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Monday, January 04, 2021

Who are the best candidates to replace Adam Gase?

 






Mark Schofield 

 

Well, it was bound to happen. Despite their strong finish to the season, which included upsets of the Los Angeles Rams and the Cleveland Browns, the New York Jets are expected to part ways with Adam Gase. Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero broke the news Saturday afternoon before the season finale:

 












The next head coach is going to inherit a roster that needs help on both sides of the football and faces a decision at quarterback. Do the Jets try and rebuild Sam Darnold in the wake of Gase’s tenure or do they take their pick of quarterback two on their board? Either way, an offensive-minded head coach with a record of quarterback development would be wise.

Or, perhaps a defensive wizard with ringing endorsements from his current players?

Whichever road the Jets choose, here are the best candidates for the job.

Pep Hamilton, quarterbacks coach, Los Angeles Chargers























(Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)

 

Sure, Brian Daboll might have the best “quarterback development” type of resume right now in the NFL thanks to the success of Josh Allen, but if I’m in charge of a team looking to bring along a young QB, Pep Hamilton is perhaps my second phone call.

Hamilton and Shane Steichen have done a tremendous job as the quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator in Los Angeles, bringing along Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert. The former Oregon Ducks passer looks light years ahead of where he was coming out of the Pac-12. From how he handles pressure in the pocket, how he attacks leverage in the secondary, and how he forces defenses to change what they do against the Chargers, Herbert is the real deal.

Now there might be an opportunity for both Hamilton and Steichen to get head coaching looks, perhaps even in Los Angeles depending on how the organization handles Anthony Lynn. But Hamilton has seen time as a head coach, as he served in that capacity with Washington’s XFL franchise before the league folded last spring. That combination of quarterback development and experience makes him an extremely strong candidate in my mind.


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