Thoughts on Tony Sparano
Let's talk a bit about new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. Like any hire, he has positives and negatives. I will take you through what I like about the hire and what I do not like about the hire.
Likes:
-Sparano and Rex Ryan are probably going to be on the same page about the need to commit to the run game. They are both run first coaches. In this way, Rex never meshed with Brian Schottenheimer, who liked to run a(n) (overly) complicated passing attack. In two years as Dallas' run game coordinator and four as Miami's head coach, his teams ran for more yards than the league average, ran more times than the league average, and passed less than the league average. Sparano's Dolphins also helped popularize the Wildcat, which Rex insisted the Jets utilize late in 2011. Rex always seemed to have to step in to get Schottenheimer to run more.
-Sparano seems to be a hard nosed guy, which is a good contrast with Ryan, who has tried to be the ultimate players' coach. He can be the bad cop to Rex's good cop to restore order.
-He has a bit of experience calling plays as Dallas' run game coordinator.
-He has a strong record as an offensive line coach from his time with the Cowboys so he can help replace what the team lost with Bill Callahan.
-While I think people can overblow this effect, he does have a bit of insider information on the tendencies and subtle strengths and weaknesses of players on the Dolphins, a division rival.
-I like having former head coaches on the staff. Even if somebody was a bad head coach, the only reason he got the chance is that he was an excellent assistant coach. Head coaching experience gives an assistant a greater perspective of how all of the pieces of a staff and team should work together.
Dislikes:
-While Rex might want a team that runs the ball as a first, second, and third option, I do not think that is what is best for the team. The Jets certaintly needed to stick to the run more in late 2011 with a mortibound passing game, but this team really needs a guy who can fix what is wrong with the passing attack. To win big in the NFL, you need to be able to make big plays in the passing game. When all you can do is run the ball, you have to play close games with limited possessions. You need your defense to be perfect. You cannot allow the other team to score a lot because you are incapable of winning shootouts. You keep inferior opponents around instead of blowing them out. You will notice some teams playing this weekend are run first teams, but they got to where they are because they are capable of making big plays in the passing game when they need to do so. Sparano's teams have not only not passed the ball. Even when he was calling plays, his official duties were primarily related to the run game. Todd Haley handled the passing game.
-On the same note, Sparano has no experience developing quarterbacks. Mark Sanchez is clearly a guy who needs to be coached up. Again, Tony Romo came of age with Sparano in Dallas, but Sparano's job was to handle the run game.
-His playcalling experience is not extensive, a short stint with the Cowboys.
-His only experience as an offensive coordinator was with Boston University. His time with the Cowboys gave him a taste of the duties, but he has never been in charge of the entire offense on the NFL level.
Conclusion:
I cannot say I am a huge fan of this hire. I had two pieces of criteria I hoped the Jets would follow. I wanted an experienced coordinator with a track record of success. I also wanted somebody with a history of developing quarterbacks. This hire is too important to roll the dice. Despite the mess we have seen, the foundation of this team is strong. There is enough talent and quality defensive coaching on the team for the window of opportunity to remain open for a few years if the offense and the quarterback get straightened out.
I cannot help but think back to the process that landed the team Eric Mangini and how this search resembled it. That felt hasty and netted two finalists, one of which would have been horrible (Mike Tice, Dirk Koetter) and the other would be uninspiring (Mangini, Sparano). I also think back to the process that landed the Jets Rex Ryan. I think of how wide of a net the Jets cast and how thorough they were to make sure they landed the right guy.
I reserve the right to change my opinion, however. If, for example, the Jets land Todd Haley to pair with Sparano, I will be much happier. Haley has experience producing quality passing attacks. He has teamed successfully with Sparano before. Having Haley run the passing game and Sparano the run, where both are established, sounds like a good combo.
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They haven't had Tony's first press conference yet.
