I Know What You Did Last Summer
As the looong summer of our discontent continues on (14 days and counting to training camp), I thought it might be a good time to look back at last summer and some of the major story lines heading into training camp 2006.
Obviously, with knowing how well the season turned out, it’s fun to see what we were fretting about just a year ago.Yeah, suddenly, last summer . . . it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was daylight savings time. The immortal Pussycat Dolls were clawing out a spot on the top of the charts with “Don’t Cha,” Snakes on A Plane was sinking its Oscar-worthy fangs into the summer box office, and Fat Momma was asking “Who Wants to Be a Superhero?” And in Hempstead, Long Island, the Jets were preparing to take off on a fun little trip known as the 2006 NFL season.
But before they left the runway, there were many unanswered questions –
The new coaching staff – After what could be described as a “busy” offseason (head coach abandons ship, team is $27 million over the salary cap, a shift in organizational philosophy, an ongoing roster overhaul, etc.), the beginning of training camp brought many questions regarding rookie 35-year-old head coach Eric Mangini and his coaching staff, who aside from Mike Westhoff, featured first-time offensive and defensive coordinators in Brian Schottenheimer (also only 32) and Bob Sutton, respectively. How would they deal with all the challenges of rebuilding a 4-12 program? What would their coaching style be like? What type of camp would they run? Would they be able to get the respect of the players? How would the team respond? Would they still play to win the game?
Oh, and let’s not forget that the new staff was matched with 37-year-old first-time GM Mike Tannenbaum — we knew he was “a capologist” (Does that include reading stars and tea leaves along with contracts?), but what would he be like left in charge of a team? The Abraham trade and his draft day manuevering had given hope for optimism, but how would he deal with player issues as they came up during the season? Was he going lead the team a new way, or the same ol’ (Brad)way?
Chad Pennington’s twice-repaired shoulder – I think we all remember how much stuff was written about this subject, with more than one (and probably no less than 100) NFL pundits saying that Pennington’s career was over, and if he did manage to win the starting job, it was only a matter of time before Kellen Clemens took over. This was all on the heels of Pennington having to dramatically re-negotiate his contract or be cut, and even then, there were many who thought he was going to be released before camp even started. Apparently, Pennington was busy studying the playbook and rehabbing his shoulder, and must’ve missed the call from the coaches in the media to turn in his playbook. Was he done like “Martha Stewart: The Apprentice”?
Curtis Martin’s health – It was widely reported that Martin’s surgically repaired knee wasn’t quite ready yet, but many were very surprised when he actually started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Derrick Blaylock was the new starter, with help expected from Cedric Houston and some 4th-round kid from Florida named Leon. And then when the team acquired Kevan Barlow from the 49ers for a 4th-rounder, concerns about the running game were growing considerably — could one Pitt running back replace another Pitt running back? Or would the running game just be the pits?
The 3-4 defense – After moderate success under whistling Donnie Henderson’s 4-3 defense, Mangini decided to install a base 3-4 defense, which had gained a modicum of success for him in New England. A number of players with 3-4 experience were added to help ease the transition, but still, questions abounded. Would they be able to adapt the personnel on hand to the system? Could “undersized” Dewayne Robertson play nose tackle? Would Jonathan Vilma get lost in the middle? Could the defense generate a pass rush? Just how many sacks would the mighty Super Bowl-winning KVO register?
Key departures – There were whispers about the team maybe taking a major step backward by unloading three perennial Pro Bowlers — John Abraham, Kevin Mawae and Ty Law. Even though they were all allegedly “me guys,” their contributions on the field were important if the Jets had any hope of competing in 2006. How was the team going to compensate for the sacks, interceptions and pulling blocks they were about to lose?
New media policies – Remember D’Brickashaw Ferguson running away from reporters on the eve of camp? That should’ve been the first clue about how intimidating Mangini’s Cone of Silence was. Actually, beat writers were already griping about Mangini limiting access to players, assistant coaches and trainers, as well as having to adjust to life without Herm’s three-hour quote-filled pressers and multiple inside sources leaking info to them regularly. How could they be expected to properly cover a team if they actually had to work to do it? Would being forced to dig for stories affect the New York press’ penchant for objectivity and fairness?
