A Conversation with Jets Legend Anthony Becht (5/18)

Man seven and three kind of got snubbed from the playoffs with the rules and whatnot, but we were definitely a playoff team, but we had some opportunities at the end to seal our fate and get in, but we didn't quite get over that hump. But just extremely talented football team. We really did a nice job of finding really good players to fill our roster, not just our roster, but we had about ten other players we released that actually played for other teams. So just really good just

finding the right player too. You know, not only were they good players, they were good people, high character, you know, minimal issues throughout the season, but we had our standard you know, things that came up popped up throughout the year. But other than that, man, the experience with the XFL

did ownership top to bottom first class. Really didn't know what to expect, but I knew obviously with Danny Garcia, Duwayne, the Rock Johnson and the Redburg Capitol group that they were really about the players and from top to bottom, where we stayed, where we practiced, the food we ate every day, how we traveled on the road, just really a plus across the board. Really impressed on you know how they did and really set that up for our

staff and our players. So our players had a great environment. We were able to build something fairly quickly. It's another thing too, just trying to get a culture build in forty days of training camp. You know, these guys never met each other, never been around each other, having been coached by our guys, didn't know me. So just really all in all, from top to bottom. A great process and I loved it.

loved helping players. I loved helping you know, guys come together, understand not only the tight end position, but also galvanize a locker room. And those things happened a lot later in my career when I was you know, that veteran type of player. After I was done, you know, it was media, I was coaching. There was my family, my kids, A lot of different things there that kind of pointed

me into a different direction. I was still able to coach in a smaller level nflp Agent, collegiate All Star games I did those those were great, kind of kept my toes in the water a little bit. I trained some of the top tight ends coming out of the draft for you know, over that stretch of time from twenty twelve on and really started towards the end of or at least most recently last couple of years, get

involved in coaching. Went out in the AAF, did that full time in that spring league in San Diego, and coach Marts really helped propel me, kind of like pushing me out of the media side and say, listen, man, you got too much knowledge, too much there to give back to players, you know, you need to be coaching in some capacity. So that was a great start for

me from a full time standpoint. And then obviously when this opportunity with the XFL came about and my kids now in college, been able to do a lot of other things, this was the right time for me. And you know, calling games for ten years with ESPN and the college landscape, NFL landscape, working with the Jets, all different types of capacities that really kind of helped me understand the game, the player a little bit more from the college standpoint and currently what the league is doing.

And for me, just okay, I've learned so much from different organizations, from coaches, from other leaders and players I've been around. Now it's okay, how can I put that together and also now do it the way I want to do it. So I'm very fortunate to get the head coaching opportunity worked my way, sold a vision to the XFL, and then once I got in, man, I

was all in. I was ready to go. It was perfect timing for me, and right now I love what I'm doing that It's a great space for me, and like I said, this is a space where players want the knowledge they have chips on their shoulders and they're this close to getting to the goal that they want to reach. Whether that's the NFL, whether that's just continuing to play football at a professional level, whatever that may be. It's my job to fill those holes, and I think this is the best space for it.

to play at. What your body is going through, what these guys have gone through for ten weeks of the season in the training room, trying to be available for me every single week, playing through injuries, going through training camp, and to have to go into that game and try

to do more than you normally would have to. It was emotional for me because I understand those levels that you push your body to, and it just, you know, I was just so appreciative of what the players had done, not only in that game, but up to that point.

You know, they really bought into what I was, you know, really selling for them and what I was trying to push them to, and every single week they gave it my all, and it just kind of hit me a little bit on just what we had to do in that final game, the limits that they pushed themselves, and I just was deeply, you know, had a lot of gratitude for what they had done to that point, being that you know, that game was in hand into the early third quarter and they had to keep pushing themselves

and pushing themselves. It was great for the fans to see. It was exciting. We had some great plays, but you know, also knowing that man, these guys, you know, guys had hamstrings knees, you know, all kinds of different things, you know, lower backs, elbows, hands, thumbs, fingers. I mean just you know where you really could have pulled back in that opportunity, we had to push forward, and they did it without any excuse, without any you know, sideways looking at me

and they and they really finished the season strong. So it was just more of an emotion towards the gratitude of the players.

