Jets GM Joe Douglas (4/7)

up now? On Tuesday in Floren Park doing real well? Greens. How about Joe Douglas and his career, Green says, first year in the National Football League two thousand and he became a champion with the Ravens. Talk about beginner's luck, but you know, obviously not beginners luck, considering Joe Douglas has three Lombardi Trophies, and real quick, before we head into the interview here, what can Jets fans expect out

of this interview? I think they can expect Joe Douglas to be solid Joe d meaning he is exactly who people have said he is or was from the beginning when he was hired here last June. Green's guy is so respected throughout the National Football League, Comfortable in his own skin. He sets clear goals, he stays within those boundaries in terms of financial details, also what he's going to do. He's not going to go outside the plan.

And he is also a consensus builder. He takes in all the information of people within the complex, and he is awfully happy about the staff he has at one Jets Drive. Couldn't say enough about the people who have helped keep this ship running here during a crazy time for everybody in the United States and the world. Alright, Well, without further ado, he there's Joe Douglas one on one. Joe does the world combats COVID nineteen and invisible Enemy

the like we've never seen before. Frankly, what is your new normal? Eric? How you doing? Um? You know, it's uh it's been different. Excuse me. We uh you know, we having free agency and uh small crew in for the first week. Then we had the shelter in place rules coming in effect, and then everyone was working remotely. So um, thankfully, you know, we had you know, Tom Murphy and his staff and I t just did a tremendous job with making sure our communication and our our

access to each other was gonna be on point. Ryan O'Hare and video. Our medical team has done an unbelievable job adjusting. So I think everyone's really come together adjusted well. We've been able to use technology to our advantage and be able to communicate and you know, stay on top of everything. How would you just score the philosophy entering free agency and now after you're through the initial wave or two way, I guess we would say, do you

like what you've accomplished? Yeah. I think our philosophy going in, you know, when we talked when we talked to them the year, it was about out ultering sports and so to do that you have to have the right people. And so I think our game plan going in was that we're going to bring in a certain type of person and player. And I feel good about what we're able to do. Um not only not only the new additions that we've added, but also the players that we're

able to bring back. You know, so I think I think all those guys have the right amount of smart football instincts, um competitiveness, versatility, and toughness, and so that we feel good about about the type of people we brought in. Uh, still a lot of work left to do. Um. You know, we're preparing for a huge draft with eight picks and four those in the top eighty, so there's still a lot of work to do, But feel good

about where we're at. You just want on a call with the media and you said there's a shortage of quality offensive alignment in the National Football League and that's one area that you made an emphasis here heading into the offseason. Can you talk about some of the guys and the similar traits they have that you either brought

in or resigned. Connor McGovern who's played center and guard in Denver, Greg Van roten Um most recently with the Carolina Panthers, of course, George pant who's been a versatile guy, who was a versatile guy, should say in Seattle playing left tackle and right tack. Well, Josh Andrews, m guy who probably helps your depth a little bit. And then Alex Lewis a player you traded for last year because he didn't want to let him get on waivers, but

you resign him. Yeah, I think all those guys have a common trait and that they're they're versatile and flexible players in terms of they can play multiple spots. Uh, you know, and you get you get in some games, Eric, and um, things can go against you injury wise. So you have to have you have to have a group of guys that can come in and play different roles in different spots. And yet you have to be smart

to do it. You have to be athletic to do it. Um. And so I think all those guys we brought in, and including Alex who we traded for, they can all play multiple spots. Um, they all bring they all bring uh intelligence, they all bring toughness and competitiveness, and um, you know, we're we're we're excited to get all those guys. You know, Connor McGovern can play all three interior spots. Josh Andrews can play all three interior spots. Greg Van

wrote and he can play all three interior spots. So, um, we've got guys that give us a lot of flexibility moving forward. Let's stand on the offensive side of the ball and go to the wide receiver position. You've talked about the need for surrounding Sam, not only just protecting

him up front, but getting him some playmakers. What did you like about Brashotte Perryman because you're awfully familiar with him considering your days in Baltimore, you help scout Perryman, a University Central Florida product to the Ravens ultimately took in the first round back in two thousand fifteen. Yeah, So scouting Brashad being as his pro day, UM, watching him and live run a four to two forty UM all impressive things, especially for his size. So UM obviously

excited about Brashad. Um. You know he brings, he brings that that ability to take the top off the defense, really stretched the defense vertically and put a lot of pressure from defense. And a guy that's that's really grown throughout his his early career. UM. Obviously his trajectory UM, you know hasn't hasn't been uh um like every other players.

