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New York Jets Week 10 Observations

They’ll never be able to take away the Mike White game from us. The relief appearance-turned-quarterback controversy finally closed its curtains, as the New York Jets were dismantled by the Buffalo Bills, 45-17, in Week 10. Calls for an encore will be non-existent as Zach Wilson returns to the stage hoping to bring life to a comatose roster. Here’s a quick look at how his supporting cast performed on Sunday.

Mike White

White’s luck ran dry about as quickly as it had magically appeared just two weeks ago. Against a stifling Buffalo defense, there were few mistakes to capitalize on. The easy checkdowns were muddied and White found himself consistently behind the sticks with his first read covered and pressure mounting.

He struggled to retain any semblance of competence, throwing four ugly interceptions. New York struggled to move the ball and quickly played themselves out a more manageable deficit. Wilson’s return marks the end of White’s run, and while I can’t promise better quarterback play, it’s possible the rookie’s return will kick the Jets into gear.

The Running Backs

The offensive line (spoiler alert) was downright bad on Sunday. Thus, the rushing production from the group was not impressive. Still, I remain impressed with Michael Carter. He flashed the contact balance and agility that earned him his reps and looked good as a receiver, totaling four catches and 43 yards on six targets. Carter was rewarded with a late touchdown run.

As for the other backs, Tevin Coleman saw limited action, but was strong. Coleman ripped off a 15-yard run and was promising in his limited action as a returner and receiver. Ty Johnson, saw eight targets during his 25 offensive snaps. Johnson had some unfortunate drops, but it’s clear they see him as a legitimate receiving threat out of the backfield.

The Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Hindered by White’s limitations, the receiving corps for the New York Jets in Week 10 had a poor outing. Corey Davis returned to his lead role and led the group with seven targets, five catches, and 93 yards. However, he still underperformed. Early season drops were written off, but the issue has followed him into the holiday season. Throw in a crippling fumble and it’s easier to see why more heads are turning to Elijah Moore as the answer.

Moore was not spectacular by any means on Sunday. Yet, his ability to run routes and make plays after the catch keeps him viable as the offense trudges along. His six targets are an inspiring number, reflecting Mike LaFleur’s relatively newfound urge to get him touches.

Moreover, Keelan Cole, Jamison Crowder, and Braxton Berrios failed to make any substantial contributions. At tight end, Ryan Griffin hauled in a 21-yard catch, but struggled to leave a mark on this beatdown.

The Offensive Line

Like last week’s primetime affair, the New York Jets were consistently outplayed in Week 10. That certainly does not stop with the trenches. On several occasions, Carter was pummeled in the backfield. Their collective inability to create rush lanes kept White in adversarial positions.

Their pass protection wasn’t much better. White was pressured on seemingly everything that wasn’t an immediate checkdown and was laid out on occasion. Even stud rookie Alijah Vera-Tucker wasn’t as incredible as he’s been in recent weeks.

The stumble in performance can at least in part be pinned on Greg Van Roten. He was credited with three pressures and was bad in the run game too. Simply put, other options have to be explored. That starts with replacing him with newly-acquired Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.

The Defensive Line and Edge Rushers

Perhaps the largest issue I have with the Robert Saleh administration is the binary of the team’s wins and losses. Against Tennessee and Cincinnati, New York came out energized and played 60 minutes of good football. Almost every single minute outside of those two games has been disastrous.

One of the position groups that best exemplifies this is the defensive line. At times, Quinnen Williams is leading a talented unit to create consistent pressure. On the other hand, they’ve been gashed repeatedly by the run week in and week out. When their front four comes out flat, everything else seems to fall apart.

Amending this starts with playing your best players more, and your worst players less. The basis for Saleh’s defensive line rotations is logical, but Williams playing at such a high level only to see 60% of their snaps in a given week is quite the opposite.

Anyhow, Williams looked good for his New York Jets in Week 10. John Franklin-Myers had his flashes, but virtually everyone else looked flat. Subsequently, Allen had all day to throw and Bills running backs combined for an effortless 98 yards and three scores.

The Linebackers

Earlier this year, I sang praise for C.J. Mosley as a key for this defense, similar to Dont’a Hightower in New England. That wasn’t the case on Sunday. He quarterbacked a defense that for all intents and purposes laid down and died. He struggled with the speed of Buffalo’s playmakers and was just as troubled in zone coverage as everyone else.

