Time for a ‘Team Chemistry’ Moratorium?
While we agree that it’s something to consider, the Chemistry Quotient seems to be getting played out on a local and national level.
The Jets have their kryptonite, and it’s their own chemistry.
The Jets have introduced some big personalities (running back LaDainian Tomlinson, receiver Santonio Holmes, pass-rusher Jason Taylor, cornerback Antonio Cromartie) into the locker room, while subtracting proven leaders and contributors (leading rusher Thomas Jones, Pro Bowl return man Leon Washington, habitual Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca, kicker Jay Feely).
Mixing up behaviors and egos can be dangerous. Many of them are short-timers expected to be around for 2010, a fact that increases the volatility.
"I think every year is a different team anyway," Jets coach Rex Ryan said. "The chemistry issue is what it is. When I look at our offensive chemistry, I look at the fact that basically we’re replacing two starters: Thomas Jones and Alan Faneca. Last year, for instance, on defense we replaced four starters and nine players overall. How’d that chemistry work? Best in the league."
It’s going to be a long two and a half months til the start of camp … is it time to call a cease-fire on this topic?
42 Responses to Time for a ‘Team Chemistry’ Moratorium?
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Ben Nevis says:
bassett—
If no other starter—like Ellis or Bryan Thomas—gets cut or traded, then, yes, this is a non-story ( like Bluntonio’s iPod), and there’s no point in reading or posting about it at all.
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NJets says:
You know what builds chemistry?… winning. And having the best players for your team helps you win. End of story.
The Jets went out this offseason and got the best available players to fit what they want to do. We might not agree with everything they did, but Rex got the players to bring us over the top in HIS SYSTEM (not leftover Mangini).
Big personalities also become big time leaders when they are winning and playing for a great coach. Everyone hates on TO for being a big personality but what I saw him do on one ankle in the Super Bowl the Eagles lost, was awe inspiring. That was just him being a leader on the field, which does much more than an ra ra pre-game speech that a Thomas Jones can give you. When the game was on the line, and Shonn Greene got hurt in the AFC Championship, Thomas Jones couldn’t get more than two yards. Thats not clutch leadership.
Chemistry at this point in the offseason is a non factor. Not only is chemistry built over time (camp, preseason games, etc.) , but it is also a byproduct of winning games.
Im glad that writers have nothing football specific to criticize cause it means we are in good shape…. but PLEASE, lets end this chemistry topic once and for all.
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Doug says:
It’s a dead horse for the time being. Nothing will change in this story until training camp, and we’ll have not only our boys at TJB but primary source footage inside camp. Hard Knocks is coming at a very interesting time to say the least
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BigBadBob says:
Bad chemistry isn’t bad until its bad, anything before then is just assumptions and more of that SOJ attitude. Its sounds like fans are just waiting to be dissapointed after the unexpected success last season. Sure that was the MO for the old jets, but that’s not us anymore. This shouldn’t be talked about until there is a blow out in camp, however wasn’t there a big brawl last year in camp. The core crew and Rex will make sure this ship is sailing straight. A NON-issue
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Le' Sean Roberts says:
Remember Superbowl XXIX, the SD Chargers brought in 10 starters and 22 new players. They didn’t win it, buy hey.
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Promise to myself; No more reading articles about team chemistry unless the author makes at least some effort to define his or her terms. “Team Chemistry”? I don’t know what that is and I suspect no one else does either. Unless an author makes some effort to define it, it’s just hot air.
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Phil T. says:
There also needs to be a moratorium on Jay Feely’s importance to team chemistry. He was our freaking Kicker!
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BrowningNagle says:
this team is sooooo unpasteurized…
we don’t need chemistry. just physics. and that is why we have jim leonhard.
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originalJetFan says:
Chemistry is important to people who never played major competitive team sports in their life. it’s a nobn-story, drop it.
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Johnny Hector says:
Like Rex said “I think every year is a different team anyway,” that’s why he wants training camp in Cortland. To build good chemistry for the 2010 Jets.
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Nikolas says:
Team Chemistry is defined as players playing for each other and not for themselves. To achieve this bonding, to sacrifice if needed your self interest for the guy next to you, familiarity first and then friendship amongst the players is very important if you ever going to build that spirit.!
So when you make changes, even if they are not obvious improvements, it is fine as long as you seek that “chemistry” . But if you have it and then you make changes the likelihood is that you have made making things worse off.
Basset knows what he is talking about. He is preparing you just in case this team misses the playoffs while you all think SB.
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Wolf says:
Chemistry is an important factor, but I have faithin Rex. I’m confident that he wil get everyone on the same page this year, like he did last year.
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pound4pound says:
Exactly what NJets said.
People said Belichick was killing the Pats’ chemistry when he released co-captain Lawyer Milloy 5 days before the start of the 2003 season. Players were openly questioning the move and sportswriters were killing Belichick for getting rid of a team leader. I guess their chemistry improved a lot over the next few months, because they won another SB that year.
