The NY Jets Offense: Thoughts on How to Improve Efficiency
The Jets offense has been struggling. I think things can be easily fixed but they need to change the blueprint.
#1 is they get a ton of 8 man fronts on early downs because teams have zero respect for their vertical passing game. When they go 21 and 13 personnel, they often do it from tight sets with TE attached which just invites safeties and CB into the run fits. They have to start running some rpo’s off their wide zone scheme. I think this could help tremendously.
RPO Game
Let’s say this play was an rpo with the back offset to the right.
See My Chiefs post for more wide zone RPO:
They run wide zone left. The defense would be moving to their right and would open up some lanes for your wr to play in space.They have 1 guy pressing #2 but the ball would be out with 3x1 with a wr in space.
Here’s 2 examples of 13 and 21 type run designs.
You have to be willing to throw it early and often against these fronts with the safety rolling down into the run fit. Again, it’s tough because they don’t have speed outside other than Wilson and Conklin’s off in 21 so your 2nd best option is on the bench.
Again Jets living in 13, Another 8 man front vs the Jets. Just very tough to run the ball when teams are +1 to the front side. The Jets run G Trap with the long trap on the 5. But they are short a guy on the front side because of scheme. The Bills have 43, 25 and the 2 dl against 3 blockers. Schematically, it isn’t going to work!
They had some chances early to move the chains and Zach has to flat out be better.
#2 is Zach has been horribly inaccurate and very poor at reading defenses.
Example #1, we all focus on the catch here but Ruckert is wide open for a 20 yard gain. Zach has to make the read and hit the TE downfield that is wide open.
Example #2 is the following play. This should be an easy 20 yard completion on the outside vs cover 2. Look at how late the ball comes out and where it is thrown. Problem is the ball is just flung instead of throwing it into the window.
Look at the space he has to throw this ball and how badly he misses vs cover 2. This is a hole shot and the pattern is there.
slow it down, that’s an easy throw. But he just panics and throws the ball down field
full film
Here are some thoughts on what the Jets can do with the offense.
A. Stop using 21 personnel and start using 21 personnel. Well that isn’t a misprint. The jets love to use 21 with a full back but need to start doing it with Breece and Cook together more. They ran it for a 14 yard game and they never came back to it except as a decoy on a WR screen. That is mind blowing to me. They got a cover 2 look which is the effect you want. Put Hall Cook and Izzy together for at least 20 snaps a game. Make defenses adjust to those 2 in the backfield together rather than continuing to put 21 out there with a fullback and getting an 8 man box. Having a fullback in the game gives them nothing but a loaded box.
Here are some examples of plays you can run with Hall and Cook together.
#1 play action
Counter RPO with Wilson in motion. Utilize Wilson as the WR in motion on the rpo and if they play 2 over 1 throw the football. If they run with it you have the counter game. Easy decision for your qb.
A similar play but a double screen but make Cook and Hall the backs and keep Wilson on the perimeter. This is a double screen that should have been thrown to 17. If it wasn’t than shame on Hackett because it’s an easy completion.
Instead, intentional grounding.
Run some lead counter with the 2 of them. Tag it with an RPO. Get into some advantages and start stressing defenses. Get Wilson maybe stacked in this and utilize him on some inside breaking routes.
Another possible example and you can be creative with Cook and Hall. Sell some screens with the 2 of them and sneak the TE down the middle, expecting zone vs 20.
Kentucky uses the wheel component in the passing game. If they rotate to 3 to the twins side. May get a LB running with Cook or hall.
B. Spread teams out and run the football with some quick hitters. Trap, belly, quick hitting gap schemes! We don’t have Derrick Henry. Change the scheme and start running more gap and trap type schemes. You have one of the best cutback runniers in Cook and Hall is a stud. Create some 6 man boxes on early downs. Most teams aren’t going to play cover 0 on early downs. More RPO and getting your wr the ball in space. Less condensed more spread looks. Here they go 11 with a TE in the game again getting a plus 1 scenario. Would love to see Conklin flexed out of the equation.
Some more trap, wrap schemes with Tomlinson pulling. Trap and Belly, especially when getting all these mug looks on 3rd down. Why not try to hit them with trap or belly out of some wider formations. L Tomlinson is an excellent puller. Some quick hitters in the run game.
