Jerry's only real personnel whiff -- and it was a big one -- that I blame him for was entrusting the backup QB position in Brad Johnson. Brad was notorious for looking bad in training camp but would do just enough in the preseason to keep the position. We had no other plan and were caught with our pants down for believing in a 40-year-old quarterback who looked horrid the last time he was a starting player (in Minnesota).
I don't place too much blame on him for the offensive line depth problems. He got Holland, who looks to be quite impressive. Marten and Free might have been whiffs. Procter and McQuistan were Parcells holdovers that haven't materialized entirely, though Procter is a decent backup center, no?
Otherwise, I think the Pacman thing could be something we look back on real negatively. In a sense, with Jenkins hurt, it's nice to have him coming back. At the same time, you wonder what it could do to the chemistry this defense is building. If Pacman comes in and throws thing off with his 'tude, you have to point the finger at Jerry for taking the risk on the knucklehead. Much like if it works out, you credit him.
But as has been widely stated, talent isn't this team's problem. If Jerry whiffed anywhere, it might be with the coaching staff post-Parcells. I find it interesting when you look at the organization how few coaches are left from the Parcells years. It would seem to be pretty rare to see a coach retire from a playoff team, leave pretty much his entire staff intact, and then see none of the coaches still on site two years later. I'm not sure the turnover in the coaching dept. hasn't hurt us negatively from a continuity standpoint.