With that said, Jarrad Davis may have been worse. He had a handful of awful plays in coverage and did not redeem himself in run support. Quincy Williams and Del’Shawn Phillips looked good in their limited reps prior to this game, but failed to stand out.

The Cornerbacks

Another questionable coaching decision was showcased at corner: the choice not to follow star receivers. Bryce Hall is the best cornerback on the roster. Buffalo simply deployed Diggs on the opposite side of the field, and he rightfully went off. Eight catches, 162 yards, and one touchdown later, it’s worth asking whether it was the best strategy.

Hall was beaten a few times in his own right by Gabriel Davis and Emmanuel Sanders in what was the group’s worst week in a while. Brandin Echols and Javelin Guidry were repeatedly torched by Diggs. This isn’t inherently awful; being isolated with a stud like Diggs is incredibly difficult. Still, getting dominated by high-level players may be emblematic of their future as depth pieces instead of starters.

Michael Carter II might have been the best corner to see the field for the New York Jets in Week 10. He defended a pass and recovered a fumble in the loss. Also, Isaiah Dunn (again) played well in his limited snaps.

The Safeties

Marcus Maye’s absence was most definitely notable. However, it has opened the door for one of the few bright spots of the blowout. Sharrod Neasman played on just 29% of the team’s defensive snaps, but certainly made an impact. He made a diving interception en route to racking up two tackles and a pass defended.

With relatively pedestrian play from the Jets’ safeties, and no long-term role for Jarrod Wilson, it would serve New York well to grant Neasman more playing time. It seems every time he steps on the field, he makes a positive impact. If anything, finding a long-term third safety could be a nice player to discover in a rebuilding season.

The Special Teams Units

Matt Ammendola was effective on Sunday, nailing a 48-yarder and two extra points. Braden Mann was similarly proficient in his punting duties.

The return game was intriguing, as Tevin Coleman looked awesome, but penalties marred an otherwise productive day. I doubt he pushes Berrios for punt return work, but I’d like to see the veteran retain his kick return duties.

Small sample size aside, the Jets’ punt coverage has to be better. For a team that is innately conducive to adversarial starting field positions, giving away free yards is a death sentence.

The Outlook

You didn’t need to read this piece to know the New York Jets were beaten badly in Week 10. Of course, part of the story is that they are simply out-classed at virtually every spot. Still, the coaching concerns continue to arise in ways that stray from the standings.

The last team to hit an average scoring margin of -15, like New York currently has, was the 2009 (at the time St. Louis) Rams. Naturally, the regression to the mean is coming, and they likely won’t get boat raced by Houston or Miami, but losing this badly at such a rate is a concern for any rebuilding team.

The Jets get another crack at a divisional opponent next week when they face the Dolphins. For our sake, let’s hope it’s actually watchable.

New York Jets Week 8 Observations

“The Mike White Game” was a religious experience at MetLife Stadium, comparable in recent years only to the overtime coin-toss fiasco against the New England Patriots. The instantly memorable Week 8 contest saw the New York Jets beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-31. Home underdogs by 11.5 points, it took a complimentary performance, some lucky breaks, and one incredible first start to take down the now 5-3 Bengals. Let’s see just how it went down.

Mike White

White’s play was easily the story of Sunday’s game. He ran the offense well as he was consistently accurate and on schedule. White constantly took what the defense gave him, protected his receivers, and kept the ball out of harm’s way. Even his two interceptions hit teammates before falling into the hands of a defender.

Totaling 405 yards and three touchdowns, White showcased the best-case scenario for a 3.6 air yard/attempt outing. If nothing else, he put on a clinic for Zach Wilson and how to get the ball out fast and keep the chains moving. White never lost control of the moment and retained his poise and accuracy under pressure.

Another benefit of White’s game was his level of comfort within the offense. This allowed Mike LaFleur to call his game from the booth. Nothing was drastically different schematically, but with the numbers the offense put up, I’d be surprised if they let LaFleur out yet.

The Running Backs

I’ve been hard on this group at times, but they showed out on Sunday.

