RIP Greg Knapp 1963-2021

[delavan]

After Quinn’s staff was fired in Atlanta, Knapp was hired by Robert Saleh to be the Jets pass-game specialist, and work directly with 34-year-old Mike LaFleur, breaking into his first job as a coordinator.

Over the last six months, LaFleur, Jets quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese and Knapp were connected at the hip.

Not trying to be an irreverent jerk (again r.i.p. coach) but what's the fallout from this when you consider LaFleur at 34 is now the oldest of the Jets' QB/offensive braintrust (QB coach Calabrease is only 31)? 

[Heismanberg]

LaFleur is a supposed passing game expert.  Losing someone with the experience that Knapp brought to the table is extremely tough, but LaFleur can do this.

I've said this before in this thread, but Knapp was essentially a passing game consultant or separate set of eyes in the sky. 

It puts more on the OC's plate, but if he wants to be a head coach in the NFL someday, he'll step up.

[Johnny English]

I'm sure there are veteran coaches out there who could work on a consultancy basis if they need to bring in some help. I'm not mentioning the K word but there will be guys out there like him, if that's what Saleh and the team want.

[dcm1602]

I'm sure there are veteran coaches out there who could work on a consultancy basis if they need to bring in some help. I'm not mentioning the K word but there will be guys out there like him, if that's what Saleh and the team want.

Loggains doesn't start with a K

[Derek Smalls]

SBTG

[dcm1602]

Have any beat writers asked or speculated about what the Jets plans are in regards to this?

Obviously this is one of those tread carefully thing because you don't want to appear like an insensitive poopchute

But with the Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson storyline. A brand new inexperienced coaching staff, plus our QB depth being completely non existent. This is a fairly huge storyline
.

[CatoTheElder]

I think the team trusts their OC to coordinate the passing game.

[dcm1602]

I think the team trusts their OC to coordinate the passing game.

Sure, but is he not a first time coordinator, working for a first time (defensive) head coach, with a 31 year old QB coach, with a rookie QB that's going to have miss some of camp with a QB room with no depth or experience, in a messed up offseason impacted by the pandemic?

These guys all have a ton on their plates.

I'm not suggesting that these are dire times and we desperately need to do something to avoid impending doom.

But this was a huge event both on and off the field with significant implications.

There has to be a real possibility that the team strongly evaluates it options and at the absolute minimum contemplates making a move (whether it's adding an experienced QB, or anything else)

[Johnny English]

TBF it doesn't really matter whether we have a passing game coordinator if we don't have a quarterback because our GM is playing a game of corporate chicken with his agent.

[dcm1602]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/87140/young-leading-young-in-jets-qb-room-how-will-it-impact-zach-wilson%3fplatform=amp

Lots of green: The Jets probably have the youngest quarterback room in the NFL. How young? Let's put it this way: No one can tell firsthand stories about the days of the rotary phone, and that includes the coaches.

The death of assistant Greg Knapp, 58, the resident sage, has left the Jets without an experienced quarterback coach. It's noteworthy because, as everybody knows, the development of prized rookie Zach Wilson is priority No. 1 for the organization.

The group is led by Mike LaFleur, 34, a first-time offensive coordinator and playcaller. The Jets' quarterbacks coach is Rob Calabrese, 31, a first-time position coach.

Coach Robert Saleh, whose expertise is on the other side of the ball, was counting on Knapp to prepare Wilson, Mike White and James Morgan, none of whom has regular-season experience. Their average age is 23.7. Knapp brought 25 years of experience to the room, having coached an impressive group of quarterbacks that includes Pro Football Hall of Famers Steve Young and Peyton Manning.

Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes the lack of experience could affect Wilson.

"Imagine having to learn how to ride a bike with no one who knows how to do it, how to teach you, nor anyone to show you how to do it," Orlovsky said.

The Jets aren't going to replace Knapp, per se, but they will re-distribute the workload for the coaches. Saleh said they will revert to a traditional setup, with the coordinator and position coach working with the quarterbacks. Knapp's position, passing-game specialist, was a "bonus" on the staff, according to Saleh. Perhaps, but Knapp was the primary voice in the room.

Saleh is leaning on LaFleur, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, to coach beyond his years. After seven years at the side of San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, LaFleur is on his own, with no veteran sounding board.

"I know he's a very young coach, but he's advanced in terms of what he's learned and the people he's been around since he started coaching," Saleh said.

[Libero_2]

To say it’s not a concern would be wrong. They will all be learning on the job together, and clearly the plan was for Knapp to be a mentor to both Calabrese and Wilson. Since that’s not an option, we will do the best we can.

[Badger]

https://twitter.com/RichCimini/status/1433774017131986949?s=19

[Johnny English]

https://nypost.com/2021/09/24/no-charges-for-driver-who-killed-jets-greg-knapp-in-accident/

[Andrew Ryan]

https://nypost.com/2021/09/24/no-charges-for-driver-who-killed-jets-greg-knapp-in-accident/

The driver was 22 and apparently drifted into the bike lane due to "inattention".

[Johnny English]

The driver was 22 and apparently drifted into the bike lane due to "inattention".

As a former and still in my head wannabe triathlete who has spent many hours on the road cycling and had many near misses with dopey, ignorant, and downright malicious drivers, I want to be mad. But as a human, a driver, and a passionate believer that the prosecution of any civilian for any offence must be watertight, I can completely understand why this might not get anywhere near a court.