ATTACK MODE: Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg says the Jets will “go after people” on offense, but the key to the team’s success on offense will be turning around the fortunes of quarterback Mark Sanchez (inset). (
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Attack.
That is the promise of Marty Mornhinweg, the new Jets offensive coordinator, who brings his West Coast system to a team that, presumably, will again have Mark Sanchez at the controls.
“We’re gonna go after people,’’ Mornhinweg said in comments posted yesterday on the Jets’ website, his first public remarks since Rex Ryan hired him to replace the fired Tony Sparano. “There are different ways to go after people, but we’re going to go after ’em and we’re going to play to our players’ strengths rather than concerning ourselves too much about their weaknesses. If a man can’t do that, then we’ll get another player that can for that particular play.”
The key to Mornhinweg’s success or failure with the Jets will be his ability to turn around Sanchez’ declining career, which took a severe nosedive during last year’s 6-10 crash landing. Mornhinweg has worked with gifted quarterbacks such as Brett Favre and Steve Young and, most recently, tried to coax more consistency out of Michael Vick with the Eagles. Up next is Sanchez.
“Some of the great ones have really not thrown for such great accuracy,’’ said Mornhinweg, who according to reports met last night with Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib. “Steve Young was astronomical accuracy-wise. Brett Favre wasn’t. They all come in different shapes and sizes. Those guys that throw for a little bit less accuracy typically generating a little bit bigger plays on occasion. There’s a little bit of a tradeoff there.’’
Asked what attracted him to the Jets, Mornhinweg said “I love challenges and I think this is a great challenge. We have the ability to develop young, raw type of talented athletes and that’s why I love doing what I do.’’
Mornhinweg admitted he’s used the West Coast offense terminology “my whole life, basically’’ and described that approach as “timing and accuracy and decision-making and yards after the catch and playing fast and furious.’’ He’ll have to get his hands on what he’s got with the Jets before making any alterations.
“Every team evolves just a little bit differently and that’s really correlated directly to the talent of your players and really what their strengths are,’’ he said. “Much of it’s a mentality. You put a cap on yourself if you don’t have that great preparation and that great work ethic. And that old-school mentality. I’m not talking about the high socks and short shorts, although they’re on their way back, I think. That mentality of we don’t care how we get this thing done. We don’t care who scores, if we run it, throw it, whatever it takes to win the next game.”
Dennis Thurman, elevated to defensive coordinator to replace Mike Pettine (now with the Bills) after four years coaching the defensive backs, said on the Jets website there have been no discussions with Ryan as to how the defensive play-calling will sort out.
“Rex and I haven’t really talked about it,’’ Thurman said. “I have no problem if Rex wants to call it. If we do it like we’ve done it in the past, my input will always be there. It’s not really the call — it’s how you play the call. So who’s calling it really doesn’t matter to me — it’s how the guys out there on the field are performing the call is what matters the most.”