Michael Carter was the main beneficiary of the LaFleur game plan, catching nine of 14 targets for 95 yards. He also carried the rock 15 times for 77 yards and a score. Carter played 70% of New York’s offensive snaps and showed his ability to be the engine of the offense. His fantastic contact balance and agility extended plays time and time again.

Subsequent to Carter’s brilliance, Ty Johnson saw a 29% snap share, his lowest of the season. However, he made the most of it. His four carries for 15 yards didn’t shift expectations, but he had one of his better receiving games of the season, garnering five catches and 71 yards on six targets. He was involved in both a spectacular tightrope exhibit for a touchdown and the game’s clinching penalty.

The Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Corey Davis sitting out didn’t bode well against a strong Cincinnati defense, but the New York Jets wide receivers did their part in Week 8. Jamison Crowder was a machine after the catch, and outside of his lone fumble, was a frequent target of White’s. His eight catches were the most amongst New York wide receivers.

In Davis’ absence, Denzel Mims was on the field for a vast majority of the team’s snaps. He ultimately was only targeted three times per the box score, but an Elijah Moore holding call took a seemingly manufactured Mims touch off the board. He filled in well and even without awesome production, likely earned himself additional snaps in the future.

Rookie Elijah Moore had an inspiring day, too. He was featured behind the line of scrimmage, much like his touchdown against New England. It’s a point of emphasis for this Jets offense to get the ball in Moore’s hands and let him make defenders miss. Unlike Week 7, however, Moore was effective as a receiver as well. He caught six of his targets and totaled 67 yards through the air.

Braxton Berrios and Keelan Cole split seven targets, but both looked good. Cole had himself a catch-of-the-year candidate before a slight movement of the football took his touchdown away. Berrios would respond by finishing the drive with a score in nearly the same exact spot.

As for the tight ends, it was another rather underwhelming week. Tyler Kroft outplayed (and outproduced) Ryan Griffin, but neither took any semblance of a quantum leap.

The Offensive Line

For how bad they were as a unit in September, New York’s offensive line played spectacularly on Sunday. For the first time all season, they had quality performances from all five starting linemen. Surely, it played a significant role in the backs’ big games and keeping White (mostly) upright.

George Fant played well in his limited snaps before falling victim to an ankle injury. His replacement, Chuma Edoga, was not as stifling but performed better than previous weeks/years would suggest. Ideally, Fant starts on Thursday night, but Edoga’s play is encouraging at the very least.

Moving from left to right, Alijah Vera-Tucker had another quality outing. He’s continued to surprise since his awful start, exemplified by the development of him making exceptionally quick adjustments to adversarial situations instead of being mystified by simple stunts. His progression is critical to the long-term success of not only the unit but for the offense as a whole.

Connor McGovern had a solid game, and it seems the New York Jets have finally begun to mitigate their communication issues in Week 8. Perhaps what was more surprising was the play of Greg Van Roten, a Jet who I have repeatedly criticized. He had what could only be described as easily his best game as a member of this football team.

Interestingly enough, the Jets flipped tight end Daniel Brown for Laurent Duvernay-Tardif at the trade deadline. LDT, who struggled in his last starting stint, and hasn’t played since Super Bowl LIV, may give Van Roten a run for his money. I like the trade either way, but that competition will be interesting to watch unfold.

Lastly, Morgan Moses continued what has been a pretty good first year in New York. Gifting Jets’ passers blindside protection has been vital. As a unit, they held up well in both phases of the game.

The Defensive Line and Edge Rushers

It may not have been to the extent of the new folk-hero, but Shaq Lawson also had the game of his career, He made his presence felt without recoding a typical box score stat for a defensive lineman. Instead, he used his hands exceptionally well to tip Joe Burrow pass attempts. This culminated in the biggest defensive play of the game, an interception with just four-and-a-half minutes to go.

Jabari Zuniga was the only real flash opposite Lawson. He proved his worth with a big forced fumble on an impressive sack. I’d like to see him stick on the roster the rest of the way and learn under Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich.

The interior pressure was much better than the edge unit on Sunday. Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins both came up big. Where I was more impressed was their play against the run. Previous weeks had shown the Jets’ front to be vulnerable, especially when their linebacker play was failing to help, but both did a really good job of playing the run between the tackles.

