Re: 'Jets take innovative approach to draft' <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Jets Take Innovative ApproachPublished: April 21, 2006General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and the New York Jets are going into next week?s draft with a bountiful amount of information, confidence, and excitement. While the front office has already acquired free agents to fill in presumably vacant lineup spots, Tannenbaum still feels that competition in camp and at practice will ultimately decide the future of his team.?For every position, we would like to improve its depth and competitiveness,? said the rookie GM. ?I think that's what we're committed to doing as competition will put the best player on the team?The Jets? draft board contains more than 300 names and Senior Director of College Scouting Jesse Kaye is very encouraged by the process thus far. Thanks in part to new head coach Eric Mangini?s innovative interview techniques, the Jets are ready to draft now, using next week only to settle some tiebreakers.During prospect interviews and workouts over the past few months, the Jets staff, like the other front offices around the league, nailed down some vital information through physical stats and written tests. However, the most abundant resource came from the players? reactions and explanations of their own past plays from prepared game tape.?We put them basically under the gun and asked them what they were doing here, asked them to explain what was going on,? explained Kaye. ?It was not only very revealing; it was interesting findingtheir reactions. It was really kind of neat; it was very informative for us.??Just getting them off the script made them uncomfortable, creating a sense of urgency, kind of a rapid‑fire approach,? added Tannenbaum. ?It was fascinating to see how quickly each person could distinguish themselves and their respective depth of knowledge was pretty enlightening.?Tannenbaum feels confident with the team?s preparation in regards to the whole draft, not just the exclusive fourth overall pick. He sees the draft as multiple opportunities to improve and gain depth at as many positions as possible.?We have nine picks, not one. The entire draft is an opportunity for us to improve the entire makeup of the team,? said Tannenbaum. ?I don't think it's a one‑pick draft by any stretch. We'll make the best decisions for the franchise.?With nine years under his belt in the war room, working alongside some of the league?s best scouts, Tannenbaum has the tools and attitude to make next week?s draft a successful first stride to an improved season.?It's all coming down to getting the right players for the New York Jets, players that are tough, smart, competitive, the ones that are first in and the last to leave,? he said. ?Those are the types of players we want. We want leaders. The whole process that we've tried to tweak, improve, change since February has been with that goal in mind.?Note: The Jets own nine selections in next weekend?s draft including three of the top 35 selections. The Green & White are one of only two NFL teams (San Francisco) with two first round picks.</div>Anybody who said the Jets made a bad choice with Mangini/Tannenbaum should read this.
Re: 'Jets take innovative approach to draft' <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Apr 24 2006, 09:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Jets Take Innovative ApproachPublished: April 21, 2006General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and the New York Jets are going into next week?s draft with a bountiful amount of information, confidence, and excitement. While the front office has already acquired free agents to fill in presumably vacant lineup spots, Tannenbaum still feels that competition in camp and at practice will ultimately decide the future of his team.?For every position, we would like to improve its depth and competitiveness,? said the rookie GM. ?I think that's what we're committed to doing as competition will put the best player on the team?The Jets? draft board contains more than 300 names and Senior Director of College Scouting Jesse Kaye is very encouraged by the process thus far. Thanks in part to new head coach Eric Mangini?s innovative interview techniques, the Jets are ready to draft now, using next week only to settle some tiebreakers.During prospect interviews and workouts over the past few months, the Jets staff, like the other front offices around the league, nailed down some vital information through physical stats and written tests. However, the most abundant resource came from the players? reactions and explanations of their own past plays from prepared game tape.?We put them basically under the gun and asked them what they were doing here, asked them to explain what was going on,? explained Kaye. ?It was not only very revealing; it was interesting findingtheir reactions. It was really kind of neat; it was very informative for us.??Just getting them off the script made them uncomfortable, creating a sense of urgency, kind of a rapid‑fire approach,? added Tannenbaum. ?It was fascinating to see how quickly each person could distinguish themselves and their respective depth of knowledge was pretty enlightening.?Tannenbaum feels confident with the team?s preparation in regards to the whole draft, not just the exclusive fourth overall pick. He sees the draft as multiple opportunities to improve and gain depth at as many positions as possible.?We have nine picks, not one. The entire draft is an opportunity for us to improve the entire makeup of the team,? said Tannenbaum. ?I don't think it's a one‑pick draft by any stretch. We'll make the best decisions for the franchise.?With nine years under his belt in the war room, working alongside some of the league?s best scouts, Tannenbaum has the tools and attitude to make next week?s draft a successful first stride to an improved season.?It's all coming down to getting the right players for the New York Jets, players that are tough, smart, competitive, the ones that are first in and the last to leave,? he said. ?Those are the types of players we want. We want leaders. The whole process that we've tried to tweak, improve, change since February has been with that goal in mind.?Note: The Jets own nine selections in next weekend?s draft including three of the top 35 selections. The Green & White are one of only two NFL teams (San Francisco) with two first round picks.</div>Anybody who said the Jets made a bad choice with Mangini/Tannenbaum should read this. </div>Pretty much what I reported in last night.