That tells me that Rex and Sparano are grabbing Haley by the balls and trying to drag him to the Jets. Sparano is in the building from what I heard meeting with the remaining offensive staff and with Haley interviewing, I say they are waiting for him to say yes.
And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald
*note they haven't annouced or did anything with a big interview or anything of the sort.
In this media town someone should have gotten something from him even for a sound bite.
And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald
They did release a quote or two, one from Rex and one from Sparano, through the Jets PR peeps
but no presser on a big news day. Hopefully, they’re doing this to bring in Haley and make a super-huge announcement.
Yeah but those are just adlibs from the PR department
I mean a real sit down something or other
And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald
Here's your track record.
In 2006, with Sparano as the primary playcaller, the Dallas offense ranked fourth in scoring and fifth in total offense, producing two 1,000-yard wide receivers (Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Julius Jones). As the Cowboys tight ends coach from 03-04, Sparano tutored Jason Witten for his first two NFL seasons.
So like I said, no track record. One season does not an OC make.
by CervezaVerde on Jan 11, 2012 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
Get off it
In “one season” he eclipsed anything Schotty was able to accomplish in his entire career.
Please. One season calling plays. To credit it on stats as a success is putting too much weight in one place.
Dare I go and pull all the one year wonder stats? How about Braylon’s career year with 16 TDs? Did he have 16 Tds before or after. I stand by my statement. One year does not mean anything.
by CervezaVerde on Jan 11, 2012 4:49 PM EST up reply actions
And to take it one step further, they relieved him of his play calling duty the next year
So yeah, they said “get off it”
by CervezaVerde on Jan 11, 2012 4:55 PM EST up reply actions
Dumb football fan
Because they brought in a new HC by the name of Wade Phillips, who made Jason Garrett (the current HC) offensive coordinator. It had nothing to do with Sparano, which is why he got a shot as a HC the following year.
But yeah, you’re right. I’d definitely rather have the guy with consistent failure rather than the guy with limited success! /sarcasm.
So like I said, no track record as OC
Dumb football fan
Sounds like you’re an ass
But yeah, you’re right. I’d definitely rather have the guy with consistent failure rather than the guy with limited success! /sarcasm.
Where did I even say that douche?
by CervezaVerde on Jan 12, 2012 2:17 AM EST up reply actions
So we evaluated Sanchez with Shotty, now we have to evaluate him with Tony Sparano, great smfh
Somebody pls sit rex ryan on the hot seat and tell him it is 2012, stop trying to remake the 2001 ravens without Ray Lewis or Ed Reed in their prime… And if you hire a OC who will need help calling plays so bad, why the fuk is he the OC?? ………… WHEN WILL THE JETS GET IT RIGHT???
Your first point about being on the Same page with Rex
Is critical.
I hope Haley signs on as well. That would be money
I think this is a good move
we have seen that sanchez is at his best when the jets are able to establish a strong running game so he can utilize play action, rollouts, etc. With sparano’s emphasis on the run game, it should open things up more for the Jets cast of recievers. It will be a welcome change of pace from schotty, Of course I’m assuming that sparano isnt running the ball every single play, and that he has a better sense of how to balance the runs with passes in the right situations (which is something schotty lacked). I think it is also important for the Jets have someone on the staff that the players are accountable to (especially on offense – Holmes, etc.), and I think this season with the Dolphins Sparano showed he has that (after starting out 0-7 getting a sizable imporvement in the play of the phins).
-While I think people can overblow this effect, he does have a bit of insider information on the tendencies and subtle strengths and weaknesses of players on the Dolphins, a division rival.
And the flip-side. Get some intelligence on how the Fins and other teams might have prepped against the Jets, and get some outside scouting on our players and personnel packages.
http://www.charlottejetsfans.com
So this hire was to get ready to be the dolphins, really lol
And everyone in here can tell you home to get prepped for the jets last season……. On another note hope Haley is actually the OC
Haley combo would make sense... Dont u think so Rex?