I needed them to show up every week. I needed as many fans as possible where I wanted them to break the spring attendance records every single week, and I promised them that in return, I'd give them a good product.

I just believed in what we had from a players standpoint, I believed in what we could build, and I believed in the vision that I had, And even though there was probably not a lot of clarity on what it would be game one, I just knew if we did it the right way, found the right players, that we could give these fans not only just football, but give them a winning product, give them something, you know, to show up and cheer for every single week, and give

them the opportunity to see a team push their way and try to get to the goal of winning a championship. And we were able to do that. But they showed up, they showed out. I think we broke the attendance record the I think we had the five highest attendance rated crowds in our five home games in five straight consecutive weeks. But man, they were awesome. Face paint outfits, T shirts,

shoulder pads, helmets, swords, hawk feathers. I mean, they lined up before the game's entranced into this into the domeforce waited for us, came early, and they were great on

third down, man, I really pushed the envelope. I wanted that place to be a difference maker, and it was great for our players because, you know, Eric like, it's one thing to play the game, to push and do things at the professional level to try to continue to enhance your game, but also under the pressures and constraints of a crowd, noise, of scenarios and situations where the noise and the crowd mat especially when you had guys

on defense trying to communicate. The crowds loud, they're trying to, you know, make it hard for the offense. If you're able to play under those constraints as well, that's almost as realistic as playing in the NFL, and that's what those guys need as well. So I'm just very thankful for the fan base coming out every single week and supporting our team, and just glad we're able to give them a winner year one.

And you know, look it worked out for him obviously, and what he's doing now, but he's really passionate about helping these players, allowing them and give them that opportunity

to kind of pursue themselves. I mean, this is kind of a per you know, you'd be surprised how many guys are in this kind of purgatory between college and NFL that have either gotten a chance, gotten there, was invited, practiced, made a couple of years, still have it, but yet can't latch on because their skills haven't been able to continue to develop, because they haven't been able to play more. They just they're there, but you know, they didn't get

that opportunity to continue to show and shine. And this is what this league is for. You're talking about thousands of players that went to showcases, that tried to reach out to me on social media, just any way possible to try to get a chance, and you're evaluating you're trying to pick fifty one players to be on your roster. It's incredibly hard. And you know, our league was able to allow four hundred plus players to kind of continue their dream and show that they can, you know, play

at a high level, play at a higher level. And we're seeing that now in the back end, guys getting signed, invited to mini camps. You guys had a few players, I mean, just really a unique opportunity for these players to really get their shot after they've worked so hard and continue to get it through our company and XFL in our league. You know, Dwayne just really did a great job pushing that envelope for them and speaking to

them personally. We all came together in training camp and all the ownership was there, and then of course the led work of Danny Garcia, the first female she's a

woman of football right. She's our commissioner, she's our leader, our chairwoman, and she did a great job of just putting together what needed to be there and showing nothing and being there for the fans and the players at the stadiums, at the games, at the practices, and really developing a league that can help these guys shine and pursue their dreams.

lot of things. It encompasses Okay, what we're doing on the practice field, why we're doing it. You know, why we're tackling today. You know, we don't have a lot of time to do these things. Why are these things important? But also from a personal level, understanding that every player, when I sit and talk to them in front of a large space in our team meeting, that they're not going to really some guys are going to take in things differently. It may work for them, it may not.

But when we break it down on the field and I get to know these guys, understanding who they are, why they're playing, what their why is, and what pushes them. Some guys, you can they want to get it. You know, they want to want you to get in their backside right every single day in practice. They want to push you a limit. Some guys you got to pull them

to the side and talk to them, you know. I mean, look, you can't coddle every player, but you've got to be able to deliver the message properly so you get the most out of it from each and every player. And then also the mental side, the mental wealth and well being of these players. I really kept my door open for them because I want a clarity for them, and I wanted to offer help if I could in any way possible for me because a lot of these guys aren't coming from riches. A lot of these guys aren't

coming from situations that are great. You know, we're paying our guys really good for four months. They make really decent money for that four month span. But kids, family, friends, girlfriends, wives, they're living together, they're roommateing, you know, twenty six year old guys have roommates. I mean, it's you know, there's

a lot of factors that go into it. As you're striving to reach your goal that some of them may never reach, quite frankly, So you know, just for those guys to understand they can come to me and they're going to get that same guy every single day. So got to be able to push their buttons, push the envelope for them and get the most out of them on a day to day basis. Totally be engaged with that.

