Coaches thrilled by addition of vet Gore
Jets offensive coaches sound giddy about the addition of veteran running back Frank Gore.
The team signed the 37-year-old to a oneyear, $1.05 million deal in May. Head coach Adam Gase and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, who both coached Gore in 2018 with the Dolphins, gushed about Gore on Friday.
“Oh my gosh, I could go on this one for a long time,” Loggains said when asked about Gore. “When you really get to be around him for a year and watch him work and watch the intensity that he prepares with every day. This guy has the ultimate chip on his shoulder. He still feels like the guy that’s trying to survive and make it one more year.”
Gore has played for 15 seasons and is No. 3 on the all-time rushing list. The Jets hope he can team with Le’Veon Bell to give them a better running game than last season when they had the 31st-ranked rushing offense in the league.
“The leadership he brings is one of those things you need to see it because it’s unique,” Gase said. “The impact he has on guys is phenomenal. When guys see him practice and play in games, especially practice, I think guys are shocked at how he practices, how hard he goes, the volume that he always wanted to take when he was out there. He’s a unique guy to have in the locker room. You don’t get many opportunities to get a guy who is going to be a future Hall of Famer. His ability to not only help us on the field but help us in the building is something that you just get excited for as a coach.”
➤ Gase reiterated what linebacker C.J. Mosley said recently about the Jets discussing as a team in training camp how they would handle any social justice protests such as kneeling during the national anthem this season.
“This is something that we’ll discuss as a team when we actually get a chance to get back together,” Gase said. “Where I was for three years before [the Dolphins] we had multiple guys that did kneel and my philosophy has always been I’m here to support the players. The organization is going to support the players.”
Gase did not say whether he will kneel alongside players.
➤ Gase praised how the Jets handled their virtual offseason program this spring.
“I was really impressed with how our players handled it. They did a great job,” he said. “Participation was outstanding. … It just shows great dedication by this group of guys.”