I want an explosive passing offense. Fingers crossed waiting for Haley news. This league we gotta start dumping huge numbers on our opponents. Until that is achieved the Jets run game would be so so.
Copied from another thread
I don’t think anyone knows what the Jets do behind the scenes.
Some organizations say nothing and everything happens behind the scenes, like the Patriots, and others do everything out front. I think, looking back on the last few weeks, that Woody, Tanny and Rex had a plan and they stuck to it. They were trying to talk up BS hoping someone would take him, like Atlanta did with Mularkey, only with more success, but I think everyone in the building, including Schotty, knew the game. This is nothing more than the same type of double speak we get from our Presidential campaigns, so why get so excited? The end result is what most of us wanted, and let’s move on.
Given the available OC coordinator talent out there I think we did well. McDaniels was never coming here, Clements will probably get a promotion and stay in GB or move to Oakland as OC with some of the other GB coaches if that process goes as expected. Sparano has shown the ability to work with his talent.. For everyone jumping about his use of the Wildcat, remember that Miami only employed that strategy at the start because all their WR’s went down that year, Henne was even worse because he was a first year starter, and their best offensive talents were at RB with Brown and WIlliams. I’ll take a guy that looks at his roster and tries to get the best out of it any day over a guy who insists on planning for games within his system no matter who he has to play and who he is playing. If we can add Haley as the QB guru/passing game coordinator, then we will finally be able to put the Sanchez discussion on the plane where it belongs – about his talent and abilities, not whether he or the OC is at fault for his mistakes and lack of positive development.
Exactly on point with the utilization of talent.
I’ll be the first to say the Wildcat is as dumb as Schotty’s empty backfield sets but the difference is Schotty used those set on downs that we needed a run threat. It’s like the Phins going out of the Wildcat on 3rd and 10, it makes no sense.
Before you credit Sporano too much with the Wildcat
Know that it was David Lee who suggested it, coached it, and unveiled it.
And David Lee took it from Gus Malzahn
Warrants mentioning now that the Jets are interviewing Lee.
Even he fell to the Jets I think they would still go in a different direction since there are much bigger needs
"I want to be a catcher. I love to catch. I like to be a catcher. I like to be in the middle of the game. I mean, it's my position. I want to play my position."-Jesus Montero
We may get to see that as at least the latest mocks have him falling past us.
I honestly think we have much bigger needs and if we can trade back and pick up a RT and S with that pick (for two 2nd or late 1st rounders) then we have to do that.
I think there's a pretty good chance that Haley comes here
But I’m not sure what to make of the move. On one hand, he’s a pretty good supplement to what Sparano brings, as he can really help the passing game take the next step. He’s also big on discipline and that is exactly what this team needs, specifically the WRs (I’m looking at you, Tone).
On the other hand, I worry that there will be too many chefs in the kitchen. A big-name guy handling passing, and a different big-name guy handling running? I know that Haley and Sparano are good friends but I worry about egos clashing and the overall philosophy getting muddled with 2 guys in charge. Also, Haley’s a little crazy, from what I heard. There are just so many personalities on the team, and such a great chance of an implosion.
If you come to a fork in the road, take it.-Yogi Berra
Staff Writer on GangGreenNation.com
by Jeff W. on Jan 11, 2012 4:05 PM EST via mobile reply actions
It will be nice for a change to have some chefs in the kitchen who know how to cook an egg
versus the last guy who kept trying to turn ground beef into filet mignon!
by Traveling Man on Jan 11, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
I thought about that myself,
but I think Rex is going to (and has to) remain pretty hands-off with the offense. In an ideal world, would the Jets HC have to be all hands in on all sides of the ball? Sure. But Rex is a defensive guru who, as head coach, should be making sure that the team has a comprehensive game plan and holding his other coordinators accountable (perhaps something he has to learn after this season).
