The Jets head coaching search is in full swing and Adam Gase is up next to be interviewed for the position on Friday.
With Gase in the picture, he joins another young, offensive-minded coach in Kliff Kingsbury among the candidates the Jets are interviewing.
Both are thought to be offensive gurus who could help the development of Sam Darnold. Kingsbury already has the blessing of Jets Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams, but there are plenty of pros and cons to hiring both these men. SNY's Ralph Vacchiano takes a deeper look into weighing these two options:
Kliff Kingsbury
Experience: Six years as head coach of Texas Tech. Three years as collegiate coordinator and assistant. No NFL coaching experience.
Head Coaching Record: 35-40
Ralph's Take >> Kliff Kingsbury is considered one of the latest offensive whiz kids.
He's 39, developed a crazy good offense that worked at Houston, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, and he's had wonderful success with quarterbacks like Johnny Manziel, Case Keenum, Davis Webb, Baker Mayfield and Pat Mahomes.
All that makes him a much sexier candidate than Adam Gase.
Video: 5 facts to know about Jets candidate Kliff Kingsbury
But here's the thing: Kingsbury has had one stint as a head coach, from 2013-18 at Texas Tech, and that included just two winnings seasons and no more than the eight wins he had his first year.
Despite all his offensive success, it was all downhill after the Red Raiders were ranked as high as 10 in his first season. He could never make any headway in the Big 12.
Adam Gase
Experience: Three years as NFL head coach (Dolphins 2016-18) and 13 years as an NFL assistant or coordinator.
Head Coaching Record: 23-25
Ralph's Take>> Gase is only one year older. Three years ago, he was the offensive whiz kid that everybody wanted. He also had plenty of NFL experience, and now he has three years of head coaching experience with the Dolphins, too.
No, he didn't win there after getting the Dolphins to 10 wins and a playoff berth his first season.
But he had a questionable quarterback (Ryan Tannehill) who was hurt often over the last two seasons and he presided over a dysfunctional era where the Dolphins discarded more talent than they currently have.
Verdict
It's too soon to dismiss Gase's head coaching ability, just like it's too soon to anoint Kingsbury as the next big thing. The Jets can't risk a college coach with a losing record walking into a locker room that needs an attitude adjustment.
The players could walk all over a coach who is trying to learn on the job.
So if this is the choice, go with experience. Gase didn't get it done in Miami, but he had a chance to learn from his NFL mistakes, and he could be the latest in a long line of NFL coaches who do better in their second NFL jobs.
