Last month after their 15-10 loss to the Patriots in Week 3, Jets coach Robert Saleh said the Jets were still trying to find their offensive identity.
“Whether it’s run first, pass second, pass first, pass second, the style of run, the style of play, there’s a lot of different things that we’re not searching for, but that we’re finding out,” Saleh said. “Not to say it’s a work in progress, but there’s still a lot of improvement that obviously needs to be made.”
Now, with the progression of quarterback Zach Wilson and running back Breece Hall returning to form, the Jets have found a strategy that’s worked the last few weeks.
“At the end of the day, you want to get the ball to your playmakers,” Saleh said on Friday. “Breece is a heck of a playmaker. Garrett [Wilson], [Allen] Lazard is a playmaker, we have a lot of good players on that offense, both tight ends, I think [Tyler] Conklin is doing a nice job.
“You would love to say ground and pound and all that good stuff, but I think every week is different on what your identity is going to be. I do think we are capable of morphing into whatever the week presents to us. I think what we are showing versus Kansas City, we can throw the ball through the air and versus Denver, move the ball through the ground.
“If we can show that consistency to do both, it gives you the ability to avoid being one dimensional.”
After Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles, the entire dynamic of the Jets offense completely changed. The Jets offense struggled to get much of anything running or throwing the ball.
Now that Hall is no longer on a pitch count, Gang Green still wants to rely a lot on running the football while throwing it, depending on the team they’re facing.
After coming off an ACL tear he suffered last season, Hall’s touches were limited after not practicing much during training camp and the preseason. He only had 32 carries in the first four games of the season. However, Hall exploded for 22 carries for 177 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos. That was his second game this season with over 100 yards (10 carries, 127 yards against Buffalo).
“For running backs, getting into a rhythm has to do with if the O-Line is in rhythm as well,” Hall said. “If any back is running the ball well, not only is he running the ball well, but the O-Line is blocking well, the tight ends are blocking well, the receivers are blocking well.
“At that point, the whole offense is in rhythm.”
Not only has Hall’s play helped the Jets offense during their two wins, but Wilson’s play has also reached new levels as he has had highs in quarterback ratings and completion percentage the last two weeks.
Against the Chiefs and Broncos, Wilson has thrown for a combined 444 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while completing 72.3% of his passes. He also has a quarterback rating of 94.6.
In the previous three games, Wilson passed for 467 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions, as he completed 52.4% of his passes while having a quarterback rating of 57.0.
“I think we are balanced,” Garrett Wilson said about the Jets offense. “I think we are going to lean on our backs when it comes down to it.
“I feel like we are still trying to find it. We haven’t reached where we want to be at, we haven’t put on film what we think we are and what we want our identity to be, but it’s building.
“We are still trying to find it, but we feel like we have some good stepping stones.”
REED OUT, GARDNER AND GIPSON QUESTIONABLE
Last weekend, the Jets were able to preserve despite the absence of one of their top corners.
Gang Green will be without one of its star defensive players again this week and possibly two of them.
Jets cornerback D.J. Reed has yet to clear concussion protocol as he will not play in Sunday’s game against the Eagles. It is unknown when Reed sustained a head injury but he did not play in last weekend’s game against the Broncos.
Reed practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday and Thursday and was seen away from the rest of the team during warmups during the media availability portion of practice on Friday as he did not practice at all. One of the final hurdles of being in the concussion protocol is practicing with the rest of the team on a full basis.
Bryce Hall started in Reed’s place during the Jets 31-21 victory last weekend against Denver as he recorded four tackles.
Sauce Gardner also could potentially miss the game against Philadelphia as he has been dealing with an illness the last couple of days as he is listed as questionable. Brandin Echols (hamstring) and Justin Hardee (hamstring) will also miss the game against the Eagles as that will hurt the Jets special teams unit.
Also returner and receiver Xavier Gipson was added to the injury report Friday as he is questionable to play Sunday.
“Irv [Charles] coming up is a big deal,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “We got some reinforcements.”
If Reed and Gardner are both out, that would be a massive loss for the Jets secondary, as they will face an Eagles receiving corps full of weapons. Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is one of the most explosive receivers in football, as he is also physical at the point of attack.
They also have DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, who could be challenging for the Jets secondary.
“There is no secret why they went to the NFC championship game,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. “Why they went to the Super Bowl, why they’re 5-0. A tremendous team that is talented at all three levels. They’re an absolute pain in the butt.
“It’s not only talent, but schematically they challenge you a lot of different ways. They do a lot of stuff that, it’s just not common in NFL football. That’s a lot more prevalent in the college game. So, really prepping our guys for a different style of football. It’s a challenge, it is.”