But also it can't be coach speak every day. You have to be able to connect with your guys and I tried my best to do that, and ultimately, when we got to the field in game one, we saw guys that were present in the moment that were you know, prepared to what to do the obstacle that we're ahead of them, to fight through for four quarters, to play with that hustle to to to be you know properly, I guess, you know, don't go out there and be on sportsman life to stay away from those kind of

those penalties that really hurt our team and to really you know, play with the passion and understand it every week means something and it's big, and it's the resume and just you got to stay on them in this league, and i'd say for coach solid too in a professional ranks. With the generation that you're dealing with now, your message, the way you teach things has to be constant every

single week and day. You have to be made You have to make sure you're pushing and continually saying and pushing the same thing sometimes almost because it's got to be ingrained in them on a day to day basis. If you explain something, you go through something, you teach something, and you assume they're going to pick it up orther, you assume they're going to learn it a certain way

that and that's it, it's done. Is a really naive for you as a coach and a leader, a man of LEADERSHI have to think that way because unfortunately, in the generation win, there's a lot of distractions. There's a lot of things now that are out there that aren't quite as concise as maybe when I played, you know, just two decades ago, which isn't that long, but it

was a different time. We didn't have those things. So doing all those things in a short amount of time, you know, trying to just be strategic with it was my plan. And ultimately it really comes down to can you win and lose? You know how your win and your performance come down to it. We were able to do a really good job of it. So I'll go back, I'll critique myself like everybody gets assessed, players, coaches, and again try to make it better. For twenty twenty four.

on the roster. When you get a chance to get a guy like Aaron Rodgers, a guy that can arguably can take you to a championship with the pieces you have around you immediately, that's just it's monstrous. And you got a lot of young, good, talented players that play the game for the right reasons, that go out there and work hard, have great character, and are really mature above their years. And you have all these pieces now where you feel like you can make that push. What's

that last piece of the puzzle? You know, I think any team in the league, regardless of their quarterback they have, would love to have an Aaron Rodgers. I think he's got a lot of football left. He seems very passionate about, you know, making this decision, pushing forward and making the most of it, and he believes he can win. I mean, if I'm Aaron Rodgers, I'm sitting there, I'm thinking, Okay, yeah, New York, great market, sounds great, But man like I'm not.

I got all the notoriety, I have all the money, all these things. I got to go somewhere where I can win. And I'm sure he had other options and places to look at. And when he looked at this roster top to bottom, he looked at the coaching staff. Robert Salah, you know, Nathaniel Hacket, who comes in as the coordinatory, be able to really plug yourself in and be another coach on the field. I mean that recipically for me, as I look at AJ mccerrn, similar understands

our system knows what Bruce Grakowski the plays. I mean, immediately can jump in. Now he can be like an additional OC for your players and play at a high level. And now he just has to go out and perform. And we all know that he's done that at a very high level for his entire career. And you know, we've seen players like Tom Brady and some of these players play longer in their career. The way the rules are set up. This is great, man, and this is

going to be a phenomenal season. You know. Look, there's a lot of pressure that comes with it too, not for him, but for everyone else to perform at that level. To be able to go out there now and turn that switch on and think of yourself as one of the better teams in the NFL and do that week the week. You know that for the coaching staff the same way Robert solid that this is a team now that has to make that huge jump, right. It's not

just getting to the playoffs, you know. To me, it's pushing forward winning a playoff game, getting to that goal of potentially winning a Super Bowl. But man, that piece that's there now, I can't wait to see it. I mean, this might be the most defining moment in Jet's history as far as when you talk about the leadership and the player at that position, where it's been the last two, three, four decades, all the way back to Joe Namath. This

is pretty incredible. So it's a special time and you pray for all those other pieces to be healthy and get through the season, and if you had that man and the pieces that Joe Uggas has continued to put on this football team. It's unprecedented where we are in the organization and the era for the Jets.

and prepare himself for the season. So the fact that he's he understands that there's not that you know, that that sense of self selfishness that Okay, yeah, I'm there, I get it, I know the offense, I don't have to be He knows he's got to build the report with receivers, with the lineman, with all these guys to really build something so it works quickly. That that's the goal. Week one, you need to come out the gate firing.