But I think what you've seen from him and that the final part of this year and even when he won the back half of his year in Cleveland, you saw a guy that was explosive, that could work the middle of the field. UM, that could really really challenge defenses. UM, go up and high point the ball and really make big plays. So excited about the deck. The dynamic that he brings to our offense and can't wait for him to get gone and start building that chemistry with samp moving.

How about before free agency started that you got you went to the street and picked up a former first round pick in Josh Doxton. What did you like about him? Maybe when you were scouting back in the day. Also, uh, when you saw him out there, why did you guys decide to take a flyer on him? Yeah, you know, we're all very excited. I think our proach f you know, UM headed up by Chat Alexander, Greg Neshma. They did a great job really really all through free agency, but

especially in this case after the after the season. Um, he was he was a guy that was on our radar and you know, having scouting him when he was coming out of TCU. UM. The thing that jumped out about Josh was his ability, his ability to get open and his ability to finish and catch the ball. I think you're talking about a guy with Josh. He's got a he's got a really big catch radius. So really, what I mean by that is, you know, if you if you were to take you know, just draw a

big circle around his body. I mean, he can he can go get the ball at any point, you know. So, UM really really like what he brings from a ball scale prospective. So thinking you know that that could be a nice unsung addition, UM that that ends up paying dividends. So UM really, uh, hats off to our pro staff in terms of, you know, staying staying engaged with him. So let's flip to the funds aside the ball. How critical was it to get both Brian Pool and Jordan

Jenkins back in the fold? Those are guys who really, if you look at it, they career years last year, Jordan Jenkins is increased his past production pass rush production and each of the first four professional seasons eight sacks last year and also key cog in your run defense. And then Brian Pool was a tremendous system fit under Greg Lilliams. Yeah, Brian maybe really excited to get both those guys back. UM, And you know, with a guy like Brian, he was a great addition and he really

stabilized the nickel spot for us last year. UM. I think what he makes intelligence aspect um, is very very unique to the position. Um. You just talk about a god. It's got really good ball skills, really good awareness and route recognition, and then Jordan Jenkins, Um, and then what I would say on both these guys, these guys are are great culture guy's, great locker room guys. Um, they

do everything the right way, they work hard. Um, they're they're ultra competitive, They're they're the right type of people. And so again I got like Jordan's you know, just really excited about Jordan being able to come back, and you know, I think he's poised to have another big year. And um, you know, I know, I know these guys are hungry. I know that they've got to they they they just uh naturally have chips on their shoulder and they can't they can't wait to get back out there

and compete together. And UM, you know, we're we're really excited. And I'm sure I can speak for Greg and his staff and I know how excited they are to have those two guys back. Joe, speaking of culture, how much did assistant GM rex Hogan help you when it became official that Pierre Desier was released from the Colts. Of course, the three interceptions there last year in Indianapolis started eleven games, but perhaps his best professional season was two years ago,

when Rex was with the Colts. Yeah, I think Pierre. I think Rex's knowledge of of Pierre the last few years in Indian talk about another player that's had an interesting career trajectory from starting at Lindenwood College in Missouri and the Cleveland Browns to UM, you know, developing into a legitimate starting corner in the National Football League and

UM making the most of his opportunities. And this was a unique opportunity for us to to bring in a player UM that you know recently came available, that our assistant GM had had a strong knowledge of. UM. Who a guy again, another guy that is a top tier culture guy. He's gonna be a great fit in our locker room. And a guy that has UM very good instincts, route recognition, and ball skills. UM talk about catch radius with Josh Dos and I think Pierre brings that same

type of catch radius from a corner standpoint. Yeah, how excited are you here now looking ahead to the rafts? Free agency isn't over and we know you're gonna explore every possible ab no one to improve this roster. But you mentioned it before. A word that keeps on coming

to mind for me is you said flexibility. Flexibility in terms of the way you're financially getting this thing structured and also financially in the draft, because you have four picks in the top seventy nine overall, including that number

eleven overall selection. Now very very excited about about those courts, those board picks, and you know, really all eight and you know we've I think where we are now, UM, really trying to build the base and the foundation and the depth of this team and bringing in the right type of people. UM. Now we're in position where we have to make every single one of these draft picks count. UM, And I know, I know the hard work that's already gone in with our scouting staff, our college scouting staff,

