Jets HC Adam Gase heaps praise on new GM Joe Douglas

The New York Jets have a new general manager in Joe Douglas, and head coach Adam Gase can’t say enough good things about the team’s new decision-maker.

After the Jets fired Mike Maccagnan, it seemed a somewhat foregone conclusion that Joe Douglas would replace him as general manager. After a handful of other interviews, the Jets indeed zeroed in on Douglas, who leaves his personnel post with the Philadelphia Eagles after helping to build a Super Bowl champion roster there.

He now heads to the Big Apple, where expectations will be high when it comes to turning the Jets back into a playoff contender.

If you ask Gase, he’s excited about having such an effective communicator and talent evaluator calling the shots when it comes to roster-building for the Jets moving forward (via team reporter Olivia Landis):

His communication is outstanding, and his evaluation skills are unbelievable. He’s probably one of the most respected personnel people around the league, not only by scouting circles but also by coaches. When I first met him that’s one of the things that I had a lot of coaches tell me—if Joe says he’s a good player, believe him…Coaches respect him.

Though it may seem late in the game for a new general manager to have a significant impact on the 2019 season, Gase believes Douglas won’t take long to leave his mark on the Jets in a positive way:

I think Joe is going to have a big impact right away. He’s a very easy person to talk to, he’s very engaging. He’s going to meet a lot of players very fast, and I know we only have four days left, but it’s a good time for us moving forward and heading into training camp because we have some time to get ready for that and have discussions and have everybody get on the same page.

This will be Douglas’ first rodeo as an NFL general manager, having worked his way up through the ranks of the NFL personnel ladder. Gase will be trying his hand at being an NFL head coach for the second time, having failed to turn the division-rival Miami Dolphins into a winner over the past three seasons.

Their jobs should both be made easier by the presence of some dynamic talent on both sides of the ball.

The Jets already have a franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold, arguably the league’s most versatile and dynamic running back in Le’Veon Bell, a Pro Bowl safety in Jamal Adams and one of the NFL’s most complete linebackers in C.J. Mosley.

Throw in some strong role players on either side, and the Jets have the makings of a dark-horse playoff contender in 2019. That would be a strong start for both Gase and Douglas, as they work to rebuild the Jets into the successful franchise fans have grown to expect.

What are your expectations for the Jets in their first season with Gase and Douglas calling the shots? Will Douglas prove to be a significant improvement over Maccagnan? Give us your take in the comment section!