And it's not an easy schedule, man. This is a schedule early on that's going to be you know, it's going to test the fortitude of this team because you know, if you want to get where you want to be and and you want to get to those goals, you got to beat those teams. You got to play those teams, and they're going to get that chance this year. So you know, he's going to be prepared. I think that's

the number one thing. The fact that he's there leads me to believe that he is going to have himself ready to go, and then ultimately can he help prepare and get everybody else around him ready? Is it his responsibility? No, but it's his responsibility to build that camaraderie, to build that team, and that's the quarterbacks job. That he knows that that's what he did in Green Bay for all

these years, and that's why those players loved playing with him. Lineman, running backsight ends, they loved playing with Aaron Rodgers, and now he's got to kind of do that over again. And I think the best thing about it is he did it away in Green Bay that maybe, okay, he thought was a good way he kind of tried to

do things. But now he uses those experiences and now comes here fresh where nobody really knows, with a couple of players that have been around him, obviously, like Lizard and Randall, to really build something and do it the way that he wants it so that everybody's on the same page. And I think that starts with play calling. The play caller, all that stuff is in line, and I just think you play a little harder. Okay, if

you're a lineman, a tight end. I remember, you know when I used to block for Curtis Martin, you know, Hall of Fame back, You just you didn't want to let that man down, right because you saw he played through injury. I saw the things that he did on a day to day basis, and it just took personal responsibility for me to go out there and be great for him as best or be as great as I could be in that moment. And I think that's what the lineman and guys like that will feel a sense

of I gotta protect this guy. I gotta catch this ball. If I'm a tight end, if I'm a running back, I gotta get these yards. I gotta pass protect because he earns that respect. I saw that in Tampa with Tom Brady, same kind of situation. Guys stepped up their game. It was barely sacked. They protected him and he went out there and did his thing at a high level.

So this is really an interesting time and I just think that those are the things that I'm interested to see how that grows and develops, and how guys strain a little more, not that they weren't in the past, not that they weren't playing one hundred percent, but sometimes in your mind mentally you just push it to the next envelope because you want to be great around a guy that's as great as Alan Rodgers.

an established relationship. And you said he could be an extension of the coaching staff and essentially another coach on the field where Brady goes to a very talented Tampa roster, but he and Bruce arians had to come together and figure out that system over time.

can handle that. But it's really it's it's gonna be easy for Nathaniel, it's gonna be easy for Aaron obviously because they know it. Because of theirs youth in this team, really good youth, talented youth that they're gonna have to pick up a new system, you know, like and Garrett Wilson. You know, there's gonna be some similarities, but terminologies are different wordings, different so you have to rego through that process. And they picked it up great last year, which was great,

but now they're gonna have to do it again. And I just see those guys excelling. I know, guys like Breest Hall, I know what he's about. He's going to be a better player than he was last year. Garrett Wilson, you watch him play multiple quarterbacks, the numbers he put up. Now he's got a guy like Aaron Rodgers, Like I just to me, a sky is the limit on how

good he can be. There were more proven talented players around Brady and Tampa than there are with the Jets, but don't misconsue that as not as talented, because they do have the talent. And then defensively, the pieces were there to really hold teams when you got those leads and really do some good things on the defensive side, which is good. The fact you have a defensive coach, head coach that now, okay, all those efforts, those things and we saw from last year how well they played

throughout the season and improved from the year before. Those things are going to you know, be even bigger now and helpful in my opinion, because if you get now where you become a team that's a little more offensive and you put up points. The way the other team plays against you is a little bit more riskier if you can get those leads. Now it's reversed. So now that that's a positive for the defense, and I think that can allow them to be even better than they were.

So the growth in the development of the system of everybody learning it outside of the quarterback is going to be really something that's important. And that's why Aaron's there right now, right, So that's that extra guy, and it's it's going to be vitally important for the skill players and the running backs and the line to really get on this quickly, and they will because that's their job.

