AFC East News: Jets Get Rid of Schottenheimer, Bring in Sparano as OC

by Greg Knopping on Jan 11, 2012 12:39 PM EST in Around the League

The New York Jets finished the 2011 regular season on a three game losing streak, and missed out on the playoffs for the first time in three years with an 8-8 record. Since then, the team has imploded. Rex Ryan has tried to right the ship, but people have been questioning most aspects of the team, from the playcalling on offense, to the man quarterbacking the team: Mark Sanchez.

Well, the Jets have now officially made their first big move. Late last night, the team announced that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer would not return to the team (technically, he resigned). Now, they're bringing in the former head coach of the divisional rival Miami Dolphins, Tony Sparano, to take Schottenheimer's place as the teams offensive coordinator.

In my opinion, while Sparano is an excellent football coach, he's not what the Jets need offensively. Rather, I'm not sure if he fits what the Jets are looking for. Sparano has limited play calling experience in his career, and his offenses in Miami were more of a physical, running style. The Jets are supposedly looking for explosion in their passing game, and I'm not sure if Sparano is the guy to provide that for them.

There are persisting rumors that the Jets could also add Todd Haley as a "passing game coordinator." This would make a lot of sense, as Haley has drawn up some pretty good passing attacks in his time with Arizona, as well as in 2010 with Kansas City.

What do you think of the move to hire Sparano for the Jets? Will the Jets be better off with him? Or do they still need to add a coach like Todd Haley?

Poll

Was the replacement of Brian Schottenheimer with Tony Sparano a good move for the Jets?

Yes

121 votes

No

203 votes

Undecided

107 votes

431 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Changed the title

Schottenheimer technically resigned, although it was pretty clear the Jets were the ones that sent him packing

by Greg Knopping on Jan 11, 2012 12:42 PM EST reply actions

Meh

its good for them, but doesn’t fix their offensive problems.

Oh my god a floor zombie! Oh wait, thats you
- Toby Turner

by New Century Silver on Jan 11, 2012 12:56 PM EST reply actions

Lateral move at best

At most it is going from a bad OC to a very mediocre OC.

Doesn’t worry me at all.

My Twitter @totheights

by totheights on Jan 11, 2012 1:21 PM EST reply actions

The big difference seems to be

that the hiring of Sparano is Rex’s decision, whereas he inherited Brian Schottenheimer. They do seem to be a bit of an odd couple at first glance though: ‘Can two displaced coaches share a team without driving each other crazy?’

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 11, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

Only if they can work out the snack schedule.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 11, 2012 2:34 PM EST up reply actions