Buzz: Is Tannenbaum Playing Russian Roulette?
Is Mike Tannenbaum indecisive about what could end up being the most important decision of his career, or is he just biding his time? Erik Boland reports in Newsday today that
“Mike’s having a hard time pulling the trigger,” a league source familiar with the Jets’ search said Monday.
The source described the general manager as having a good deal of difficulty with the call, the most important of his Jets career, which dates to 1997.
I like that the source used the phrase “pulling the trigger.” Up until now, it would seem that Tannenbaum’s bullets have had other names inscribed on them, but does this one have his own name?
If he is truly indecisive, it’s ironic. I respect Tannenbaum, but it’s no shock that the man has done whatever he’s needed to get and stay ahead. Now for the first time in his career, he has a decision to make that could in all intents and purposes seal his own fate to the NBC analyst desk or push his career to the level of someone who can pick and choose whatever job they like.
Meanwhile, over at the Post, Brian Costello has some triangulating information on the subject.
The [NY Post's] source who is familiar with the Jets’ plans said the team is deciding between Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan for the job. The Jets also plan on keeping Brian Schottenheimer as offensive coordinator under either man, the source said.
Schottenheimer interviewed for the head coaching vacancy and impressed many in the organization. They fear the public backlash that would occur if he was given the head coaching job, though. Schottenheimer served as Eric Mangini’s offensive coordinator and was never a fan favorite.
Bassett Aphorism #27: At all costs, avoid words like “never” in journalism and in fights with your spouse.
Costello couldn’t be more wrong in writing that Schottenheimer has “never” being a fan favorite. Most fans were crapping their corduroys at the thought of losing Schottenheimer to the Dolphins after the 2006 season. The fear proved unfounded as Cam Cameron (Schotty’s former mentor who was then stuck in the playoffs at the time of Schott’s interview) eventually got the job after the Chargers were out of the playoffs.
Here’s where conspiracy theory Bassett comes into the picture.
Now seeing how this has played out (basically how we all thought) I think that the brass wanted Schottenheimer to remain the Offensive Coordinator all along. The way things went this year, Schotty wasn’t going to get any head coaching interviews anywhere, but he could have left for an assistantship somewhere else.
I think that Tannenbaum & Co. were feeding the press crumbs (which some ravenously gobbled up without question) about Schottenheimer to keep Schottenheimer from moving off to Cleveland or wherever he could have gotten an Assistant Head Coaching gig. This of course would keep him attentive and out of play with other teams as an AHC, because he knew it would ruin his shot at landing the big chair, and besides, he’d get an AHC with the Jets anyway out of this and wouldn’t have to sell his home in a bear market.
Deception for deception’s sake.
It was a move right out of Schotty’s own playbook. Did he even see it coming? Based on his third and two calls this season, probably not.
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Bassett, that’s a pretty good theory. If it plays out that way - Rex as HC, Schott staying on as OC (maybe with an AHC tag thrown on to keep appearances) - I’m a happy man.
As I have written GET A REAL GM, not a cap guy/accountant running the team. Until that happens we will continue the 40 year search for a championship. Woody is worse than Hess!
LOL, that last paragraph made me fall out of my chair. Yes, it is that funny.
Mike Tannenbaum… This decision is easy!
HIRE REX RYAN IMMEDIIATLY! Make him an offer he can’t refuse.
Keep Brian Shott and OC for continuity and to give the QB’s on the roster an opportunity to win the starting QB job on PURE SKILL with a system they already know and understand! Also draft another QB and develop him if you don’t think you have a future excellent QB on the roster! NO RETREAD QB’s EVER AGAIN!!!!! RETREAD QB’s = GARBAGE IN = GARBAGE OUT!!!!
If you Hire the NY Media’s God… Spagnuolo a Giant Coach… Spags will FAIL in the Job and Both YOU and Spags will be FIRED by Woody in two years!!!!!!
Listen to this quote I found from REX RYAN:
Defense wins, and he knows how to coach it.
“The numbers say I’ve done a decent job,” Ryan said. “If a team wants to stop somebody, all you have to do is look at my track record. If we don’t get them stopped in the first year, it will probably be the first time we don’t get them stopped in my career, going back through college, whatever. . . . I’ll get my time, and whoever gets me will get a guy who is a real football coach and not a pretender.”