This is how you do it. I mean it can it's easily done OTAs all this stuff is there for them to get it, so when they hit training camp they can hit the ground running. But again, it's nice to know that your quarterback and your OCO will be on the same page, have a good feel, and those things will mesh well. And now it's just coordinating. Okay, you utilize the talent within the system that Nathaniel Hackett's running, so you can maximize the play from the people that are on the field.

the New York Cyclones. Because the Jets not only draft Hall last year and he was fantastic in his first seven games, but they signed Ellen Lazard free agency, a former Cyclone, and then they come back in the first round with Will McDonald.

Everything he did and he was the component for this team.

But again, cranking him outside now, putting them on an island with somebody, I just it's gonna be fun to watch because for him, I think it's going to add a layer of his game that he hasn't been able to really show as much, you know, being out there every single time now, and you know, he's probably not going to be used much in that run stopping game, and you know, it's a passing league, so he's going

to be used in a lot of those scenarios. I think, you know, he could easily be a double digit guy year one. I just I just see it. And you know, again, size is always effective. But we've seen guys come into the league, uh you know a little bit underskis longer, guys have been able to get it done. He'll get stronger and he'll get bigger, but you know, he's always

been a guy that can play. He's got an incredible motor number one, so you know, against the run, chasing things down across the field, backside, outside, he's got all that. Now you know he can do that, and he's got a verage of pass moves that you know with his flexibility, dip spin, it's a little bit of a different level. You know, you're not you don't see that every day in practice. And you know Carl last on the X high motor guy, right like, he goes as hard as

you can possibly go. But the things that will can do, you know with his body because he's not as big, the flextion, the dipping, the spin, the balance of staying on your feet, all those different things, that's a game changer now when you look at it. So really excited to see him, but yeah, I always state ties are great man. I love it. You know, and it's the reason why my son picked the school. I mean, you know, Matt Campbell has developed players, developed men, high character, elite players.

You look at every year, they're getting guys drafted at the highest level. Xavier Hutchinson got drafted this year. Receiver is going to be phenomenal in Houston. I think he got drafted later than he should have. I think he's going to be a really good player. He'll be a

starter for them at the receiver position. So they're putting players out and I had several of them on my team because I just know the fabric that they come from, right, so I just know that I can count a lot of the intangible things that I need I don't have to develop. They're gonna have that, and they're gonna be able to just by attrition pass that on right to the other guys that I had on my team, like

Mike Rose the linebacker and and Keem Butler. These guys are going to be playing in the league next year. I know they're gonna sign. They're going to do those things because those are the kind of guys that the league wants. But they still have talent. So it's great to see you know, who knows. We'll see what the future lies with the Cyclone players moving forward. But I think it's awesome. Man, these are good players. These guys get it and they come in a little bit beyond

their years, which I think helps them succeed. We saw that last year with Breese and and hopefully we see that this year with Will.

let's play him. Let's get this guy to learn and understand the tempo, the play of what it takes to be a premier pass rusher going against the very best tackles in the league every single week, and let him get those reps. And even if you're sacrificing on taking a chance in some of those second down circumstances where it may be a run or pass, and you take those chances. He's still he can still play the run.

It's just that he's got to be creative on how he attacks and gets to that back and he's got those weapons in his toolbox. So I want to see him on the field often as much as possible, and let's go because this team is in dire need for a guy that can do it at his level, and he needs those reps, constant reps every single day and every single week on Sundays.

say adding Dalton Kincaid out of Utah. So maybe they're gonna see more two tight end sets for the Bills in Josh Allen. The Jets will host will host the Buffalo Bills twenty two years after nine to eleven. Of course, in September eleventh there at METLFE Stadium to open the season. You talk about the gaunt with the Jets are gonna have those first six games, and then New England is

always tough as well. They bring Bill O'Brien back to beat the offensive coordinator, so you figure there would be better offensively, but we might be looking at a division where New England's looking up at everybody.

this division is going to be outstanding. I think the Jets should feel good about how they played against these teams in the division last year, and now the pieces that you have coming back that you've added in the offseason clearly is going to take you to a level that you feel really good about defensively. Obviously for the Jets that that's a huge point because they played well pretty much against everyone in the division throughout the years,

so it was really getting that spark offensively. How many games did we watch Eric where we just if we just had a score here, we just had to drive here, Like those things are so vitally important because of the way the defense played. All those pieces are back, So I think that's just going to be a huge difference on the field. Yeah, when you look at our schedule,

I think we looked at the schedule last year. You know, there was a guy out there, a former NFL guy, Brady Quinn that talked about eight or nine through them because he looked at that schedule and thought it was devastating. Well, yeah, we look at the schedule this year and we say, okay, yeah, from last year, the way they play this is tough. But we don't know how things are going to shake out.

