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Jets Tab Titans' Patullo As New QBs Coach

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- In an offseason of total upheaval, the Jets made possibly one of their most important decisions on Tuesday.

The team announced the hiring of Kevin Patullo as its new quarterbacks coach. Patullo, who spent the 2014 season as the Tennessee Titans' assistant wide receivers coach, will be responsible for helping the Jets finally get some quality play out of the most important position on the field.

Long lacking a franchise quarterback, the Jets' offense struggled through the Mark Sanchez era from 2009-12, before the former first round pick was supplanted by Geno Smith two seasons ago. Taken in the second round in 2013 out of West Virginia, Smith finished his rookie season strong as the Jets went 8-8, but regressed badly this past season as the Jets went 4-12 and ultimately relieved their entire front office and coaching staffs.

New general manager Mike Maccagnan hinted last week that the Jets might have no choice but to stick with Smith in 2015, but left the door open to the possibility of either acquiring a veteran or trying to find help at quarterback in the draft.

Patullo, a native of Hillsborough, New Jersey, played quarterback and wide receiver collegiately at South Florida and worked as an offensive quality control assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2007-08 and then as the Buffalo Bills' offensive quality control coach under head coach Chan Gailey from 2010-12.

Last week, new head coach Todd Bowles hired Gailey as the Jets' new offensive coordinator.

Also hired by Bowles were: Kacy Rodgers as defensive coordinator, Bobby April (special teams), Pepper Johnson (defensive line), Mark Collins (outside linebackers), Joe Danna (defensive backs-safeties), Karl Dorrell (wide receivers) and Robby Brown (quality control-offense). Justus Galac was retained as the Jets' strength and conditioning coach, while Kavan Latham and Aaron McLaurin also return as Galac's assistants.

The Jets on Tuesday also announced the hirings of Steve Marshall (offensive line) and Marcel Shipp (running backs). Shipp ran for 2,197 yards and 11 TDs in seven seasons with Arizona.

The Jets still need to hire a coach for tight ends and for cornerbacks.

As far as the rebuilding of their front office goes, the Jets announced Tuesday the hiring of Brian Heimerdinger as director of player personnel. The 28-year-old executive is the son of the late Mike Heimerdinger, who was a long-time NFL assistant, including a stint as Jets offensive coordinator in 2005.

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