That said, it really would end up being two cooks in the kitchen – Sparano and Haley. And they’ve worked together before, I have no doubt they could do it again. I also have no doubt that they have the chops to tell Rex that they know what they’re doing and MEAN IT.
(With the caveat of course that it’s Sparano AND Haley, and not just Sparano. Then we’d have different questions.)
Schotty is gone! Hooray!
Someone said it above, team identity. Our team had one last year, but it was one of confusing, undisciplined, play. We need everyone on the same page, instead of like Schotty’s playbook which was everywhere but the same. If we can get a simpler gameplan that incorporates Sanchez in a 2 read or checkdown system we will be better able to evaluate his ceiling, and have better success running the ball.
I have a feeling Sparano is going to look like a genious if he can just untaggle the mess Schotty left of this offense, even if it’s not anything he did but the fact he isn’t Schotty.
I still don’t like the hire until we get Haley, but what do you guys think this hire will impact how LT makes his decision?
I actually had that same thought.
I think cleaning house probably helps some, but LT also defended Schotty in a big way to the press. So I think that’s a tossup.
Just a joke kinda but...
We all said, is it the QB or the OC. Well now we have no OC really to speak of so this is the truest test to see if its just the QB….
I'm guessing if we don't hire Haley, we bring in a much better QB Coach with
play calling experience. Sparano has almost 0 experience drawing up passing attacks.
Why trust them
to get this right? What makes anyone think that Sparano is capable of putting together a good offense. His offenses in Miami sucked and they will suck here if he is the playcaller.
by bklynbrewcrew on Jan 11, 2012 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
I think your questioning of Sparano is fair,
but it’s also worth noting that some lousy HCs make very good coordinators.
People tend to blend those two position way to much.
Remember other then Long, the Phins offensive line had been terrible for years, there RB situation was far from consistent with injuries and pot smoking, and their QBs have been very limited or just bad.
Yes thats true
that many lousy head coaches make good coordinators but the fact remains that Sparano had terrible offenses with the Dolphins and that he is a very conservative coach.
Its one thing to say that Norv Turner is a good coordinator and lousy head coach but Sparano has shown nothing to make me say he will help the Jets score more points which is the bottom line.
by bklynbrewcrew on Jan 11, 2012 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
I think its also important to note that a guy whose reputation was built on protection schemes
was unable to keep a healthy Qb in Miami
by CervezaVerde on Jan 11, 2012 4:31 PM EST up reply actions
Good point
the dolphins didnt exactly have a top of the line oline. They had offenses every bit as inept as our own. If Sparano winds up the playcaller and we dont have Haley for that job we will once again be inept offensively.
It will suck watching the wildcat as a staple of the offense. I can just picture a good day for us being one or two long drives averaging 4 yards per play to set up field goals.
by bklynbrewcrew on Jan 11, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
Not as concerned about the second criteria
I’m less concerned about whether Sparano can personally develop Sanchez than I am with whether he hires a decent QB coach. Schotty (and Rex and T) really should have been ashamed to leave Sanchez in Cavanaugh’s incapable hands.
He was the playcaller for the 06 cowboys
They were #4 in scoring and #5 in total offense. He is a smart fiery coach.. I think he can put mark and this offense in place
by jets4life24 on Jan 11, 2012 4:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions
What makes this a good hire?
Seriously what has Tony Sparano shown that makes anyone think this guy will be any better than the last dope we had. It is an offensive coordinators job to score points and this guy will not produce enough points to make this a prolific offense.
Has anyone watched the Dolphins play the last few years and said to themselves that they want an offense like that. The fans in Miami are laughing at us and with damn good reason. I can guarantee that this will be a bland offense where we are running on nearly all first and second downs with the same short passing game that we have had no success with. I have had it with this ground and pound nonsense. You win in the NFL with a prolific passing attack and clearly Rex and Sparano believe it is still 1950 where 3 yards in a cloud of dust was the norm.