and UM, really can't wait. And I know I know the hard work that's going on as we speak with our coaches. UM, you know, getting to know these players as best they can remotely on video conference and calls. So UM, I can't wait the gift and stop for our next round of draft meetings, even though they're going to be remote. UM, to go over there the guys that really get them excited and that they think and

come in here and make a difference. UM. You know, because we've we've got to make the most of these eight picks. Yeah, and one thing you've continued to say, basically since you walked in the door was we have to do everything we kind of help Sam Donald progress. You don't want him to be under the fire you started address an offensive line, and you also want to surround him with explosive playmakers. And you you just said it,

you said, we still have a lot of work to do. Yeah, you know, we're always going to be on the hunt, and we're always going to be looking for uh, the right types of uh fit um from a from a to perspective and from a talent perspective, and so um, you know, we're we're always going to be looking for the right type of playmaker and the right type of uh offensive lineman, you know, and then the right type of defender for this team and so um and and also special teams you know. So, um, you know, We've

we've got a lot of work to do. Um. You know, UM, we've got we have obstacles in our way, but I know we've got a group as a whole that's up to the task. And um, you know, no one no one's making excuses. Everyone's adjusting their improvising. UM, we're all coming together as a team and UM, I just can't wait for this draft to get going. Yeah. And two

final questions here. You talked about Tom Murphy being one of your offseason m vps, of course a long time a long time head of information technology for the New York Jets. What what can you say about the football staff as a whole, the guys that you've worked with daily. Whether at the start of free agency it was you guys were working shoulder to shoulder, now it's over maybe

Microsoft teams or Zoom. UM about your guys, the entire staff, the Rex Holgan's, the Chad Alexander's, UM, the Phil Savages. You mentioned Murph, you mentioned Ryan O'Hare. What what can you say about the staff and and the way you guys have been able to work during an adverse time. Yeah, I mean these guys have really, UM done a tremendous job of communicating, being flexible, UM to all the changes that have gone on. UM, Dan's Biowski, who's our who's

our personnel coordinator? Um, he's done a great job working in lockstep with Murph, UH, with Steve Piazza, with with Cappy over in I t um you know, on our on our system, changes, on our meeting formats. You know, Uh, we've we've got a great we've got a great group of people here, you know, a great staff and you know, um, there's no agendas. Everybody's just pulling in the same direction, you know, and that's the you know, put the best get to get the best players and putting the best

product on the field. And everybody's you know, and it started, it really started since day one. And you really saw it in our first round of draft meetings with our scouting staff, and everybody has been able to kind of check their ego at the door. And you know, it's not it's not who's right, it's it's that we're right as a as a group and we bring in the right people and so um, you know, we're all we're all pulling, pulling the same direction. And I think I

think everybody has been on board with that. And it's it's been it's been really really fun to watch. Yeah, finally, you've been so gracious with your time. Not only are you the general managers of the New York Jets, but you're a husband, you're a father of three. Uh, you

have a world outside of football. Um, when you see a number of people who perhaps are Jets fans on fl fans the way the world's be impacted, but specifically this area, and um, you watch the folks on the front line, who who cheer you on and this cheer this organization on. The doctors, the nurses, UM, people who are just supporting us every day and things like that. What would you say to them right now? You know, I couldn't even begin to give my my personal um

and and my personal gratitude enough to them. Um. Look, I mean all we have to do is is stay home and not you know, just not go out and and spread this virus. Um. You know, the people that are in in the medical field, UM, they're the ones that are having attacked us every day and and risk exposing themselves to this virus you know, no matter what age, create gender, um. And so the these these uh, these medical workers they're they're at every day and UM, you

know they're the real heroes right right now. Um, you know, and all we have to do is stay at home and not uh and not getting their way and make their jobs any harder than it has to be. So UM, you know I can't I can't thank him enough for for what they're doing. Well, said Joe, And we appreciate your time, and uh, we're wishing your family, uh great luck here and hopefully we'll be able to see it back at the office soon, but until then, we'll keep

on working from home. And uh again, thanks and we'll talk like you. Thanks. Eric. Just a couple of things after listening to that interview. If you're a Jets fan, how are you not encouraged by having Joe Douglas as your general manager? I mean, he seems so down to earth and to your point, he seems exactly who the

