The Jets 2023 3rd down Offense vs The Giants and Chargers: A look at some of the challenges and struggles.
The Jets have struggled on 3rd down. In the Giants game they were 2 of 15 vs the G-men. Being efficient on 3rd down is a team effort. Let’s look at some of the issues and hopefully the Jets can get it fixed. They are 22'% on the season and currently last in the league.
It is easy to blame someone or one person for this, but it is often a culmination of things. In this situation, the Jets have had plenty of blame to pass around.
Here are some of the issues as they take turns making mistakes:
Garrett couldn’t handle press coverage
Conklin couldn’t win his 1x1 matchups
Backs not great route runners
Not moving Wilson around in motion to avoid being pressed
Lazard not enough of a factor.
Poor reads by the QB, pre and post snap-processing quickly
Poor route running and site adjustments
Not running behind your best guys on short yardage situations
QB ball placement
drops
#1 Processing quicker
This one is on the qb.
Pre snap, man look, post snap cover 2
post snap- Sam tells you it’s zone and Lazard has an easy completion. He doesn’t even look at the WR as he fixates on the safeties and coverage downfield Work the 3x1 side and it’s an easy completion if Lazard gets his head around.
Right now, it’s cover 2. The sam paints that picture. get it to Lazard.
#2 Poor Route
3rd and 6
Responsiblity: This one falls on Gibson who runs a terrible route. The Giants are bringing man pressure. He just needs to run an arrow route and it’s an easy first down. He runs a terrible route as Wilson knows where he wants to go with the football.
Just a bad job by the wr.
3rd and 1
Responsibility: Mitchell and Hackett
You run the ball behind Becton and LT in this situation. I think this one falls on Hackett. Mitchell gets beat too, which is on the player but I can live with it if you go behind your best offensive lineman. Giants are balanced so there is no reason to run right imo. Trust your best 2 players
#4 QB and protection
Some people would say protection, but I think this one is on the QB.
Wink runs a fire zone but the safety is so late. If Wilson stays in the pocket, you can see the dig window opening. Step up and make the throw.
#5
3rd and 3
Problem: Route concept, working the nub side, no separation. Poor route running and combinations from numerous players effect this play. Looks like Wilson has an option route. He gets pressed and doesn’t get off the LOS.
RB doesn’t run a good route and TE doesn’t win the corner route. Lazard lazy on the drive route.
He tries to work the nub side here and the matchup he wants is Hall on the RB.
Not a good sequence.
#6
3rd and 2
This is a rub route concept that is popular in the NFL. They try it with Conklin, a very good WR. Conklin doesn’t win the 1x1 matchup. Play Action as they try to hit Conklin off the rub route. Defense makes a nice play and great read by the safety on the play. They run it to the boundary which makes it tougher in less space
Conklin doesn’t win the 1x1 matchup. Play Action as they try to hit Conklin off the rub route.
#7
3rd and 8
Pre snap looks like man/ or quarters but pre snap becomes 3 weak with the 2 safeties at the line of scrimmage dropping. They get the fs to the middle of the field and 19 simmons plays the curl.
The Jets run y cross and the only option is to get it to Conklin and maybe he gets the first on the check down. Nice disguise and coverage adjustment by the Giants.
#8
Defense: Cover 2 man(double) on wilson.
In the last situation, the WR get no separation so their is nothing they can do. The Defense is in 2 man and the safety is helping on Wilson with a straight double team. They disguise it but play they have a pure bracket on him. . NO one is open and eventually Zach has to take off and run the football.
These are some of the Jets 3rd down issues.
Hopefully, they can get them fixed and address the issues!
3rd and 3
Garrett Wilson in the slot, Giants press him again and do a nice job on him. The Jets try the matchup again with conklin to the boundary and once again the Giants win the 1x1 matchup. This time they do it without the rub route.
3rd and 2
They run a great play as they fake to Breece and want to hit him in the flat. It’s wide open but a terrible throw. They are forced to punt.
3rd and 10
They finally take advantage of the off coverage on Lazard. They run a slant and Lazard drops it. Good ball, just a drop
4th and 10
2 man coverage
They get zero separation and the pressure eventually gets home
Vs Chargers
Example #1 Zach
There are several things that we hit on above that was evident in the chargers game. The first situation is 3rd and 10. Zach just settle on the check down too early rather than keeping his eyes downfield where the mof wr becomes open. Can’t look for the check down so quick as the hook route opens.
THey come out in 2x2
The Chargers rush 4 on the play and the protection is good.
The WR is open but Zach already decided on the check down. He kept his eyes downfield he ‘s throwing for a first down.
Here is a 3rd down where they have 3 curls on the same side. The Chargers god man and they have no place to go with the ball. No other choice other than run.
#2 they run a game and he has no time to throw the football. Protection breaks down with Becton and LT
The next clip they run the crossing route with Friday to the field. They have an out cut with a fade that is covered. The Lb’s cover the crossing so no place for Zach to go with the ball.
3rd and 10
Zach doesn’t give WIlson a chance as he throws it out of bounds on the fade route. The coverage Is cover 42, 4 quarters on Wilson ‘s side and cover 2 on the other. The ball fades on Zach out of bounds.
Tough ball and a little more inside gives Wilson a chance.
These are some of the issues and reasons the Jets haven’t been successful on 3rd down. I hope you enjoyed this analysis.
Here’s a good clip as they run Friday, an out with a fade and the crossing route from the other side. The Chargers play cover 2 and he hits the WR on the fade.