A couple of years ago, people in Pgh were saying Big Ben’s prima donna attitude and off-the-field distractions would poison the chemistry of the Steelers. His teammates never grew to love him, but they sure loved his 91.6 passer rating in the playoffs as they won another title.
I could go on and on. The teams that win aren’t the ones that love each other the most in May or August. They’re the ones that win the most in Nov, Dec, and Jan. Winning leads to chemistry, not the other way around.
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Marvel(I wanted TM) says:
I didn’t have much chemistry with my last girlfriend .. but the sex was great ..
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Dave says:
Team chemistry isn’t built in April.
The media can harp on it all they want, but the season doesn’t start for five months and there is a reason the team goes to Cortland for training camp and is completely isolated from anything that’s not football.
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If only we had the power to call the cease-fire – if it sells papers (or if they think it does) the idiot clones will keep writing about it.
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Aloco says:
I’m concerned.
After the way we played down the stretch and end the season, I’m real concerned.
Our schedule starts out tough. If we go 1-3 chemistry goes out the window!
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jcjets says:
This is the biggest non-story EVER. If you want to say the new guys aren’t “character guys,” and could do or say something during the year to distract the team, I think that is a possibility. But this whole chemestry thing is BS. Whatever chemistry they developed last year, was done recent. It’s not like the core has been together for 8 years and it was split up.
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michael says:
Yeah Phil I hear ya…. Feely might have been a “leader,” but chemistry is about working with your teammates. Kickers don’t do that. You can have a kicker who had never met a single player on the team and chemistry wouldn’t be an issue.
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JetsFan65 says:
LMAO at Marvel!!!!!! That is hilarious! I can relate…
But on a serious note, team chemistry is important but it is built with time (Mini Camp, Training Camp, Preseason), good coaching (Rex) bringing team together, and good play.
We have alot of talent and a great team overall. If our team plays to its abilities then they will be fine because when you win everybody is happy and gets along which helps the chemistry grow.
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The Celtics added 2 starters (KG and Allen) to their team out of the 5 and won a Championship in their 1st year together. Guess their talent helped build their chemistry pretty quickly.
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Jets = Misery says:
Well, I still think that chemistry could be an issue, but seeing as they haven’t even played a game yet, the story is getting old.
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Jetsfan1313 says:
Thats why Rex and company are going back to Cortland. Where all they have is each other. No egos or city life. Thats what really brought them together last year. All the players really enjoyed the camp and the time spent with one another. This will be a dead issue the end of August
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Do you think that the team hunts deer in Cortland? Or sharks ? I wonder ..or do they just practice & talk to each other ..
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david i says:
Just a bunch of crap!!! Chemistry comes from good leadership and the Jets have it with Rex. End of story!
This is just a bunch of noise beat writers make because they have to proliferate some kind of “negative” story. There have been plenty if not just the same amount of stories about teams with malcontent’s causing drama all season long. Not every team has a bunch a choir boys singing from the same hymnal every Sunday. Name a Super Bowl team and I bet at least every other one has a story of some pain in the ass trouble maker on it or someone who was perceived to be a problem child.
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David,
I think you’re missing the point.
This team is LOADED with potential problem children.
In addition we got a lot of high ego vets.
If we get off to a bad start, chemistry goes out the window.
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Just a bunch of crap!!! Chemistry comes from good leadership and the Jets have it with Rex. End of story!
PS: Talk about good leadership.
If I remember correctly when things were going bad last year Rex literally cried in public and turned to Bill-Stinks like Tuna-Parcell’s for advice.
Call it crap if you want, I’m deeply concerned.
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OMG27 says:
how retarded do you have to be to think that just because some guys haven’t played together before, or because some of them smoke pot (gasp!) or don’t use birth control (speaking of retarded) the Jets won’t be able to build a strong football team?
“rabble rabble rabble….”
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miketaliaferro says:
Yes, enough with the chemistry set, already.
I’ve talked to this as an issue at the outset, but even at that point felt that they were merely losing something that already was, not something they would be without.
Every locker room/clubhouse for every squad of every league of every sport is entirely different from year to year, simply because of the turnover which occurs. How is this year’s Mets different from last year’s chemistry?
The only concern I have is the possible rip in the chemistry between the front office and the team’s vets over HOW the Jets’ well liked vets were treated as they were shown the door. THAT, I believe, could cause headaches for the administrators as they sit down to discuss contracts. Because, believe me, if I saw how they treated MY friend, colleague or mentor shabbily on the way out, I would have to assume my turn for that treatment is coming. And I would deal accordingly: No home team discounts.
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WW85 says:
I think chemistry is always a factor, but I agree this horse has been beaten pretty bad now. Jenks, Revis, Mangold, Brick, Harris, Scott, Sanchez all potential leaders to take over from TJ & Faneca. Time to step up boys & show what you’re made of.
