Schottenheimer to Return for Fourth Year

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Schottenheimer to Return for Fourth Year

Published: Sat, January 24, 2009 - 4:21pm ET
Randy Lange

By Randy Lange

Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.


File Under: Woody Johnson, Brian Schottenheimer, Rex Ryan, Brett Favre, Alan Faneca, offensive coordinator

01/24 — Woody Johnson's sources are pretty good. During the week he said a few times in different radio interviews, "I believe Brian Schottenheimer is going to stay," Johnson said. "I believe he thinks this is the best thing."

The Jets owner was right. Today we can report that Schottenheimer will remain with the Jets and will begin his fourth season as the offensive coordinator and his first under new head coach Rex Ryan. Details of the agreement are not available.

Despite the finish to the season, the Jets had a strong offensive year. They ranked 16th in the NFL in total yards and ninth in rushing yards, both rankings the team's highest since 2004. Their mark of 4.75 yards per carry was fifth in the league and in fact broke the franchise record of 4.54 set in 2001.

And they scored 405 points, ninth in the league — and only the third time over 400 points in a season in franchise history — and 48 total touchdowns, tied for fourth.

If you want to factor out the defense's and special teams' six TDs, that would work, too. Then Schottenheimer's offense produced 42 TDs, tied for fifth (with the Giants and Patriots) and the most offensive TDs by the Jets since the 1998 team produced 45.

For those reasons and more, it's great to be able to welcome "Coach Schotty" back for another season.

Pro Bowl Parade

Seven Jets were named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster in December, and with Brett Favre withdrawing due to medical reasons, six of those players will be journeying to Honolulu, Hawaii, in a little over a week.

In recognition of the franchise-record number of all-stars, we at newyorkjets.com will begin our weeklong series of Pro Bowl Profiles on Sunday with guard Alan Faneca. Each day from Sunday through Saturday, we'll present a story and photos on each of the Jets who was selected to play in the season-ending game in Aloha Stadium.

"Aloha" is appropriate, too, since the NFL has announced that this year's game will be the last for a while that will leave the U.S. mainland. Next year the Pro Bowl will be played in Miami the week before Super Bowl XLIV, which will also be played at Dolphin Stadium.

And "aloha" is triply apt since yours truly will be along for the Green & White all-star parade. I'll be making my first trip to Hawaii to cover all the pre- and postgame doings involving our players. Honest, I'm not trying to rub it in, folks. I just wanted to let you know that we'll be covering the week's festivities with stories, audio and video. We'll give you more details next week before I fly out.

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Fans Respond

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richard Said:

Mon, February 2, 2009 - 9:03pm ET

"No thanks. I said my piece. I will go back to being in the sielent majority. Enjoy"

Offensive Comment?

Southernlady Said:

Tue, February 3, 2009 - 6:51pm ET

"Tom fan since '64, 1st Ainge can't throw the ball consistant basis, he's everywhere.He doesn't have great arm strength either.To be honest I can't tell you why he was drafted.I don't remember but it seems that he complained about being hurt constantly.He doesn't read defenses well, even in college, teams could trick him easily.If these things haven't changed he's not the answer.Maybe he's changed."

Offensive Comment?

Dale Said:

Fri, February 13, 2009 - 11:38am ET

"Ainge broke Mannings completion total at UT, with only three sacks, 10 picks in 540 attempts. He led UT to TWO SEC-East titles in his four years. MVP in his Senior Bowl game, and offensvie MVP in the Senior Bowl. Not Flacco, Henne, etc., Ainge led in incredible drive with 1:14 left, 1 TO from his own 9 yard line. That's why Ainge is the future for the Jet's! He clutch, clever, gun & he Just Wins!"

Offensive Comment?