Add this to the FACT that the RYAN Family has a connection to the last Super Bowl win for the Jets. He will get the next Jet Super Bowl!
This is this is the kind of coach the Jets should bring in! He will get the Job done!
Mike…. HIRE REX RYAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still want Callahan as the offensive coordinator, not Schotty. Or at least let the next head coach choose.
I fear that Schotty would be similar to his mentor Cameron as a head coach, and Cameron is arguably a better offensive coordinator. I still think Schotty could be a heck of a head coach for some college team. I hear Boston College is looking for a new head coach…
We LOVE REX RYAN!!! Wait for the Ravens to come out of the playoffs. We LOVE REX RYAN!!!!
Remember drafting Fantasy this year? No one wanted Ravens Defense as they were thought to have gotten old. I picked them up after most high ranked D’s we gone. They were AWESOME AS USUAL!
We LOVE REX RYAN!!! Love the Blood lines to the JETS.
Let’s all hope Tannenbaum doesn’t make a poor decision with this one. Here’s my nightmare scenario: The Lions hire Spags, the Rams hire Rex, and we wind up with Schotty, who goes on to have a Cam Cameron-like year as HC of the NYJ. Say it ain’t so!
I agree with the majority. I think Rex Ryan is the real deal! We should hire him and let him choose who should he wants as his coordinators.
Hey Tannenbaum, if you love somebody, (Schotty) set them free! It’s not like anyone else seems to want him anyway…
I don’t know how people feel they can have such a definitive opinion about Schottenheimer without being privy to the internal machinations of the game planning and play calling. But if the reports are true that he’s locked in as OC regardless of whom they hire as HC, that makes me nervous. I want whomever is running the team to be able to run the team as he sees fit, without important choices like the OC being dictated by the front office.
In fairness to Mr. T, he might be having a hard time pulling the trigger because as I understand league rules he cannot make an offer to Rex until the Ravens season is over. So, lets go Steelers.
J, i disagree … terry bradway was a “football guy” … and he was trading up for players like DRob and drafting kickers in the second round. That’s not what I am looking for either.
Book suggestion, for you. check out Moneyball by Michael Lewis. It changed my thinking on the subject of scouting, GMing and who is qualified versus not. I am not a hard-core stats guy, but they have a place in the process.
Nothing is ever perfect, but the argument of “Sports guy” versus “bookworm” is the wrong one. It’s more important that a team find someone who will listen to the advice of coaches, talent scouts, statistical data crunchers, contract wonks and use common sense to combine everything together to create the best fit for a team using all the data, not just the “eye test.”
It’s better that a team have an intelligent leader who understands the complexities of the whole picture than someone who has “played backup DE at Pepperdine” as a bullet point on their resume.
liam good point, i thought though from the quote it was more about his indecision than that he was handcuffed by league rules with the decision he’s made.
I’m am going to throw up-again. What did anybody see in Shotty ever to make him qualified to run anything but a McDonalds drive thru.
One drive a game. 2 or 3 good games a year.
I swear you guys are listening to the games on radio and haven’t seen the offense look horrible for 3 years.
Does everyone have alsheimers? Remember how “bad” Chad looked etc and now its Favre, how bad the running game looked and now where’s Leon-McCarriens was a bum and now LC and Cotch can’t get open either.
This is ALL about the schemes and play calling. Shotty and Mangini are at fault-29th, 26th,19th -Boy that’s outstanding. Why don’t we try to find the guys who coached the 28th,25th and 18th best offenses-at least it’s an upgrade.
PLEASE. Try to remember the actual games. I swear its like being 60 and remembering how beautiful your HS girlfriend was and then seeing her at 60. OMG, not quite what it was is it.
OR, send me some of the medication your on.
I like the way that “sources” (i.e., Jets officials) are now promoting the party line that Schotty was hamstrung by Mangini.
As opposed to, you know, being hamstrung by having a quarterback completely unsuited to the offense you wanted to run when the season began.