The biggest impact the interior defensive line had was early, in the collection of red-zone plays run in the first quarter. Without their victories here, the Bengals may have quickly moved on with the Jets.

The Linebackers

First of all, C.J. Mosley’s presence on this team cannot be overstated. He is easily their best linebacker and his pre-snap skills have a ripple effect across the defense. It’s no surprise that when he’s on the field, his fellow linebackers perform better.

Quincy Williams saw a sizeable drop in playing time, which was disappointing given his play. Considering the hopes the Jets had for Jarrad Davis, though, and it is not surprising that this unfolded how it had. Thankfully, both were adequate. Williams actually showed some nice reps in coverage and picked up his first (counted) sack of the year. If he keeps it up, he’ll have an argument to be their third linebacker in base packages next year.

It is also worth noting that Blake Cashman did not see the field after his abysmal showing in Foxborough. There were some high hopes amongst Jets faithful about the speedster, but it has failed to culminate on the gridiron thus far.

The Cornerbacks

Given the recent performances of Ja’Marr Chase, holding him to 32 yards was an impeccable showing from the cornerback room. Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols, and Michael Carter II all had individual moments of weakness, but they put together another very strong showing.

They each did a fantastic job of forcing Burrow to either hit a check-down or make a heavily-contested throw. For a young unit, it likely helps that they are not forced to travel and constantly shift their responsibilities beyond their means. They may not have come up with an interception yet, but the unit’s play, in general, has been a wonderful surprise.

The Safeties

There are few monumental takeaways from the current state of the safety room, but I think it acts as an interesting reflection on the coaching staff.

Marcus Maye, amidst trade rumors, contract uncertainty, and a seemingly hopeless season, certainly could have mentally checked out. It likely would have shown up on film, but a lack of viable replacements would put the front office in a bind.

Instead, Maye has continued to perform at a high level and quarterback the secondary. The hustle plays are still there and he is easily the best player in the safety room. Perhaps Saleh’s administration has done enough in this regard early on to keep everyone bought in. In Week 8 of a seemingly lost New York Jets season, it certainly wasn’t a guarantee.

Moreover, Ashtyn Davis did not have his best game as a Jet on Sunday. His tackling and angles were far from perfect, and it is clear he is still developing above the shoulders, much like New York’s cornerbacks. Still, it is encouraging to see him on the field for virtually every snap. He has the tools and the versatility to be a difference-maker, it is just a matter of development.

Sharrod Neasman has cemented his role as the team’s third safety. He too has still found the field, substituting in on lighter packages. His Week 4 flashes are enough for me to want the staff to keep an eye on him as a potential rotational contributor in the secondary long-term.

The Special Teams Units

Missing a field goal always dampens whatever blanket covers the special teams units, and it is clear Matt Ammendola has to be better. Yet, I’m curious whether Saleh’s 4th down conservativeness has put his kicker in adversarial situations. It may not have loomed large for the New York Jets in Week 8, but it is a bit of a troubling trend that could rear its ugly head once they find themselves in higher-stakes football games.

Otherwise, I have no complaints regarding New York’s special teams. Berrios was both responsible and effective in his returns. Their kickoff coverage was good, and their punter failed to see the field.

The Outlook

Week 8 played host to one of the craziest games the New York Jets have seen this century, to a point where quarterback controversy has almost been invited in. Of course, that can all disappear into the autumn air depending on the outcome of Thursday’s game.

Despite their loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts have played good football of late. If they fail to generate pressure, Carson Wentz can still do some legitimate damage, especially to a target as good as Michael Pittman Jr. Offensively, being down a starting quarterback and potentially quality players at left tackle and wide receiver isn’t going to make this primetime matchup much easier.

Game two of Mike LaFleur in the booth could prove to be the jolt this offense needed. If so, Wilson’s impending return should draw even more anticipation. Until then, it’s the Mike White Show, and it’s time to hit the road.

New York Jets Week 7 Observations

The New York Jets returned from their bye in Week 7, only to get trounced by the New England Patriots, 54-13. It was just as bad as the score may suggest. Obviously, seven games is not sufficient evidence to start looking for new head coaches, but the feeling remains—at least for now, these are the same Jets of old. Before turning the page, let’s take one more solemn look in the rear-view mirror.