C. Start using Garrett as the number 2or 3 wr in any formation especially 12 personnel more often. When they do good things happen. Stack him more and keep him inside. A few designed option routes may also be advantageous.
The first play, they hit him for a nice 7 yard gain. The 2nd play he’s wide open but Zach misses him and takes off and run. Ball should have been out. Easy completion.
Its 2 man hole should have seen that. He gets positive yards but the ball should be thrown to GW on play #2.
Another example of where good things happen but Zach misses him. Easy throw and completion to Conklin, Again use him in the 2 or 3 position.
The Lions do it all the time with St. Brown and Laporta. It is highly effective as they will give St Brown option routes in both the short and deep passsing game.
The Bills had both safeties out with injuries and they couldn’t exploit the middle of the field.
Example #1 Here’s Johnson with the Lions, who will use St Brown at #3 often with 2 te outside of him. Could be a shot type play or see the other example. A sit down route underneath.
Another example of using the best WR in the #3 slot
Example #3 RPO off sweep action. Go 13 and see what happens with a set like below. Probably get zone, put wilson as #3 with 2 te outside him. Plus the TE backside allows you to run the ball weak but makes the defense have to adjust. You’ll get a clear picture zone or man.
Better screen design off run action.
See my Lions analysis for a whole bunch of screens. But this is a simple Quick hitter.
D.Better perimeter screen game with RPO Attachments
Create 3 over 2 situations on the outside and get some RPO, run pass options going.
They are easy to install and you can do so much with the perimeter screen game.
Again, create some uncertainty in defenses and get them chasing.
These are so easy to incorporate and can be very useful for the Jets to open up Wilson and the passing game.
E. release the RB-Stop inviting 6 man add in pressures. Move the back pre snap also to let the qb know whether it’s zone or man. Motion the RB out and back in or in from a wide look. Move the back. Teams are just loading up. Moving the back around may cause some confusion and change the scheme defensively. Someone may peal, safeties may rotate and you may get more with some pre snap RB motions.
The Bills bring 5 but add in with the RB when the Jets go 11 personnel. Easy pressure package as they have zero respect for Gibson and Lazard in the pass game.
Every 3rd down is a 5 man add in pressure #1
#2 just another 5 man add in pressure.
F. Go more play action on early downs, really start emphasizing the downfield passing attack. Here they go play action. Have to go more play action with all the 8 man fronts and safety, cb adding in to run fits.
Example #2 straight drop back instead of play action, they show cover 2 press early but then shift to 4. I don’t think Zach even realizes the coverage switch prenap before he makes the throw. This one was bad.
His eyes never see the corner swap pre snap until the time of throw.
This one was very bad.
Some same side runs. Bills and others are rolling coverage opposite the back. Maybe run some pistol or same side runs.
Example #3
Bills are rotating opposite the back often, the Jets find block but the Bills get the plus one as the CB is basically at the LOS in 3 match or cover 1.
G. Garrett Wilson needs to start running some option routes
Garrett doesn’t adjust well when presented opportunities. He needs to start running more option routes and reading defenses when the opportunity presents itself.
Example #1
He should hook up at 15 yards and it’s an easy completion. He actually runs into coverage.
Another example. They have the drive concept with 4 verts. Garrett and Conklin should be reading the mike and bending their route behind the mike
Right here, mike opens bend it over the middle like a dig. That’s what should happen vs cover 4 with 4 verts. He would be wide open.
Film clip:
Could have thrown the drive route but the sight adjustment by Wilson bothers me more.
F. Run some different vertical concepts
I see a ton of vertical type routes but not a lot of dagger, shallow cross and post wheel concepts. Run them from some bunch sets, stack looks with some motions. Have to get Wilson more between the hashes and underneath.
Later in the game the Jets try to run 17 on the hole shot again and the Bills safety plays it much better. The next concept is a 3x1 vertical type concept. I want to see some more inside breaking stuff with Wilson inside.
G. Short yardage Run Pass Options.
The Raiders go bear and the Jets try to run the ball up inside. Maybe give Zach an RPO or even a zone read component to take advantage of his legs.
These are just some thoughts on how the Jets offense can take off. The season isn’t over and hopefully the offense takes off sooner than later!!