We just hired a coordinator who not only has little playcalling experience but one with no background whatsoever in developing QBs. If we hire Haley and he is the playcaller I will change my tune but as of now this is a disgustingly bad hire.
If you all thought we didnt take enough chances downfield I expect things to be even more conservative on offense. This hire shows that Rex is like his father as a head coach; they both have no use for a good offense and go into every game expecting to win 13-10. I am sorry but that does not work in todays NFL.
I thought the nightmare would end when we fired Schottenheimer but I actually think we have downgraded the offensive coordinator position which I thought was nearly impossible to do. If its Sparano with no Haley and this clown is calling plays expect an offense in the bottom third of the league once again. The Jets had a big chance to make a splashy hire but instead just hired the same old same old. There is a reason why this team has been bad offensively since 1998 and its all because of subpar offensive coaching.
Honestly how can anyone possibly be happy with Sparano and his run run run offense. Sorry for going on and on but I am infuriated with this lousy hire.
Well the Phins have had a terrible offensive line and no QB for the last few seasons.
There weren’t too many better options out there. Callahan made sense but I’m not sure if he was on board. McDaniels was gone. Clements will most likely stay in GB and was no guarentee. Who else?
Haley
would make a good offensive coordinator and playcaller. If we hire him and he calls the plays I will be happy. Hue Jackson is a better coach than Sparano. We could have also hired a coach from an offense like Green Bay or New Orleans.
Its possible we could have gotten Tom Clements. The bottom line is we should have hired a guy from a team with a good offense. To hire a coach that had a terrible offense that didnt put up many points is a lateral move at best.
by bklynbrewcrew on Jan 11, 2012 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
I think after rolling with one of those same types of guys, Schotty, they wanted to
go with someone who has had some direct success at OC. Granted that was with the “crutch” they are trying to hire with Haley. Other then that duo, there was not much else out there. Clements may ride Rodgers coattails a little while longer as he could have a few rings up there with the team GB has.
2011 was Ground Meat not Ground and Pound
If we stayed Ground and Pound we would have made the playoffs. Schotty gave us no identity, how many times this year did we start a game running decently and then pass the rest of the game. I just want an OC to have an offense that plays to the strengths of its players and for us right now, that is a run first offense and utilizing Sanchez’s play action ability.
Hopefully we can develop a top notch pass game but we lack the players to do it. We need a WR that can stretch the field. a RT that can actually pass block and a pass catching RB,
Its lazy
for us to just say who else could they have hired. The organization could have done a thorough search to find coaches that have been around good offenses.
I am pretty certain that we are the only team that would hire this guy as a coordinator.
I disagree.
He had some discussions with Dallas about their O-line coaching job, and that may also have been a step on the way to having him take the play calling away from Garrett. That is why Callahan taking that O-line job versus returning makes a lot of sense, as there is a lot of noise in Dallas about reducing Garrett’s workload and having him focus more on being the HC. With the Jets Sparano gets the OC job up front, making it more attractive to him. That being said, if the real idea is to get Haley in the fold, then having Sparano already here makes it more attractive for Haley.
by Traveling Man on Jan 11, 2012 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
I already love the guy
Getting rid of Schotty is the greatest thing since the Mets dropped Castillo.
On a side note, i’ve managed to get my first comment deleted by a moderator on the phinsider site. Cowpunk tried to take a jab about getting banned on GGN and i told him, no big deal, you can just cry to SBNation and then submit a complaint against the site owner. Guess he didn’t find his own action to be funny.
"Schotty... You Suck!" - Mark Sanchez
by jetsbill on Jan 11, 2012 4:58 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
I was banned
from their site for not agreeing with their fans. Free speech is not permited in Florida. They can disregard any law they wish. Hope they never make the playoffs so they can moan on their bias site.