Gone and quickly forgotten – Some of the stars of early last summer are appearing on milk cartons this summer: Reggie Newhouse, Trevor Johnson, Phil Silva, Jovan Witherspoon, Derrick Blaylock, Dave Ball, Brooks Bollinger (okay, he’s in Minnesota), Joel Dreessen . . . . Anthony “The Beast” Schlegel, where have you gone? (What, he’s still on the team? Are you sure?)
The upcoming (2006) season – Every major beat writer and all the national outlets were predicting a tough rebuilding season for the Jets, with the team “lucky to win 6 games.” Cited were Mangini’s inexperience, Pennington’s arm troubles, no Curtis Martin, the “greatly improved” Dolphins (who were coming off a season-ending winning streak in 2005), the transition to the 3-4 defense, the ongoing war in Iraq, global warming, SARS, the failure of Paris Hilton’s self-titled debut CD to touch a nerve in the collective conscious of American youth . . . . The 2006 Jets were given as much chance to have a winning record — let alone get to the playoffs — as Borat had of actually hooking up with Pam Anderson.
Here is one particularly amusing (in retrospect) prediction with such great quotes as:
” Pick a quarterback, any quarterback. New head coach Eric Mangini has four players to choose from: Noodle-armed Chad Pennington, whose shoulder has lost all of its strength after a few surgeries; Patrick Ramsey, who lost his job to 850-year-old Mark Brunell last season; rookie Kellen Clemens; and Brooks Bollinger, who happened to improve in every game he played in 2005. I believe Mangini will go with either Pennington or Ramsey. If that’s his direction, I couldn’t disagree more . . . . Mangini should start Bollinger.”
“While New York may have lost Abraham and his 10½ sacks, they picked up Kimo von Oelhoffen, a prolific 3-4 defensive end. Von Oelhoffen, along with end Shaun Ellis and nose tackle Dewayne Robertson, will form a decent line that will improve the team’s 15th ranking against the run.”
“I think Mangini will be a good coach in the future, but he’ll be a miracle worker if he gets New York to the postseason this year.”
I thought 2006 was pretty special, but I guess it was miraculous after all! Here’s hoping the miracles continue this summer . ..
11 Responses to I Know What You Did Last Summer
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wayne says:
Could any prediction about a team be so wrong.
To me, the MOST outlandish thing written is
“Outside linebacker Bryan Thomas needs to be replaced, however; the Jets must acquire a pass-rushing linebacker in the offseason of 2007. Keep in mind that New York only compiled 19½ sacks if you exclude Abraham’s 10½.”
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Chase says:
I think we should have more articles that feature Jennifer Love Hewitt’s rack.
I’m just saying…
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Bent says: I’ll read this when I get to work, but for now I have one comment…
*drool*
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Oh and by the way, I DID see Snakes on a Plane in the theatre. Decidely best-worst movie I have seen in a lone long time. I am going to have to watch Death Race 2000 and Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness again to be sure though.
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Mehl56 says:
Ah yes- that photo got me to read the article- actually I think I’m going to save it as my screen saver!
Back to the Jets- It was fun to read the predictions, concerns etc. from last year at this time and knowing how the season ended! The bar has been set a bit higher this year though! Go JETS!
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The Ed(itor) says:
TJB – Your evaluation of movies sucks if you think that Snakes in a Plane is Oscar worthy.
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Sarcasm — A form of verbal irony, expressing sneering, personal disapproval in the guise of praise.
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I actually went to “SOAP” opening night with a bunch of friends, and I have to say (like Bassett), that it was undoubtedly the most fun I’ve had watching a movie in the theater in a long time. It had everything a popcorn summer movie should — action, violence, comedy, gratuitous nudity, and, most importantly, Samuel L. “Mutha F###in’ “Jackson! Oh, and there were snakes, lots and lots of snakes.
It was a great bad movie — which should merit some sort of award, I believe. And like the distinguished Mr. Jackson says, “As soon as you hear the title, ‘Snakes on a Plane,’ you know if want to see it or if you don’t.” I really enjoyed it, more so than some hoity-toity period drama with Helen Mirren strung into a corset and sipping tea.
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Bent says:
Wait…sarca-what? Never heard of it.
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jerry says:
R in CT, Obviously, you haven’t heard about the latest Helen Mirren movie — “Snakes in the Queen.”
Great article, R!
People were still clamoring for Brady Quinn in the 2007 Draft as well! Ironic to think that the Jets could have actually taken him, after all.