It depends what the Admiral means and how the USN intends to use the aircraft in mutually supporting roles.
The Super Hornet already has one of, if not the best radars in the world and a fantastic MIDS fit. It also has a very good EW suite. If your 'rank and file' is that good then you don't necessarily need everyone to have the 'exquisite' fit that the F-35 has.
The Super Hornet has about as much to do with the classic as the F15 does to the P51.