I’m not smart enough to know whether Schotty’s a good OC or not. But it seemed to me that he was always trying to trick the other team, and in the process wound up out-thinking himself. I would have liked to see him have more faith in his team’s strengths. If you’ve got a good line and good running backs, then run the damn ball. Don’t abandon the running game just because you’re unsuccessful once or twice.
The head coach should be able to pick his own coaches, he should not be stuck with shotty. If he wants shotty then fine but he should at least get to make that call.
Fair point Bassett. Though I will say that what is being characterized as indecisiveness might really be that Rex is his guy and he doesn’t want to tip that off for any number of reasons (negotiations, in case Rex goes somewhere else) and so it comes across as indecisiveness as he necessarily needs to drag this out. But that is obviously giving him the benefit of the doubt.
One concern, nothing against BSchott (maybe he really is a genius that was stifled by Mangini, I doubt it but maybe) but if Tannembaum is sending the message that BSchott is here to stay (and is loved by ownership and management) that has to make the job less attractive, even if Rex or whoever likes BSchott as the OC (if he doesn’t then oh boy). I suppose Mr. T can maybe get away with imposing BSchott on Rex or Spags beacuse they are first time coaches looking for a job? In particular Rex from his soundbytes seems very eager for an opportunity. But in any event it really is not a very good way to do business.
Tom, great minds think alike
Kewpie to Liam.
Bassett, you read the quote correctly. The question is why did you not realize there is no basis for making such a statement at this time?
If the Jets hire Spags, he has not yet had a second interview. As Liam points out, the Jets cannot even interview Ryan a second time until the Ravens lose.
Even if they settle on Shott, it may not be “indecision” but indicative of a thorough search — a realization that more information is needed (e.g., from second interviews) before making a choice.
And, BTW, thoughtfulness is the antithesis of indecision. Tannenbaum had better be thoughtful. I suspect his job is now on the line. He needs both a HC and coordinators who can coach up the defense and get value out of Lowery and Gholston and can get more consistency out of an offense in search of a QB. While I favor the FA scrap heap for a QB, the new HC may prefer Favre or KC (for reasons I cannot fathom).
Time will tell.
IOW, I suspect all the reporters are writing tripe because they are getting nothing out of Mike and Woody. Nor should they until this is done.
harlan
Hoping Shott and Sutton follow Eric out the door.
Dave Hutchinson, Star Ledger beat writer has an interesting article which basically states (based upon his sources) that Rex Ryan is their choice and they are willing to wait until his season is over. http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/01/ravens_rex_ryan_impresses_in_i.html
I also think it would be a very bad decision for Ryan to keep Schott around. Why do you want a runner-up looking over your shoulder. Callahan or Harbaugh would be better choices in my mind.
So bloggers have said “Why wait and maybe see our second choice, Spags going to another team?” I don’t think that Rex is going to pick the Rams or Lions over the JETS. In the JETS he has a team positioned to win. With the other two teams he has major rebuilding to do.
Wait for Rex Woody!
I don’t mind that Tanny is being deliberative. The nutjob in Cleveland was decisive and has Mangini as HC without giving anyone else a real shot or even having a GM. There’s a fine line between decisive and rash or indecisive and deliberate. I’m giving Tanny the benefit of the doubt. First, Woody was on vacation. Second, candidates like Spags, Ryan and Grimm were in the second round of the playoffs and Grimm/Ryan are still in the playoffs. Third, established HCs, like Billick and Shanny, and college HC’s, like Jags and Harbaugh are still out there. So, there’s more coaching talent out there than positions to fill and the Jets job is the best job on the market. I want a GM that will make a good choice and if that takes time, so be it.
Bassett is right about great football GMs. For everyone like Ozzie Newsome, a great football player and GM, there’s AJ Smith, who only played semi-pro football, and Ron Wolf, who I think started out as a scout with the Raiders of the AFL in the early 60s. Tanny needs to be able to process information from his football people and try to sign everyone within the limits of the cap. He done a great job with both. The talent makeover in this team from 2005 has been dramatic. There’s only 1 hole and it’s the same one that has bedeviled Newsome: QB.
