Our New York Jets question of the week is a good one because it focuses on the team's biggest storyline -- quarterback -- and how coaches/system could impact their draft decision.
If Jeremy Bates' promotion comes to fruition, could a combination of him and perhaps Brian Callahan as QB coach be a strong tandem to develop one of the QB prospects? Is there a type of QB that would be more successful in a Bates system than the others? #jetsmail
— Jimmy Shnoogen (@JimmyShnoogen) January 26, 2018
@RichCimini: Callahan would've been a great hire for the Jets, but he accepted a position to become the Oakland Raiders' quarterbacks coach under Jon Gruden, the Tennessean reported on Friday.
That didn't shock anyone because Callahan's father, Bill, a well-respected offensive-line coach, worked with Gruden previously in Oakland. For the Jets' sake, it's too bad because Brian is considered one of the bright, young offensive coaches in the league. He spent the last two seasons as the quarterbacks coach in Detroit, where he did fantastic work with Matthew Stafford. I've spoken to several people about Callahan, and I've heard nothing but good things.
As for Bates' system, the hunch is he will install the Mike Shanahan system that he learned while working under Shanahan from 2006 to 2008 with the Denver Broncos. Bates took that system with him to the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, his one and only season as an NFL coordinator.
Because it's a West Coast-style system, it puts a premium on accuracy. That could be an issue for Josh Allen, who was only a 56 percent career passer at Wyoming. Based on the reports out of the Senior Bowl, he struggled early in the week with his accuracy, improving as the week progressed.
Sam Darnold (65 percent) and Baker Mayfield (69 percent) also would be good fits from an accuracy standpoint. Darnold played in a pro-style offense at USC, which would help his transition.
The West Coast/Shanahan system also calls for the quarterback to throw on the run, as it incorporates rollout plays and play-action bootlegs. Of the top four quarterback prospects, Darnold and Mayfield have a best combination of mobility and accuracy. At 6-foot-5, Allen is a fantastic athlete, but he has footwork issues that affect his ability to throw accurately on the move. Josh Rosen (61 percent) has more arm talent than the other three, but he's a pure pocket passer.
Ultimately, I don't think the Jets will base their evaluations on scheme fit. It'll be part of the equation, for sure, but it would be a mistake to make a franchise-altering decision on such a narrow parameter. A good coaching staff would pick the best quarterback and tailor the system to fit him, not the other way around.