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BY CHRIS HARRING
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Kevin Gilbride must have gotten a bad case of deja vu when Rex Ryan’s New York Jets strolled out on the Giants Stadium field last week.
About 16 years earlier, also against the Jets, the now-Giants’ play caller had an unfortunate altercation with a fellow coach named Ryan when Gang Green headed down to Houston. A little disagreement on the sidelines ended with Oilers defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan taking a swing at Gilbride, then Houston’s offensive coordinator.
This time around no punches were thrown, but if Gilbride were a little uneasy about the situation, no one would blame him. The father and son Ryan tandem is about as similar as can be.
From the attacking defensive philosophy to the accomplished record as an assistant, Rex’s on field resume shares a lot with that of his dad. What may be closest comparison to Buddy, though, is the way they both handle themselves off the field.In his day. Buddy Ryan was a novelty, a head coach that approached the media the same fierce way he did an opposing offense. As fearless in his public commentary as he was brash on the field, Ryan exuded a vocal, outward confidence as a head coach, something that even players were criticized for.
Ryan’s exuberance even extended to his television show, which represents a far cry from the subdued coach’s shows that are seen in the present era.
Nowadays, the idea of a coach displaying more than a stoic glare nestled under his fedora isn’t quite so foreign, but the younger Ryan is already doing his best to push the envelope.
A summer war of words with Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder let fans know what to expect from Ryan early on. Later stirring comments made by New York’s newest coach, first on the Patriots and then about how dominant the Jets’ defense could be, hammered that idea home. Ryan even went as far as to joke about tampering when talking about how good his former player Ed Reed is.
Whereas some in the media have viewed this sort of personality as unbefitting a head coach, it might be just what the Jets franchise has needed. A team that hasn’t been to a Super Bowl in 40 years, the Jets have seemingly rotated between hard line Xs and Os types and “players’ coaches” throughout recent memory.
They went from renowned nice guy Pete Carroll and Rich Kotite to the total opposite in Bill Parcells, and later Al Groh, between 1994 and 2000. The past seven years have been split between positive quote machine Herm Edwards and Eric Mangini, a man who has modeled himself after the secretive, “no comment” nature of his mentor, Bill Belichek.
Ryan presents himself as a mixture of the two. First, he is a coach who has proven his abilities for years in the NFL as an assistant, drawing up one of the best defenses in the league. On the other hand, what separates Rex from most coaches is that he shows the same individuality and passion that he encourages from his players.
Buddy ultimately fell out of favor in Philadelphia not just because he was outspoken, but because he eventually began to clash with Eagles ownership. He was also doomed to coach in a division that produced three of the five Super Bowl champions during his tenure.
Many point to Buddy’s personality and ultimate inability to win in the playoffs as a reason to doubt what success Rex might have. This may be true, but it could also serve as a powerful learning tool.
Rex may show many of the same traits as his father but he’s just beginning to carve out his own legacy in the NFL. For now, Buddy’s reputation as a defensive mastermind may give him the upper hand at the dinner table, but a Jets’ Super Bowl ring from Rex certainly would be a nice counter punch.