As for Schotty, he’s been a mixed bag. On the one hand, he did a lot with very little in 2006 and this past season the team scored over 400 points. On the other hand, there were too many strange or just wrong offensive calls and, as with all facets of the Jets, a failure to make in game adjustments. Now, Mangini never let his assistants talk to the press, so we don’t know why certain calls were made. Suffice it to say, that all Jets fans were fed up with offensive formations that made the Jets offense easy to defense. Tackle eligible comes in: run. Shotgun and 4 WR: pass. I thought that the Jets should just keep a base offense and shift out of it, like the Chargers do so well. And, the Brad Smith package needs to die…if he’s used at all, how about in just short yardage situations…the defense already knows the Jets will run and bringing Smith in actually places more pressure on the D, not less. To me, Schotty has to redeem himself and explain the bad offensive decisions before he can become HC.
I will be happy with whoever the Jets choose because I trust them to pick the best man for the job, just as they always have throughout their long and glorious history. I will then immediately come up with a chant, as I have done since “Joe Must Go” was replaced with “Cut Bruce Loose” (runners up that year were “Vamoose Bruce” and “Deposit Coslet”), followed by “Delete Pete”, “Ditch Rich”, a pause during the Parcells era, then”Groh Must Go” was ready if needed, but he beat us to the punch. “Herm’s a Worm” and “Mangini’s a Weenie” never were quite ready for primetime and thus opted for the non-rhyming “Herm Must Go” and “Mangini Must Go”. With the prospects of Spags, Rex and Schott on the horizon, “Steve Must Leave” is the obvious frontrunner for Spags. Any thoughts for chants on the other two?
We need a 3-4 guy! REX is the MAN for us!!
Rex Should Go to Mex i co
Ugh that was bad, sorry.
mole57, we had the right guy for the job in Walt Michaels and instead of sitting down with him and asking that he control his drinking (or insisting that he take a stint in the Betty Ford clinic), the sainted Mr. Hess fired him.
what COACH in his RIGHT mind would TAKE over a TEAM and NOT be able to pick your OWN COACHES??
Sack, I loved Walt. There was never a chant for Walt.
Here are several reasons Ryan would be a good fit for the Jets:
The Ravens play a 3-4 defense and the Jets won’t have to make major changes, especially considering they just brought in nose tackle Kris Jenkins and linebacker Calvin Pace last offseason as the final pieces to that unit. The Jets spent more than $70 million for the pair.
Ryan’s aggressive style is exactly what the Jets’ talented but underachieving defense needs. Simply put, Mangini often sounded as if he was afraid to blitz and pressure the offense. Ryan makes his living doing that.
Players love playing for Ryan and embrace his tough-love style. To a man, the Ravens’ defensive players would run through a wall for him. It was difficult to get that sense from the Jets’ players regarding Mangini.
Ryan’s news conferences promise to be informative and entertaining. Jets fans won’t have to wonder what he’s thinking.
Ryan’s defense is on a roll. Baltimore has forced eight turnovers and allowed just 19 points in two postseason games. The Ravens defense was ranked second in the NFL this past season.
And Ryan would have some key pieces in place with the Jets. He would have a big-hitting inside linebacker in David Harris, a 360-pound nose tackle in Jenkins, playmaking linebackers in Pace and Bryan Thomas and a ball-hawking safety in Kerry Rhodes.
Bassett:
I dont have a key to the ivory tower but I don’t believe undecisivenes is the right word. The word is patience. I belive the Jets, after a five hour meeting with DRex, are convinced he is the right choice also the fans favorite and are now quietly negotiating with him. Nailing the fine details, so to speak, and they are waiting ‘ till the Ravens finish.
How else would you explain why the Jets have not interviewed anyone else (first,second,or whatever interviews)since Ryan. Also, I belive reading somewhere that Ryan had two teams that he was very interested in and I haven’t read anything about him going to a second interview.
Correction:……” undecisivenes is NOT the right word “.
Walt Michaels was my favorite HC. Need a guy like him. I’m sure Rex knows Walt, through his father Buddy. Like all the connections. As far as speculation that Tannenbaum is having “problems pulling the trigger”. I highly doubt it. If nothing else, Tannenbaum has shown himself to be very fast working and decisive. I like the job he’s done. And you don’t have to be a former player to be a good GM. Ernie Accorsie was a sports writer for cryin out loud. You need to be smart and surround yourself with good people.
