News: Westhoff Reflects on the Way Things Turned Out
Although the focus of the moment right now is on Rex Ryan, Katie Strang writes an an excellent piece in today’s Newsday about Mike Westhoff and his journey since the firing of his former boss, Eric Mangini.
… Mike Westhoff expressed his desire to be a candidate for the vacant position. Westhoff subsequently met with Jets management, and although they decided to go in a different direction with Rex Ryan, they also made it clear they wanted Westhoff to stay.
Once he met with Ryan Tuesday, Westhoff, renowned as one of the best special teams coaches in the league, decided he would stay.
“I very much enjoyed talking with him, and he made it clear that he very much wanted me to be here, and in a capacity that I relish,” Westhoff said.
…
“I’m glad to be here. I wanted to do it, and I always feel like there’s some unfinished business,” he said. “Just like when we do something right, I have no problem taking the credit for winning, I have no problem for taking the blame for losing, so there’s unfinished business.”
Keeping Mike Westhoff is a huge plus for this team. Why Schottenheimer was considered a more suited candidate for the head coaching job and Westhoff wasn’t, I’ll honestly never understand. Maybe it was just agents at work. But if it’s about finding a no-nonsense passionate person with a track record for success, then Westhoff is worlds more qualified than Schotts.
IIf anything it’s not so much losing the job to Ryan, as “losing” it to Brian Schottenheimer. All the same, I am proud that Westhoff is willing to see past his own disappointment and come in line with Rex Ryan. This team is profoundly better for him staying on for another season.
23 Responses to News: Westhoff Reflects on the Way Things Turned Out
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DaveTN says:
Hear, hear. I am glad they talked to him. I thought he would have been a great HC, but his age and health may have been serious obstacles. Awesome news that he’s staying.
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Jdogsofla says:
It shows what a class act Westhoff really is. Especially through all of the turmoil and upheaval as of late. At least we know someone in the organization isn’t a complete idiot.
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dade county jets fan says:
I read somewhere ( can’t remember which site) that mike pettine is going to be upstairs in the booth and rex is going to make all the defensive play calls. nobody can question pettine as an inexperienced play caller because its ryans defense and he gets the last say on the field…….
as for westhoff…..i’m excited as i’m sure everyone is that he’s back…….2 different pro bowl returners in 3 years and it would have been 3 years in a row if they didnt snub leon last year…..that doesnt happen by luck….
i think westhoff would have made a great coach 3 years ago when they hired mangini instead…..he was interviewed for the job but mangini go the nod and i think thats why they never really considered him for the position
westhoff……your job is to make sure they keep feely please please please make tanny get a quality punter
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dbab says:
He is a class act. But can we find a punter?!?!?! Hard hard is it? Ben Grahman might get a ring with the Cards!
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Lageman says:
Anyone have ESPN insider and can tell us who Kiper had the Jets take at 17? I saw he has Moreno and Vontae Davis taken before us. I feel like it must be Percy Harvin (unless his injuries are too much of a concern).
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Electric Ham says:
Yea Kiper projects us getting Harvin
It would be nice to have a dynamic player like harvin on the field, you know he can be a deep threat and break long plays on slant routes but his lack of size concerns me – 5′ 10 – 185+ lbs, it would be nice to get a tall fast reciever but they are hard to come by.
However, you gotta believe Rex will go defense with the first overall pick or QB.
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kc. says:
great,GREAT news!
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btw, where does the idea Westoff would be a great HC come from? hes a special teams coach, how many special teams coaches get head coaching gigs?? let him at least be an OC or DC first.
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ian says:
ha. electric ham: do you not watch the NFL playoffs? look up John Harbaugh, HC of the Ravens, who was previously Special Teams Coord.
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ramble914 says:
Lageman,
Here’s Kiper’s mock:
Mel Kiper’s first round
Pick Team Player Position College
1 Detroit Matthew Stafford QB Georgia
2 St. Louis Andre Smith OT Alabama
3 Kansas City Mark Sanchez QB USC
4 Seattle Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech
5 Cleveland Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest
6 Cincinnati Jason Smith OT Baylor
7 Oakland Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri
8 Jacksonville Eugene Monroe OT Virginia
9 Green Bay Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio St.
10 San Francisco Aaron Maybin DE/OLB Penn St.
11 Buffalo Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma St.
12 Denver B.J. Raji DT Boston College
13 Washington Brian Orakpo DE Texas
14 New Orleans Vontae Davis CB Illinois
15 Houston Everette Brown DE Florida St.
16 San Diego Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia
17 New York Jets Percy Harvin WR Florida
18 Chicago Tyson Jackson DE LSU
19 Tampa Bay Josh Freeman QB Kansas St.
20 Detroit (from Dallas) Rey Maualuga LB USC
21 Philadelphia Chris “Beanie” Wells RB Ohio St.
22 Minnesota Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina
23 New England Brian Cushing LB USC
24 Atlanta Larry English DE/OLB No. Illinois
25 Miami Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Mryland
26 Baltimore D.J. Moore CB Vanderbilt
27 Indianapolis Peria Jerry DT Mississippi
28 Philadelphia (from Carolina) Michael Oher OT Mississippi
29 New York Giants James Laurinaitis LB Ohio St.
30 Tennessee Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech
31 Arizona LeSean McCoy RB Pittsburgh
32 Pittsburgh Alex Mack C California -
charleyjet says:
Very happy to keep Westhoff. As for HC, I think age and his physical problems probably worked against him, fair or not.
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Big Bad Bob says:
Rey Maualuga, if the 1st 16 work out as kiper predicts and Rey is there, he would be a great pick up
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Still unsure why we would want Percy Harvin when we have a hard enough time getting Leon the ball. If were taking a reciever in Round 1 he’s not going to be 5’9!!
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I would take any of the LBs before I took Harvin. If Rey Maualuga falls to 16 we will grab him amd lock him next to harris for the next 10 years
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Thanks ramble914. I would say with the exception of Moreno or if Maclin falls for some reason, we are 100% going to grab best defensive player available. Ryan gives me hope that he can turn around Gholston. Rey would be solid, can’t see him falling that far.
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dan says:
There is no way we take harvin kiper is stupid he works all year for the nfl draft and should be much better at his job then he is the jets need #58 Rey Maualuga because im pretty sure Barton is a free agent and there will be a hole that needs to be filled next to Harris.
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Ian- ok your right but i still dont think that is a common thing
Barton is a FA and I dont want to see him back. From watching USC Rey Maualuga looks like a great player and I think would fit in great with Harris i dont think hell last to 17 tho
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sjfalcon2001 says:
Kiper’s mock draft is going to change 20 times by the time the draft comes around and he rarely gets it right. He’s stealing money in that position @ ESPN
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Harvlis says:
falcon, great point. Thousands of things can happen prior and during the draft. The NFL Combine is going to change the order of the list.
Oklahoma has a Guard, Duke Robinson, who is 6’5″ 335lbs. and crushes people. He would be a nice pick-up for us. We have no depth on the O-Line. We might be able to pick up a Baltimore LB, to fill in for Barton. If we had to get a LB in the draft, and Maualuga was gone – Laurinaitis is a tackling machine, as well.
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As for Kiper – great gig. He is like the guys who pick horses in the newspaper. One out of ten is a good day.
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James in TN says:
percy harvin would be awesome, make up for gholston last year, and LC can just go !@#$ himself!!!
I’m just excited knowing the Jets special teams will continue to eat white lightning and crap green thunder!