Unlike last year, New York Jets coach Adam Gase didn't dodge the TV camera during the NFL draft. This time, he was seen in his home office in New Jersey, hanging with his kids -- a familiar scene across the league. One of his sons wore a Le'Veon Bell jersey, which undoubtedly sparked conversation among armchair spectators. A few miles away in New Jersey, general manager Joe Douglas also enjoyed family time on TV.
Gase and Douglas were separate, but united -- a dramatic difference from the 2019 draft. Gase and former GM Mike Maccagnan were in the same room at the Jets' facility, but they were far apart in every other way. It was uncomfortable, sources said, and it didn't go unnoticed that Gase was out of sight whenever the TV war room camera went live. He didn't speak to the media, creating the perception he wanted no part of Maccagnan or the draft process.
The Jets were a dysfunctional team, resulting in Maccagnan's ouster three weeks later.
While this year's draft had an entirely different feel because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Jets-related symbolism was unavoidable. Gase is in a happier place than last year. He has a GM he trusts -- someone he handpicked, quite frankly. He also has a GM who has devoted most of the team's resources to improving the offense, which finished 32nd in total yards -- a poor reflection on Gase.
So, there are no excuses for Gase in 2020.
"Roster-wise, I think Joe and the personnel department have done a great job as far as lining this thing up the right way and finding the right type of guys and really the right fit for what we're trying to do," Gase said Monday at the start of the team's virtual offseason program. It was also Gase's fourth media availability in five days, a far cry from last April.
Gase and Maccagnan clashed on a couple of personnel decisions, most notably the big contract for Bell, who became the NFL's second highest-paid running back. From all indications, Gase and Douglas are in lockstep from a team-building standpoint. Gase has more to lose than Douglas, who has the luxury of a six-year contract. Gase knows he has to play nice and, more importantly, win games.
Facing a soft schedule, the team rallied last season to finish 7-9 after a 1-7 start. There is no playoff mandate from Jets ownership, but there should be a progress mandate. Regression is unacceptable.
Douglas did Gase a solid by overhauling the offensive line, the weakest position group on the team. He signed center Connor McGovern and tackle George Fant and drafted mammoth tackle Mekhi Becton with the No. 11 overall pick. He added major speed at wide receiver by signing Breshad Perriman and picking Denzel Mims in the second round. Tight end Chris Herndon, who barely got on the field last season because of injuries and a suspension, almost is like a new addition.
"Everybody is focused on wide receiver, which I think is going to be a pretty good group, but I look at our tight ends, I look at our running backs -- and I feel like we're in a good spot," Gase said.
The offseason goal has been to help quarterback Sam Darnold, who should benefit from having a year in Gase's system. Gase didn't want to make predictions -- "It's hard for me to talk about these mythical steps that everybody is talking about" -- but he sounded optimistic about the third-year quarterback.
"I feel that he watches last year's [tape] and it gets him fired up because he knows, 'I can do this better, I know how this is supposed to look,'" Gase said. "His brain is working so much faster going into Year 2, because you know all the little tiny details."
There will be challenges, of course.
There could be four new starters on the offensive line, and building chemistry will be tough without a true offseason. There's no ducking that reality. Except for Jamison Crowder, the receiving corps has a new look -- another potential chemistry issue. Darnold, still a young pup at 22, is one of the few players who knows the offense. As Gase noted, Darnold will be an extension of the coaching staff and has to know his stuff better than anyone.
In this new normal, the teams with strong coaching, veteran leadership and continuity (especially at quarterback) will have an advantage over the rest. Gase has his quarterback and a GM with a plan.
No more excuses.
"All I know is we need to find ways to win games and put ourselves in position to where we can make the tournament," Gase said. "That’s what the goal is."
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Gase and Douglas were separate, but united -- a dramatic difference from the 2019 draft. Gase and former GM Mike Maccagnan were in the same room at the Jets' facility, but they were far apart in every other way. It was uncomfortable, sources said, and it didn't go unnoticed that Gase was out of sight whenever the TV war room camera went live. He didn't speak to the media, creating the perception he wanted no part of Maccagnan or the draft process.
The Jets were a dysfunctional team, resulting in Maccagnan's ouster three weeks later.
While this year's draft had an entirely different feel because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Jets-related symbolism was unavoidable. Gase is in a happier place than last year. He has a GM he trusts -- someone he handpicked, quite frankly. He also has a GM who has devoted most of the team's resources to improving the offense, which finished 32nd in total yards -- a poor reflection on Gase.
So, there are no excuses for Gase in 2020.
"Roster-wise, I think Joe and the personnel department have done a great job as far as lining this thing up the right way and finding the right type of guys and really the right fit for what we're trying to do," Gase said Monday at the start of the team's virtual offseason program. It was also Gase's fourth media availability in five days, a far cry from last April.
Gase and Maccagnan clashed on a couple of personnel decisions, most notably the big contract for Bell, who became the NFL's second highest-paid running back. From all indications, Gase and Douglas are in lockstep from a team-building standpoint. Gase has more to lose than Douglas, who has the luxury of a six-year contract. Gase knows he has to play nice and, more importantly, win games.
Facing a soft schedule, the team rallied last season to finish 7-9 after a 1-7 start. There is no playoff mandate from Jets ownership, but there should be a progress mandate. Regression is unacceptable.
Douglas did Gase a solid by overhauling the offensive line, the weakest position group on the team. He signed center Connor McGovern and tackle George Fant and drafted mammoth tackle Mekhi Becton with the No. 11 overall pick. He added major speed at wide receiver by signing Breshad Perriman and picking Denzel Mims in the second round. Tight end Chris Herndon, who barely got on the field last season because of injuries and a suspension, almost is like a new addition.
"Everybody is focused on wide receiver, which I think is going to be a pretty good group, but I look at our tight ends, I look at our running backs -- and I feel like we're in a good spot," Gase said.
The offseason goal has been to help quarterback Sam Darnold, who should benefit from having a year in Gase's system. Gase didn't want to make predictions -- "It's hard for me to talk about these mythical steps that everybody is talking about" -- but he sounded optimistic about the third-year quarterback.
"I feel that he watches last year's [tape] and it gets him fired up because he knows, 'I can do this better, I know how this is supposed to look,'" Gase said. "His brain is working so much faster going into Year 2, because you know all the little tiny details."
There will be challenges, of course.
There could be four new starters on the offensive line, and building chemistry will be tough without a true offseason. There's no ducking that reality. Except for Jamison Crowder, the receiving corps has a new look -- another potential chemistry issue. Darnold, still a young pup at 22, is one of the few players who knows the offense. As Gase noted, Darnold will be an extension of the coaching staff and has to know his stuff better than anyone.
In this new normal, the teams with strong coaching, veteran leadership and continuity (especially at quarterback) will have an advantage over the rest. Gase has his quarterback and a GM with a plan.
No more excuses.
"All I know is we need to find ways to win games and put ourselves in position to where we can make the tournament," Gase said. "That’s what the goal is."
One year after turmoil, Adam Gase says Jets have found 'the right way'
There are no more excuses for 2020. New York's coach has his GM, his QB and his revamped O-line -- and now the pressure is on to win games.