Hey guy’s… Randy Lange gave me top billing for my posting on the Jet website.
How about that?
http://www.newyorkjets.com/blog/posts/908-jets-rex-ryan-to-meet-sunday-in-baltimore
Woody here is a smart move…. Hire Rex Ryan!!
You know if this does happen the sad part is; someone in the NY Media will write a stupid page 1 heading about Mike T, Rex Ryan, and Woody J.
Oh I can see it now, the Article heading saying…..
Woody’s got a T-Rex !!!
or
NY’s T-Rex has a Woody !!!
Oh that’s the only thing I can see truly sucking in the coming weeks, behind revisiting Sutton’s 2008 Defense!!
SackDance:
Walt Michaels, beign a coal miners son, loved his burbon From what I learned was that Michaels on the flight back from the orange bowl was fuming, fit to be tied, at Don Shula for keeping the tarp off the field for two or three days during a florida downpour, at Pete Rozelle for not doing anything about it and Hess not supporting him. Let ALL his anger out (used coal miners speak) and made headlines. I believe Michaels was fired a day later.
I love the “league sourse familiar with the Jets” because I am willing to bet money there are only two guys familiar with the Jets thinking, and they are Woody and Tanny, no one else! There are several teams needing a HC and the competition is strong for their services, so I am guessing they are palying it close to the vest. Besides Spags just really became available yesterday, and Ryan is not fully available yet. I would think that one interview is not enough to make a decision.
Either way I am OK with one of the two (Spags, Ryan) but think we should make Callahan OC, not Schottemheimer/
Harlan & Liam -
Good points. I think the “Tannenbaum is just soft shoeing” thought was rattling around in my head, but it clearly didn’t make it to the page … :)
Ed(itor)
No blogger on this site is saying that we should go for the second option… show me where that quote is from. All I wrote yesterday was that an announcement this week obvisouly means it’s not Ryan, as he can’t be announced until finished with the playoffs.
Rex is the man. We can keep the 3-4 sceme, and his record speaks for itself.
As far as the offense is concerned, I am anxious to see what our current team(sans brett farve) is capable of. We have three qbs and ratliff looks promising. He knows the system cold, he has good arm strength and can move well in the backfield. A QB with an arm and legs…imagine what this season would have been like with a QB who can actually escape defenses and gain yards running. As far as receivers go if coles is gone, we have cotchery, clowney(speedster) and what about marcus henry. Henry gives us the height we need. And Dustin Keller is a beast. Combine that with an already stellar running game and I think we will kick arse! Plus only keep players who WANT to be a JET. I respect Farve. He is one of the greatest, but he never seemed to want to be part of this team. His heart never seemed to be in it. I know the NFL is a business, but football is a game of extreme Passion and Heart. The leader of the team should raise the bar, not play it down.
Go JETS 2009!!
SackDance: I agree with the criticism of “offensive formations that made the Jets offense easy to defense. ” But the blame for that can be placed squarely on Favre. By his own admission, when he came in, he asked to simplify the formations. At first, it’s because he was trying to learn them. But even after that, he said he preferred running out of basic sets, without a lot of motion or shifts. That’s fundamentally at odds with Schotty’s philosophy, which counts on a lot of deception and misdirection. So that was always going to be a problem.
I also agree with everyone who says a head coach should be able to pick his coaches. I’m sure Wade Phillips wishes he had a different OC in Dallas than the one Jerry Jones picked.
Question: Have we spoken to a minority yet in accordance with the Rooney Rule? I don’t recall any.