Re: 'Jets take innovative approach to draft' Another good article on Tannenbaum<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Tannenbaum a quick studyTireless Jet GM drafting planBY RICH CIMINIDAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERMike Tannenbaum is looking for as much information as possible to give Jets an edge in draft.A month ago, Mike Tannenbaum made like Ponce de Leon and went to Florida, searching for a fountain.He wasn't looking for youth; at 37, he's the youngest general manager in the NFL. No, Tannenbaum made the trip to drink from a fountain of knowledge - and he found it in Jupiter at the home of retired Packers GM Ron Wolf, one of the game's most respected minds.Tannenbaum spent two hours with Wolf, picking his brain on all things football and taking copious notes. The next day, they met a mutual friend, Bill Parcells, at a Mets-Cardinals exhibition game. More football talk."They were talking and I was writing things down," said Tannenbaum, who was promoted in February to replace Terry Bradway. "It was fascinating to get their insights."Unlike some ego-crazed executives, Tannenbaum realizes that a fancy title doesn't make you a know-it-all.The Jets' new football boss might be short on experience, but there's no questioning his drive and his meticulous approach, attributes that shaped the team's preparation for this weekend's draft.This is Tannenbaum's first major test. With two first-round picks (fourth and 29th), and with five choices in the first three rounds, he has the opportunity to accelerate the rebuilding process and put his stamp on the franchise. It's a lot of responsibility for someone who always was known as a salary-cap expert."He'll feel the pressure," said Wolf, who was impressed by Tannenbaum. "I don't care if it's your first time or your 31st time, there's pressure. Anybody who tells you differently is lying."Asked if he's sensing any heat, Tannenbaum replied, "Preparation breeds confidence. I feel very good about our preparation."Indeed, Tannenbaum and rookie coach Eric Mangini ratcheted up the information-gathering process, seemingly leaving no stone unturned. Or, as Tannenbaum said, "I feel like I've been under a few boulders lately."Example: Despite having an immense dossier on Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, a high-character individual if there ever was one, the Jets flew him to Long Island last Thursday and tested him one last time. Ex-player Jerome Henderson, recently hired as the Jets' director of player development, administered a psychological test.At the scouting combine in February, the Jets used a new interviewing technique. Instead of asking the routine questions - career goals, family matters, etc. - they skipped the pleasantries, put on game film of the player and inundated him with rapid-fire questions. It was technical stuff, pertaining to X's and O's.Some players must have been intimidated because word spread throughout the combine that the Jets weren't asking marshmallow questions like the other teams."We wanted to see if they could learn in an uncomfortable environment," said Tannenbaum, placing a greater emphasis on intangibles than the previous regime.They conducted more than 450 predraft interviews. But Tannenbaum isn't getting paid to be Mike Wallace; his job is to find talent. With the fourth pick, he should land an impact player, perhaps Ferguson. There's growing speculation in league circles that the Jets may trade out of the fourth spot.One possible scenario: If Matt Leinart or Vince Young lasts until No. 4, the Jets could trade places with the quarterback-needy Raiders (No. 7), acquire an extra second- or third-round pick in the process and still get a blue-chip talent such as tight end Vernon Davis, linebacker A.J. Hawk or even Ferguson.There will be public sentiment to pick a quarterback, but Tannenbaum doesn't seem eager to draft one that high. Nevertheless, it's an issue, and nothing inflames passion more than a QB quandary.Giants GM Ernie Accorsi faced one in his first draft, when he selected John Elway for the Colts in 1983. Accorsi, ignoring Elway's threat to play baseball, made him the top pick, repercussions be damned. Elway wound up being traded without Accorsi's consent."Anytime you have a quarterback in the mixture, you have extra pressure," Accorsi said. "Mike has a quarterback decision and it's his first draft. I can identify with him. Fair or unfair, you're remembered for it."</div>