The Quarterbacks

For the first time in this series, the aforementioned heading was not covered solely by “Zach Wilson.” The rookie left the game with a PCL sprain after taking a handful of late, and arguably dirty, hits. Before the injury, Wilson was pretty encouraging. Despite an ugly, drive-ending sack, Wilson showed flashes of twitchiness and later threw a good ball that resulted in a 46-yard Defensive Pass Interference. He’ll look to return in 2-4 weeks.

Until then, it’s the Mike White (and Joe Flacco) show. The backup was unsurprisingly ineffective, though he connected with Corey Davis for a touchdown to finish Wilson’s departing drive. It wasn’t a catastrophic performance, but the offense was rather stagnant. He’ll likely be relieved of his duties as soon as Flacco is ready.

The Running Backs

The Jets’ ground game wasn’t overly productive on Sunday, but the takeaway here should remain positive. Michael Carter saw the vast majority (72%) of snaps in Tevin Coleman’s absence. His grip on the starting spot is starting to solidify. He continues to showcase the contact balance and third-down abilities that got him drafted. To continue on his pass-game prowess, he earned 9 targets on his way to an 8-catch, 67-yard performance. I’d prefer if New York running backs never total 16 targets in a game again, but it was nice to see him handle his share of the responsibilities.

We’ll likely see some more of Ty Johnson in the passing game, too. He had 7 targets to complement the red zone carries he was granted. Johnson’s short-area burst makes him a decent fit at the goalline.

The Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Mike White’s quarterbacking isn’t exactly conducive to wide receiver takes, but like the running backs, I was fairly encouraged by what went down. It took until Week 7, but New York Jets rookie Elijah Moore scored his first touchdown on a 19-yard reverse. His only other touch of the day was a screen pass, in which he evaded a tackle and gained 13 yards. Seeing manufactured touches for Moore was encouraging, even if legitimate receiving production has lagged behind.

Other than that, Davis and Jamison Crowder were both fine. Keelan Cole and Denzel Mims both saw a couple of targets, a single catch, and six yards. Mims’ snap count (20) was its highest of the season, though the game script certainly played a role in that. Moving forward, I’d like to see Mims get manufactured looks much like Moore did, especially if his snap count rises in this lost season.

Ryan Griffin remains below-replacement level, and it’s detrimental to the offense. It wouldn’t be overly surprising if they bought low on a tight end’s expiring contract, hoping to give him a look before the free agent circuit.

The Offensive Line

There’s plenty of blame to spread around regarding New York’s offensive line play. Wilson (and White) don’t offer much help setting protections, their communication is outright poor, and the coaching staff has failed to successfully address their struggles. Mishandling basic stunts and blitz pick-ups at this point in the season has been an embarrassing underscore to a unit that has had some flashes.

Alijah Vera-Tucker remains the biggest bright spot on the Jets’ offensive line. He allowed two pressures in what was a pretty strong performance in both pass protection and rushing assignments. Him, George Fant, and Morgan Moses have all been strong since their struggles of early September.

On the other hand, Connor McGovern and Greg Van Roten have stunted the entire unit’s growth. McGovern’s inability to quarterback the line has resulted in easy pressures and allows for coordinators to drop more into coverage, making Wilson’s life more difficult. To his right is Van Roten, whose struggles have left Jets fans green around the gills. Priority number one this offseason will be finding his replacement.

The Defensive Line and Edge Rushers

Week 7 saw some pretty inconsistent run defense from the New York Jets, but I’d hesitate to pin that solely on the front four. The entire front-seven looked outmatched as the defense took a surprising step back. Quinnen Williams is still that dude and Nathan Shepherd made some of the best plays of his season, but the interior wasn’t great on Sunday.

Long-term, I don’t have any concerns regarding the group, but the entire defense looked flat, and they weren’t immune.

New York didn’t generate much pressure without dialing up heavier blitzes. Tim Ward headlined the Jets edge group in England but came back to earth. John Franklin-Myers, Shaq Lawson, and Bryce Huff were similarly stifled by New England’s offensive line.

The Linebackers

The Jets missed C.J. Mosley in a big way on Sunday. Blake Cashman frankly didn’t seem rosterable in his 33 snaps. Given the athletic potential he offered, it was incredibly disappointing.