Fred, completely disagree with your assertion that Favre is to blame for the Jets being easily defensed. What we’re talking about here is a few things: 3rd and short or 4th and short situations, and we go with an empty backfield. Big mistake. If we’re going to pass in those situations it is the perfect time for play action. But instead we “tell” the defense we’re going to pass. This has nothing to do with Favre. When Brad Smith comes in the game, all the defense had to do was key on him. If Schott had ever called a play during the season where Smith actually dropped back and passed, then defenses would’ve had to think twice when he came in. Add to this the fact that we were a very good running team and ask, why, when Favre got hurt, didn’t the Jets have a much more run heavy offense. And when pass plays were called, why were so many of them the down the field variety? And finally, how do you not give Leon Washington the ball at least 10 times a game? So, none of the above problems have anything to do with Favre. Favre had his own problems, but not those. It could be that Mangini was controlling the play calling, but it didn’t seem that way. I would much rather see Callahan get a shot at OC.
umm hank…did you mean to say “indecisiveness’?
:-)
Bubby, we spoke to Ron Meeks
Yes… They have!
If Tannenbaum selects, HC Schottenheimer over HC [Rex] Ryan, at the cost of HC Mangini and [DC Rob] Ryan, he can expect a “backlash” similar to Giant’s fan’s - beat and burn his Porsche!
Oh yeah, that’s right…thanks Pete and Joe…
dean, we could ask Coleman to do it, but he has been beaten and burned enough already… :-)
I believe Rex Ryan will be the next head coach. I also think he will bring his brother Rob in as DC. His contract is up in Oakland and Mangini is interested in him. It might be telling why he hasn’t accepted Mangini’s offer yet.
Fred App, Mangini/Schott was in love with that tackle eligible running play, which I HATED. The defense can always gap 8 and in short yardage the team never runs wide. So, why bring in the tackle eligible and invite a gap 8? That’s the mindless play that Mangini kept running against the Pats. That play cost the Jets that game and was the worst play in the Jets’ playbook. Favre, who loves his TEs, would never have called a tackle eligible, so I don’t think you can blame that play on him.
hank/naples, rumor has it that Leon was ticked off by Walt’s drinking and tendency to “speak his mind” like when he yelled at Chuck Ramsey in front of the team that he could “f**t farther than [Ramsey could] kick.” When the Jets’ defense was looking like it would be dominant, Mr. Hess decided to fire Walt and hire OC Joe Walton, who squandered the Sack Exchange (as much as I liked Bud Carson, the 3-4 took years off of Klecko’s career…oh, how history repeats itself with the Jets!).
If Ryan is the HC, then Shotty will be the OC if he chooses to stay. Cam Cameron in Baltimore runs the same offense as Shotty, so I’m sure there is a comfort level there… Between that and the players not having to learn a new offense, it just makes too much sense not to keep him….
Bubby:
I stand corrected. I’m still trying to learn english as my second language and still confuse the un’s with the in’s ; )
SackDance:
Wasn’t Michaels fired right after the flight home from Miami ?
Yes… Michaels was fired right after the flight home from Miami! Michaels built the offensive and defensive lines 1st and then the skilled positions. He did it the right way!
That was the biggest mistake Hess ever made and he didn’t get it right or corrected untill he hired Bill Parcells. That was 15 years.
The Jets were 1 dry field from the Super Bowl with the Sack Exchange in it’s prime.
In that off season they let Abdul Salam leave for the 49ers. He was the “Chris Jenkins” of that line. He pluged up the middle and the others rushed the passer. The sack exchange ended.
Rex Ryan will get this defense to play a Shut Down style.
Joe S.
That day will forever live as the Jets Day In Infamy !!!. I remember sitting on the floor, two feet from the TV, Quart of Vodka and TWO tickes to the RoseBowl in my hand, Hotel and car reservations in Vegas and $1500 of the bookies money on the game. Needless to say the Vodka was gone before the half and Todd would’t dare fly home with the team.
Out side of Weeb and Namath, Michaels was the best thingto have happen to the Jets. He gave us the “Sack Exchange”
Walt was fired after the Mud Bowl, but Leon was getting tired of his alcohol fueled tirades. I think Walt’s loose tongue on the plane was the last straw. Don’t get me started about Mr. Hess’ cheapness. Abdul Salaam, Richard Woods, Burgess Owens, Riggins all left and were on playoff or Super Bpwl teams. Woody is so much better, it’s not close.
Sackdance99:
I was so disgusted with Hess after firing Michaels that I called the front office and told them to keep my season tickets and I quit buying Hess gas in protest. Only after his death did I resume to buy Hess gasoline.