Coach 'Em Up: New York Jets Coaches May Dictate 2009 Outlook

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Pettine's father Mike Sr. is the winningest coach in the history of Pennsylvania high school football, garnering a 326-42-4 record in 33 seasons while winning the AAAA state championship four times at Central Bucks High School West.

Pettine, along with many players, followed new Jets head coach Rex Ryan from Baltimore to New York showing the kind of bond the two shared while working under Brian Billick and John Harbaugh.

With Pettine in charge of a reconstructed defense (captained by Pro Bowl linebacker Bart Scott), you can expect a Ravens-style attack involving not just the front seven but then entire secondary as well.

Heading into camp, players were quoted as saying they had never seen this kind of defensive tempo before and never worked at this kind of a pace while under the old regime.

As Ryan's "right-hand man" in Baltimore, Pettine and Ryan were behind a defense that never finished out of the top five from 2005-2008 as outside linebackers coach and defensive coordinator respectively, including the top-ranked unit in 2006.

Special Teams Coordinator- Mike Westoff

One of the senior members of the Jets staff, Mike Westoff gets almost no credit when it comes to legendary NFL coaches.

With almost 30 years of service, the Bethel Park, Pennsylvania native has consistently brought some of the best units to the NFL under some of the most dire circumstances as he had his leg amputated due to bone cancer and while battling a malignant brain tumor in 1998.

Westoff came to the Miami Dolphins after a brief stopover with the Indianapolis Colts in the 1980s, serving on their staff for 15 seasons.

For four straight seasons in the late 1990s with Miami, Westhoff was behind the NFL's top kickoff and punt coverage units and he brought that pedigree with him to New York beginning in 2001.

In his eight seasons on the Jets sideline New York has 11 combined total special teams touchdowns which is the most in the NFL, second only to the New England Patriots with eight.

Under Westoff, five players have returned kickoffs and/or punts for touchdowns: Chad Morton (2), Jerricho Cotchery (1), Leon Washington (4), Justin Miller (3) and Jonathan Carter (1).

Because of his coaching, Justin Miller and Leon Washington have each made the Pro Bowl.

A future Hall of Famer in my book, Westoff's teachings will only continue to thrive under Rex Ryan.

The main cogs of this coaching staff will be vital in teaching and executing gameplans not just on Sundays but on a daily basis in practices and in the film room to ensure that the Jets are prepared for their opponent and for the long grind of what should be a bounce back 2009 season.

Each member is on notice and must do his job to the best of his ability.

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