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SackDance99 says:
It was amazing how team leaders Thomas Jones, Alan Faneca, Kerry Rhodes and Leon Washington banded together and kept the Jets from going into a tail spin in 2008. That was quite a display of “chemistry.” The “chemistry” issue is the biggest horsebleep argument against the Jets that I’ve heard, yet. The only difference between 2008 and 2009 was Rex and his guys: Leonhard, Scott and Douglas. I’m more worried about whether Sanchez can get more consistent and make fewer mistakes…that will have a lot more to do with how the Jets will fare this season.
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Sack—
As I said on another thread, I think Rex has to continue to ride Sanchez the whole 2010 season the way he did after he started those Friday evening pizza meetings last season with Rex, Schotty & MS. After Rex started those meetings (and started keeping a closer eye on the QB during the game), sanchez began to turn it around and played more solidly than he had before.
Don’t know if this qualifies as “chemistry” between HC & QB—more like Rex guiding the youngun along, week by week, and not taking his eye off the kid (as he did earlier in the season).
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SackDance99
I knew it all along. You have no idea about sports.
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Marvel—
“I didn’t have much chemistry with my last girlfriend .. but the sex was great .”
lol—that’s the funniest post I’ve read in a while!
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Nikolas,
From a benighted soul such as yourself, I take that as a compliment.
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Nikolas,
No offense, but i read your original post and then I read SackDance99′s post… and you seem to have no clue how professional sports actually work… so not only is your post useless and unnecessary, but it is also inaccurate.
Your description of Chemistry sounds more a like a high school team than the reality of the businesslike approach in professional football.
These players better be going all out for each other because they get paid to do that and their families directly benefit from their ability to win on the field. The fans have SPIRT… the Ownership has SPIRIT… the players have JOBS.
Friendship and bonding is completely overrated. Most of the time position players are directly competing with each other (watch Hard Knocks). A player can win alongside another player on the field and not have to like him or be friends with him. -
NJets,
Thanks for the support. Nikolas and I go way back and I take his ad hominem attacks with a huge grain of salt. Sometimes you just have to consider the source of the comments.
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NJets—
Don’t want to get into middle of the Sack/Nikolas rift, but something you said made me think of an important element that is not related directly to the fact that players are doing, as you put it, a job for which they get paid.
And that element is the phenomenon of: gamer.
Jimmy Leonhard, for instance, is the definition of a gamer. A man who has surgery, has friggin screws put into his hand, and plays on Sunday THAT SAME WEEK.
Or, for another example, Ellis playing with a broken hand during the playoffs.
And the opposite of gamer would be, for instance, Abraham, who (via his agent) didn’t allow the team to put him on the field during the playoffs when we needed him most.
Gamers can have a huge impact on their team, not just via their own individual performance, but by the very high standard—and very high commitment—they exhibit, week after week.
Last season, for instance, the Mets had only one gamer on the entire squad: Santana. And it showed. It also showed the year before that, and the year before that. (Remember a couple of years back when JS pitched when he was injured in one of the final games of the season, never said a word about it, just went out and played his heart out? And the rest of the team? Not so much.)
Last season, the Jets had a number of gamers: Leonhard and Ellis, but also TJ, who played through injury down the stretch. Sanchez himself appears to be a gamer, so much so Rex has to keep him OFF the field when he’s injured for his own good. JCo and T-Rich and Scott and Harris and others appear to be gamers as well.
And this, I would argue, is a very good thing.
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Ben Nevis,
I totally totally agree.
The gamer, in my opinion, is way more important to the overall chemistry and success of the team. THAT is leadership.
Kerry Rhodes talked a big game off the field and was very RA RA going into the season, but his on the field performance showed NO leadership and much to be desired of.
We are STACKED with gamers this year…leadership and chemistry will be not be a problem.
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g. JETson says:
NJets is right. At the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 you never heard anything about chemistry, not a peep. Rex came in and change the team’s attitude and image from preseason. The first story that I remember that made any attempt to talk about “chemistry” was that Bart Scott was having everybody over his house for get togethers. He made it a point to invite Off and Def and even the kicker. He said with all the new faces he wanted everyone to be a team. Scott not Tj, Feeley or Faneca and last I checked he was still here.
Also, all the so called potential “problem guys” won at their old teams. It didn’t stop Holmes from being the SB MVP or Cromartie’s Chargers from going deep in the playoffs every year. (That is better than our recent History accept last year)
As far as TJ goes has everyone forgotten how he came to us. He was great here but he did cause a problem in the locker room in Chicago when they gave a younger Benson more reps . So lets keep it in perspective
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NJets—
Yes, I was going to use Rhodes as another example of a player who is NOT a gamer. I agree with you about KR waving his pompoms going into the season, and then not leaving it all out on the field. And by midseason as well as after the season, he had also become a whiner (wah, I used to run things, now Leonhard does, wah!).
And, yes, as we both suggested above, this team is loaded with gamers now.
So I think you and I agree completely on this one.
Uncle! Uncle!