Every FAN site is biased
Its for FANs not some “let me tell you whats really going on” guys.
by CervezaVerde on Jan 11, 2012 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
I enjoy the debate
But… If you’re going to throw out some crap, you better be ready for it to come right back at you.
"Schotty... You Suck!" - Mark Sanchez
How long will it be before
the fans throw Sparano under the bus like they did to Schotty? My guess is that he will get a pass for the first 4 games before the fans start to point fingers at him. Can’t wait until 2012.
If Sparano fails
He won’t get fired. He’ll just end up leaving with Rex when Rex gets fired.
"Schotty... You Suck!" - Mark Sanchez
I like it.
I like Sparano and I think overall he’ll be a good fit.
Although I agree that he doesn’t have a track record of developing QBs, that won’t matter if we get an real QB coach. Or, hell… maybe Sparano will flat out say, “Mark’s a bum and won’t work. Now let’s actually solve the problem.”
Personally, I was less interested in a successful track record and more interested in someone that I believe can be successful in helping this entire team. I think Sparano can. (I really hope we get Haley too, I was pretty excited about the idea.) We’ll see I guess, but I think this guy, even without Haley, is a huge upgrade.
well, if only we had a short armed precision passer...I guess
DYAR
2011 Henne 29th Sanchez 26th
2010 Henne 17th Sanchez 18th
2009 Henne 19th Sanchez 38th
2008 Pennington 6th Favre 20th
Lets no forget ...
how badly Sparano was treated by the Phins as they bent over trying to puruse Harbaugh in the 2011 off season, yet despite being a lame duck in the managements eyes, was still able to have his players give 100% effort for him.
With a more balanced offensive roster, I think it likely he will have a more balanced game plan.
I also think that it would have been the OC in Miami calling the plays – between 2008-10 it was Dan Henning who previously always called the plays in Buffalo, and Carolina I believe
2011 ratings
12 Matt Moore MIA QB 210 347 60.5 26.7 2,497 7.2 192.1 16 9 122 35.2 65T 38 6 36 87.1
23 Mark Sanchez NYJ QB 308 543 56.7 33.9 3,474 6.4 217.1 26 18 171 31.5 74 39 2 39 78.2
Uhh, what numbers are these?
www.ganggreennation.com
by bobdolethesnapplelady on Jan 11, 2012 10:54 PM EST up reply actions
Just would rather have a coach on the way up,not on the way down.Kudos for Woody being the headwind
for these changes and time will tell.
I like this move.. And with haley potentially on his way I think it'll make it even better.
We say that mark needs a good run game to perform better. Which is true, sporano loves to have a physical run game.. which is what we’ve seriously lacked. Having a 2 headed offensive coordinator would be great for us. If haley joins on, he can really sit with mark and the wrs to establish a strong pass attack that will compliment sporanos run game. Of course it will take time to soak into our guys heads, but we actually have a full training camp to get things back on track.
by jets4life24 on Jan 11, 2012 11:56 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Good Cop Bad Cop
In the original article, John B mentioned that Tony Sparano would make a fine bad cop, compared to the ultimate players’ coach, Rex Ryan the good cop. As a Dolphan, I can tell John B that you’re crazy. Sparano doesn’t have a single “bad cop” bone in his body. Tony watched Chad Henne throw the ball to the wrong team for three straight years and was too nice to bench him. He oversaw all the Dolphin DUIs, wife beatings, stabbings, etc. and actually rewarded those players. When our offense got stuffed at the one-yard line all the time, he never once screamed at the players in anger; instead, he jumped for joy every time Dan Carpenter hit 19-yard field goal. He sticks with some of the league’s worst offensive linemen, and never even at least tries to give a younger player a chance…again, he is overly nice to players who don’t deserve it. No no no. If you Jet fans are looking for a hard-nosed disciplinarian who will toughen up your offense, I’m sorry to say that Tony is not your man. Good luck with that loser.
by Sherman Oaks Sale on Jan 12, 2012 6:10 PM EST reply actions

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