chad Pennington was intercepted much in the same way. Its nothing short of a miracle that Favre took the Jets to 8-3 with such miserable pass protection.
It was no miracle. Jets had a relatively easy schedule plus the Jets spent like crazy on the off season shoring up their lines. No matter who was QBing the Jets this year they would have improved.
The reason many people are blaming Favre right now is his decision making. Did you see any of those games last 4 games? Favre was totally horrible. Terrible throws reminiscing of a rookie instead of a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Lots of Jets fans want to see Favre go, but I don't agree with that. Some guys think that bringing in a new QB like Matt Cassel would fix everything, but thats also hysterical. If anything, we could use the guys who protect Cassel and put them around Favre. Brett Favre would be deadly with the pass protection that Matt Cassel gets. That guy has all day to throw the ball. With Cassels protection, even Ryan Leaf could throw for 400.
First of all, the Jets gave up less sacks than the Patriots. The Jets were 14th in the league in sacks allowed while the Patriots were 28th. So that argument goes right out the window. The Patriots still finished 11-5. No way do they finish that high with Favre quarterbacking them. Just so you know the Steelers were 29th in sacks allowed and they finished 12-4. It wasn't the sacks they made Favre suck.
Now this where Mangini comes in. He was coaching not to lose instead of coaching to win. Many times in their losses Thomas Jones rarely got carries in the 4th quarters. If anybody knows anything about Thomas Jones is that he gets stronger as the game goes on. He rarely saw the ball in the 2nd half against Seattle and San Fran.
Another thing where Mangini totally messed up was NOT changing his whole offensive philosophy when they acquired Brett Favre. He played 15 years in Green Bay's version of a west-coast offense and Mangini did nothing to try to implement any of those plays in the Jets offense. Plays that Favre can run in his sleep.
It's so hard for a new QB to come to a team and run a whole offense that his new team is used to running. Especially if that QB has been running a whole different offense for years. It's almost better to just change the offense to the QB instead of the QB changing for the team. Look at Matt Cassell. Why do you think he played as good as he did this year? It's because he has practiced with the team for a few years now. He totally understands the whole philosophy of the Patriots offense, which is why when Brady went down for the year they didn't panic and go looking for a new QB. They knew it was better to have a no-name QB who understood then a big name QB who would have to learn.
The Jets owners are correct, this all falls on Manginis shoulders. The poor pass defense, the failure to rotate players and draw up game plans that would work. Its also obvious that Mangini underestimated threats. How else do you explain his willingness to allow Chad Pennington to go to a division rival, Miami.
Yes, the Jets owners were correct in getting rid of Mangini. But the ONLY reason they are NOT getting rid of Favre is because they are moving in a new stadium next year. I really hope Favre retires, though.
The Jets didn't allow Pennington to go to Miami. Pennington was done in NY. Did you really want the Jets to play him 6 million to hold a clipboard? They need his cap space to complete the Favre deal anyways.
I would like to see Parcell's come back to the Jets, but he has a nasty habit of almost getting a team to the big game and then quitting, Id rather have mean old Bill Cowher out there with his spittle cup, or Mike Holmgren would be good too.
Parcells shouldn't go there. He's perfectly fine where he's at right now (well unless Dolphins change owners like they might). Holmgrem should really sit out a year and get rejuvenated and I sure hope Cowher doesn't go there. I like Cowher and I would hate for him to go there.
Maybe the Jets should fine the best candidate possible even if he's not a big name. Look at the Atlanta, Baltimore and Miami. They all hired no-name but very qualified coordinators as their head coaches and they all made the playoffs. Maybe the Jets are next.