You never know how those things unfold, and and you know, sometimes it's it's the teams that are playing the Jets are in their mind, what are they thinking, Like, man, we got to deal with them. They're they're pesky. They were pesky last year and they didn't have a great offense, and now they got Aaron Rodgers and now things change, right, So now it's it's a different mindset on how teams think about you, which is vitally important in this process

as well. So Joe Douglas his staff continues to load up, continue to get young players establish themselves. And now you're a problem even though your division stronger, maybe the best division of football, and your schedule looks demanding. But you got to look at on the flip side, teams don't want to play you either. You need to take advantage of those situations. And I just look at it that way. I look at the schedule, I see I can see eleven, twelve,

ten to twelve. I can see those things happening for this team. But one week at a time, man, they got to figure it out. Come out guns of blazing to start the season and get to the playoffs early. Like come out so you have a swagger and a confidence about yourself where you're believing week two, three, four, so that when you're making that push and you get to that back end, there'll be some ups and downs.

Guys finding the same page to speed the tempo, they can they still have enough to win those games and get through it and then bam on the back end of the season, which we know, we'll blink our eyes and we'll be there. Then now you see the team that Okay, this is the team we drafted, these are the players we brought in. This is where we want to be, and now we're going to make that push in year, in that vital year. Now. So that's what I see for the for the twenty twenty three season.

go to seven and ten. That was a playoff team, had not you endured so many injuries and gotten some consistent play from the quarterback position. But I mean they finished with a six game losing streak.

Players have to deal with another piece of trying to win a game. You know, you look at those stadiums filled and listen. Jet fans have been incredible. When I go to the games, I love seeing them. They're tailgating. There's so many passionate fans. But we got to get more coming back. We got to get more in those seats. We got to get more folks showing up early. Too early on is the best. The weather's great, right, so

that to me is a huge factor in it. But I just feel like, man, players really feed off that. Players know that that can help them. It hurts opposing teams off, especially in those crucial downs. Man, we see it so many times every single week. If that place is rocking and rolling, every one of them seats is filled throughout, and you got these players, they will feed off that, man, and it could be a special season.

You don't want to miss that, you know if I'm talking from a fans perspective, because this could be a special year and there's always going to be those we'll wait and see. I'll wait till they win or But to me, why, I mean, like, if you're a true Jet fan and your schedule's open, let's go, like, show up, be there. This organization is now doing everything they can to give you the players to put a product on

the field. You can be proud of the fact that they went out and got Aaron Rodgers and made that happen. Speaks volumes about where Woody Johnson is, Joe Douglass and this team is trying to be right. They're not trying to just compete in the division. They're trying to win a championship. It's like a legit real thing for this team now on what they have. Don't miss these year, two year, three year run that they're going to have where it can be really special. So I can't wait

to see the crowd Week one. I can't wait till it. What it looks like, it's going to be awesome and it's going to be a special season. So yes, show up, I mean the fans are it's going to be awesome. Man. I can't wait to see that crowd and really how that's going to be an advantage for this team this year.

for the first time in their careers. And then after a Week five day to Denver, the Jets come home and play the second Super Bowl participant from last year, the Philadelphia Eagles, So it is going to be a fun slate throughout. The Jets are must see TV. The NFL knows that. That's why they put them on five times in primetime in the Black Friday Game as well. We are so happy about the success you had so far have had so far in the XFL. The head

coach of the Saint Louis BattleHawks, that's Anthony Beck. But he also hopefully is coming back for some analysis in twenty twenty three of the New York Jets as well, because, like you just mentioned, hey man, we must see a must watch and we got to have your analysis next.