Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
For Gase, an awkward introduction
Ex-Dolphins coach has disjointed initial meeting with media
Adam Gase’s introductory press conference with the New York Jets on Monday was, well, rather interesting.
It may have been underwhelming for Jets fans eager to know more about their new coach in Gase, who shared a tempered excitement about developing quarterback Sam Darnold and constructing a new coaching staff for his second tenure as an NFL coach.
Gase’s monotone delivery gave way to observations of his mannerisms as the former Miami Dolphins coach looked around the Jets media room with wide, wandering eyes. He looked uncomfortable at times while wearing a suit instead of his customary hat and relaxed attire.
And he often referred to the Dolphins using the words “us” and “we” while answering questions from the New York City media.
Gase also attempted to set the record straight on some details regarding his three-year stint as Dolphins coach, which ended on Dec. 31 — particularly how Miami fared statistically as the second-worst offense, and fourth-worst defense in 2018.
“Trust me, I’ve looked at that a lot myself,” Gase said when asked about being more productive in New York. “When you look at rankings, and start worrying about that, a big focus of ours was our turnover margin. We knew we had to play a certain way. We lost some our key pieces and we were going to find ways to win.
“And really, we sacrificed statistics to try to get wins. … We were able to do that and stay in games to make plays at the end of the game that put us in position with three games left. We were still alive in the playoff hunt. We just couldn’t finish it out. That’s why when you look at the rankings, that’s really my best answer for that.”
The Jets quickly hired Gase last week after he was fired by the Dolphins after leading Miami to a 23-26 overall record from 2016-18, which featured a playoff appearance during his first season.
The Dolphins are expected to hire New England Patriots defensive playcaller Brian Flores to replace Gase once the Patriots’ run in the playoffs comes to an end.
One of Flores’ tasks along with leading the Dolphins through a rebuild will be to face Gase and the Jets at least twice per season as division rivals in the AFC East.
Gase boasted about the Dolphins’ emphasis on turnovers, forcing the fifthmost with 28 in 2018. He mentioned his impressive 20-6 record in one-score games while with Miami, despite having a 3-20 record in other games as Dolphins coach.
Gase clarified he did not wish to have control of the Jets’ 53-man roster, saying it was “offered up” to him during his time with the Dolphins.
Gase — who has coached quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow, Brock Osweiler, Jay Cutler and Ryan Tannehill — also said the Jets job was attractive to him for the opportunity of coaching Darnold, who was the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
“The No. 1 thing for me was a young quarterback,” Gase said.
“I’ve worked with older quarterbacks and guys in the middle of their career, and I’ve never really had the opportunity to work with somebody that’s fresh out of the draft basically and does have a year experience. I was excited to get that opportunity.”
Gase became the first former Dolphins coach to land a head coaching job in the NFL after being fired from the team.
His second-stint as as a NFL head coach with the Jets will ultimately be determined by Darnold’s development, and of course, the Jets’ performance.
And Gase hopes an offense that ranks among the league’s best statistically.
“I wish it was top 10, top five,” Gase said of his time in Miami, “but I think we have a different set of players here and a different set we’ll grow to, and hopefully we can really be in that upper echelon of offenses.”