Re: 'Jets take innovative approach to draft' <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Apr 24 2006, 10:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Another good article on Tannenbaum<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Tannenbaum a quick studyTireless Jet GM drafting planBY RICH CIMINIDAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERMike Tannenbaum is looking for as much information as possible to give Jets an edge in draft.A month ago, Mike Tannenbaum made like Ponce de Leon and went to Florida, searching for a fountain.He wasn't looking for youth; at 37, he's the youngest general manager in the NFL. No, Tannenbaum made the trip to drink from a fountain of knowledge - and he found it in Jupiter at the home of retired Packers GM Ron Wolf, one of the game's most respected minds.Tannenbaum spent two hours with Wolf, picking his brain on all things football and taking copious notes. The next day, they met a mutual friend, Bill Parcells, at a Mets-Cardinals exhibition game. More football talk."They were talking and I was writing things down," said Tannenbaum, who was promoted in February to replace Terry Bradway. "It was fascinating to get their insights."Unlike some ego-crazed executives, Tannenbaum realizes that a fancy title doesn't make you a know-it-all.The Jets' new football boss might be short on experience, but there's no questioning his drive and his meticulous approach, attributes that shaped the team's preparation for this weekend's draft.This is Tannenbaum's first major test. With two first-round picks (fourth and 29th), and with five choices in the first three rounds, he has the opportunity to accelerate the rebuilding process and put his stamp on the franchise. It's a lot of responsibility for someone who always was known as a salary-cap expert."He'll feel the pressure," said Wolf, who was impressed by Tannenbaum. "I don't care if it's your first time or your 31st time, there's pressure. Anybody who tells you differently is lying."Asked if he's sensing any heat, Tannenbaum replied, "Preparation breeds confidence. I feel very good about our preparation."Indeed, Tannenbaum and rookie coach Eric Mangini ratcheted up the information-gathering process, seemingly leaving no stone unturned. Or, as Tannenbaum said, "I feel like I've been under a few boulders lately."Example: Despite having an immense dossier on Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, a high-character individual if there ever was one, the Jets flew him to Long Island last Thursday and tested him one last time. Ex-player Jerome Henderson, recently hired as the Jets' director of player development, administered a psychological test.At the scouting combine in February, the Jets used a new interviewing technique. Instead of asking the routine questions - career goals, family matters, etc. - they skipped the pleasantries, put on game film of the player and inundated him with rapid-fire questions. It was technical stuff, pertaining to X's and O's.Some players must have been intimidated because word spread throughout the combine that the Jets weren't asking marshmallow questions like the other teams."We wanted to see if they could learn in an uncomfortable environment," said Tannenbaum, placing a greater emphasis on intangibles than the previous regime.They conducted more than 450 predraft interviews. But Tannenbaum isn't getting paid to be Mike Wallace; his job is to find talent. With the fourth pick, he should land an impact player, perhaps Ferguson. There's growing speculation in league circles that the Jets may trade out of the fourth spot.One possible scenario: If Matt Leinart or Vince Young lasts until No. 4, the Jets could trade places with the quarterback-needy Raiders (No. 7), acquire an extra second- or third-round pick in the process and still get a blue-chip talent such as tight end Vernon Davis, linebacker A.J. Hawk or even Ferguson.There will be public sentiment to pick a quarterback, but Tannenbaum doesn't seem eager to draft one that high. Nevertheless, it's an issue, and nothing inflames passion more than a QB quandary.Giants GM Ernie Accorsi faced one in his first draft, when he selected John Elway for the Colts in 1983. Accorsi, ignoring Elway's threat to play baseball, made him the top pick, repercussions be damned. Elway wound up being traded without Accorsi's consent."Anytime you have a quarterback in the mixture, you have extra pressure," Accorsi said. "Mike has a quarterback decision and it's his first draft. I can identify with him. Fair or unfair, you're remembered for it."</div></div>Again, just the long-article form of what I posted last night.
