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Continuity isn't one of the hallmarks of Todd Bowles' coaching staff. Since the end of the season, Bowles has fired two offensive coaches -- coordinator John Morton and line coach Steve Marshall -- continuing a three-year trend of upheaval. Marshall, who presided over one of the most inconsistent position groups on the team, received his pink slip on Wednesday. When Bowles became the New York Jets' coach in 2015, he hired an 18-man coaching staff. Only four of the original 18 remain -- Kacy Rodgers (defensive coordinator), Mike Caldwell (assistant head coach/inside linebackers), Karl Dorrell (wide receivers) and Jimmie Johnson (tight ends). The general consensus at One Jets Drive is that Bowles has upgraded the staff over the years -- well, except for offensive coordinator, only the most important job next to head coach. Currently, the position remains vacant, as Bowles looks to hire his third coordinator in four years. Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates is expected to get the job. There are two ways to look at Bowles' approach to staff building. You can give him credit for being proactive, constantly looking to get better. Or you can criticize him for making bad hires. It's interesting to note that no assistant from 2015 to 2017 left to take a promotion elsewhere, shining a light on Bowles and his ability to hire. Bowles is a big believer in locker-room chemistry, a concept that should extend to the coaching staff. The coaches don't need to be best buddies, but they need to be philosophically aligned. "I think one of the great attributes a head coach can have is hiring good assistant coaches," Hall of Famer Bill Parcells says in a 2010 interview that appears in ESPN's latest 30 for 30, "The Two Bills" -- a fascinating look at his relationship with Bill Belichick. Under Morton, the Jets weren't always on the same page, sources said. Bowles appears to be remaking his offensive staff with compatibility in mind. Now in the market for an offensive-line coach, he's reportedly interested in former Bills coordinator Rick Dennison. He and Bates worked together for three years on Mike Shanahan's staff in Denver (2006-2008), so there's common ground. Bowles has a new vision for his offense. He won't get too many more mulligans, if any, so he needs to be right.
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