Bobby April Fired

[Elias]

Jets head coach Todd Bowles has informed special teams coordinator Bobby April, assistant special teams coach Steve Hagen and assistant offensive line coach Ron Heller that they will not return for the 2016 season.

"After having our season-ending meetings with the staff, I decided that changes were necessary in these areas," Bowles said. "I appreciate their contributions this past season and wish them success in the future."

This was April's first season with the Jets and his 24th as an NFL special teams coach. Hagen was in his third season with the Green & White and his 11th as an NFL assistant. Heller was also in his third season as a Jets coach and his fifth as a league assistant coach.

Per nyjets.com

 

[soj]

Glad to see Bowles make the right decisions. Now on to getting rid of the underperfroming players and over the hill ones too.

 

[Bronx]

Great news.

Imagine Rex firing anyone


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[Elias]

I love how fast this front office moved on getting rid of what they thought was a weak link in their staff. That's a good sign. They not only hold players accountable but coaches too.

Now we need to get a special teams player on this roster. I'd trade a fourth round pick for Darren Sproles. Would love to see him, Ridley and Powell as our Rbs next season.

 

[mykcuz]

I love how fast this front office moved on getting rid of what they thought was a weak link in their staff. That's a good sign. They not only hold players accountable but coaches too.

Now we need to get a special teams player on this roster. I'd trade a fourth round pick for Darren Sproles. Would love to see him, Ridley and Powell as our Rbs next season.

Is he really available

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[Elias]

Is he really available

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No, but I would love I trade for him. Maybe the new coach in Philly sees him as redundant or not as important as Kelly did.

 

[jetgreen13]

april had to go..

 

[njimport]

The best news I have heard since our defeat. He was so awful.

 

[ucrenegade]

ridley suck no field vision at all..........unless i am spoiled by ivory and powell.

 

[Metjetgal]

I like that Bowles made a move. We need to seriously upgrade the talent we have on STs. We need a severe upgrade at kick and punt returners.

 

[Elias]

This marks the fourth straight year we'll have a new coordinator for special teams

 

[gmf1369]

This marks the fourth straight year we'll have a new coordinator for special teams

keep going until we find the right guy...

short list:

Minnesota Assistant Special Teams – Ryan Ficken
Arizona Assistant Special Teams – Anthony Blevins
Houston Assistant Special Teams Coordinator – Doug Colman

Two of them are gimmes but think Ficken could be a steal of a move...

 

[SackExchange]

I am pleased that Bowles isn't content with just going 10-6. He is always looking to improve.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

I am pleased that Bowles isn't content with just going 10-6. He is always looking to improve.

+1

The special teams was abysmal all year. Its nice to see coaches are being held accountable too, and players know that if coaches are accountable, EVERYBODY is accountable. That said, I would love to see Bowles coax Westhoff out of retirement. Ray Lucus was kidding him on the SNY set about it, and I could be wrong, but I thought I saw a little gleam in Westy's eye at the suggestion, and he didn't say NO, just sort of laughed about it.

 

[marac]

+1

The special teams was abysmal all year. Its nice to see coaches are being held accountable too, and players know that if coaches are accountable, EVERYBODY is accountable. That said, I would love to see Bowles coax Westhoff out of retirement. Ray Lucus was kidding him on the SNY set about it, and I could be wrong, but I thought I saw a little gleam in Westy's eye at the suggestion, and he didn't say NO, just sort of laughed about it.

Westy said I havent seen the check

 

[Atljet60]

+1

The special teams was abysmal all year. Its nice to see coaches are being held accountable too, and players know that if coaches are accountable, EVERYBODY is accountable. That said, I would love to see Bowles coax Westhoff out of retirement. Ray Lucus was kidding him on the SNY set about it, and I could be wrong, but I thought I saw a little gleam in Westy's eye at the suggestion, and he didn't say NO, just sort of laughed about it.

He's one of the best. Make him an offer that he can't refuse :global (50):

 

[hobson54]

i was happy when april was announced as ST coach given his prior successes. but it obviously wasn't working out, so i'm very happy that bowles is being proactive and making changes after only 1 year.

i hope whoever the new coordinator is that they find a new punter. quigley must have some very revealing pictures of woody...no other way to explain who he remains on the roster after years of sucking.

 

[butterscotch]

I knew April would not make it into May:global (23):

 

[lounap23]

He had to go.... Special teams probably cost us 2 games this year.... We lost the filed position battle on the reg!!

 

[Mainejet]

DEFINITELY a step in the right direction, the ST was the worst kind of disaster this year. I can only hope Bowles is smart enough to try and entice Mike Westhoff out of retirement. He's got a legendary ST coach right under his nose and if he doesn't even pose the question of coming back I think would be an enormous mistake.

Personally, if the last HC hiring had been up to me, I would have hired Mike Westhoff as HC. I truly do not know of any coach more deserving of an opportunity. He's a no BS guy that just gets results. He had a terrible year running the ST his last year, but it is symptomatic of everything going on with the GM and the disconnect between the coaching staff. The GM made every attempt to neglect putting talent on the team because he wanted the HC gone. For the benefit of the fans, that is absolutely the most selfish and arrogant move any GM could have ever made. But I digress.

Mike Westhoff should be our next ST coach if Todd Bowles plans on adding great talent to his organization. Ultimately, it could be his very best hire as Westhoff is so experienced and knowledgeable that he would never have to intervene with what Westhoff is teaching. He could completely leave him to his own devices and sleep well at night knowing that Westhoff has it covered.