Jets thought they were getting back in June. I mean he starts off your interview by shouting out Tom Murphy from I T And it might seem like such a small gesture, but I feel like at not something so common, and it just speaks to how good of a person Joe Douglas is. Yeah. He's a humble guy. He's team oriented, he has a plan, he's going to stick to it. He loves the people that are here with him. Um, he has a vision. He wants to build the best

culture and professional sports. He's been saying that for a while now. The guys he target and free agency. They all had similar characteristics, position, flexibility. A lot of those guys up front, but everybody brought in they love football, tough guys, tenacious, and you're gonna have to be that to be a New York Jet. So when you're looking at some of these guys in the draft, now you can weed out some players that are not Joe Douglas

type players. All right, well quickly, and let's now transition into Olivia's interview with Brian Billick. Brian, I want to quickly ask you what kind of potential did you see in a young Joe Douglas back then? You know when someone comes into the organization and Ozzie knewso at the time, Phil Savage, Erica Costa have done a great job I have done for a long time bringing young talent that we would roll through obviously mentor they would grow within the system. And Joe from the get go, you knew

this was a guy. He was a hustler. He worked hard. He was a grinder, which you have to be able to do. It was like, whatever task you need for me to do, I'll do it. You know. So when when I knew Joe, he was just beginning. Uh, It's it's fascinating to see him as a general manager now because you kind of, you know, you kind of think

of people as you originally interacted with him. When I started with Bill Walsh, I was assistant director of public relations, and even after a Super Bowl, I think Bill probably always kind of thought of me as just his assistant PR guy. So, you know, sometimes that's the way it falls. But Joe was great. Joe was hard working, and you knew that he was going to work his way up

and be in a position like he is now. You mentioned Ozzy knew some What exactly do you think he took away from a person like him, or what kind of traits could he have learned from Ozzy? Ozzy is a great listener. He did a great job of taking a lot of input, empowering everybody around him. Scout coach, assistant coach, everybody in the organization had to say they interacted, interacting constantly with one another, and Ozzie fostered that and would kind of sit back and listen to it all.

So I imagined Joe took a great deal from that watching how Ozzy utilized all the talent around him as opposed just thinking, yeah, I got all the answers, and uh, we're gonna take who. I want to say, Well, now that we have seen Joe Douglas in action, which of those traits have you seen him already implement into his decisions? Well, I think, like you learned from Ozzy knew someone was always our case in Baltimore. Ozzie always strongly believed that

you tried to address the things in free agency. Didn't have to be a huge splash, but addressed the needs and free agency so that it left you to take the best player available in the draft. Need is a terrible evaluator, and to go into the draft with such an overpowering need that it possibly works your analysis of a player, maybe pull someone up further up the board that you normally would have them only because there is

such a need. So you can see what they're doing with some of the offseason acquisitions, that they're filling in some of these needs that should leave them some latitude. You look at tackle, you know, obviously with George Phanton, then what they've done in the receiving corps two areas

that need to be addressed. These areas, obviously can still be addressed early in the draft, because offensive tackle and wide receiver both seem to have some options for them at number eleven, but they don't have to do that given some of the things that they've done in free agency. Brian we already mentioned a few moves that Joe Douglas has made. What other moves do you anticipate him making

this offseason? Well, you know, the next move obviously is in the draft, and and and New York because one of those teams, certainly you need to wrap as much around Sam Donald as you can. He's gonna be your franchise. You put that kind of value on him when you drafted in uh, your number one pick at quarterback. You've got to give him every opportunity to be successful. That needs protecting him. He's got a great running back and lady on Bell. He's got a decent core of receivers.

I would say they need another big impact receivers, So a wide receiver might not be off the board at number eleven. But that's kind of interesting too, because as as flashy as wide receivers are early in the draft, it's a much tougher transition from college into the NFL. At wide receiver than a lot of people think. You look at other positions, you think there's a lot more integration the skill set and receiver hack. If he's passing, is big and it can run, they'll do well in

the NFL. But dealing with the increased talent in the secondaries in the NFL, dealing with the speed, recognizing that, you know, a window in the NFL is much smaller than it is in the college game, so that impact receiver. Although typically um you need to go in the first round and get one of those types of guys, it

doesn't necessarily translate right in the first year. Brian Billick worked very close with Joe Douglass from two thousand two thousand and seven they won a Super Bowl Championship together. Thank you so much for coming on and giving some of your input on Joe. I really appreciate it to do it great here from Brian Billa. Great insight on Joe Douglas. Of course, as we said earlier, Billick knows Joe from when Joe was in his twenties working with

the Ravens. And that was another edition of the Official Jets Podcast powered by Amazon Web Services d A and I back tomorrow with NFL draft scout that is Matt Miller of Bleacher, of court yea