Two bright spots here were Del’Shawn Phillips, who played fairly well, and Quincy Williams. The former had the team’s lone sack. Williams looked decent in coverage and made a nice break on a pass before dropping an interception. To Saleh’s credit, some of his young linebackers have looked good in his scheme.

The entire defense struggled to tackle, and while this may also be tied to circumstance, it wasn’t their first offense.

The Cornerbacks

On what would foreshadow the grim day ahead, Bryce Hall was beat on a trick play from the Patriots’ opening script. Thankfully for Hall, that was his worst play of the day. He played pretty well from there on out and continues to be the best corner on the roster.

Furthermore, Carter II continued his strong rookie season. Take my lack of elaboration as a good thing when it comes to play in the secondary. His presence in the slot has been vital to this defense. Overall, this young position group has easily been Saleh’s biggest win.

Echols continued this trend in what was one of his best games from a man coverage standpoint. Jakobi Meyers is no slouch, and got the best of Echols at times, but it was ultimately a strong performance against quality competition. Nobody wants to be the guy to surrender Meyer’s first touchdown, and thanks to Echols it will almost certainly not be a Jet.

Another victory here is the play from Javelin Guidry. I was hard on him early in the year but he’s been solid in his limited playing time.

The Safeties

From a performance perspective, it likely wasn’t New York’s best game from this position group, but it’s certainly left me the most excited. Marcus Maye and Ashtyn Davis, the two most talented safeties on the roster, finally shared the field for 100% of the team’s snaps for the first time since Week 12 of last season.

Additionally, one thing that stood out was Maye’s play in man coverage. He was sticky and technically-sound, showing off his versatility against some legitimately good players. Even if it’s just an audition for the rest of the league, it was nice to see him play well.

Davis wasn’t as productive, but I’d wager he’ll continue seeing the vast majority of snaps next to Maye. His physical tools were on display as he regularly displayed the range and hit power that Douglas drafted him for. He’s still a little raw, but I’m genuinely optimistic about his game.

The Special Teams Units

It’s important to preface this with the notion that the New York Jets special teams were not put in a position to win in Week 7. Conservative play calling and a poor showing on both sides of the ball certainly don’t help, but the units had a subpar outing.

Matt Ammendola missed another field goal, in what has been a disappointing turn of events. Cole and Braxton Berrios failed to do any damage and were outgained on a per-kick basis by Gunner Olszewski. The lone positive on this end has been Thomas Morstead’s fueling of a punter controversy.

The Outlook

Week 7 wasn’t kind to the New York Jets. Without Wilson, and with a matchup against the red-hot Cincinnati Bengals, Week 8 may not be very nice either. New York had two weeks to prepare for a rival they had already seen, and yet they still got pantsed.

In what is easily the lowest point of the Saleh administration, making the necessary adjustments to field a competitive team will be vital in not losing the fanbase, and potentially the locker room. Despite their struggles, this coaching staff has done a lot of good, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Ensuring the team doesn’t spiral out of control in what will likely be a brutal stretch is paramount in continuing to develop the young talents on the roster.

New York Jets Week 5 Observations

The National Football League abroad has produced a mixed bag of results since its conception in 2007. Week 5 proved no different, as the New York Jets fell flat against a scuffling Atlanta Falcons team, 27-20. It was a disappointing loss, especially after Week 4’s win against Tennessee.

However, every loss is a lesson. Sunday’s was a reminder that development is rarely linear. Some young guys took encouraging steps forward, while others stumbled back a few steps. That process is natural, though it’s important to keep tabs as New York continues their rebuild.

Zach Wilson

There’s no hiding it, Zach Wilson was bad on Sunday. The routine looked overwhelming and the offense sputtered badly. Again, they struggled to start hot and get in a rhythm, and it ultimately never came to fruition.

Wilson’s fit of hiccups on the “easy” plays are concerning and likely the epitome of his rookie experience. When the bullets are flying, the mundane must be automatic. For Wilson, that is simply not yet the case. He missed multiple open screen passes and failed to capitalize when Mike LaFleur took advantage of Atlanta’s defense. It stagnated the offense and resulted in some egregiously poor football.

The Running Backs

Michael Carter is here to stay. He may have only seen 52% of the snaps, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that he’s the most talented back New York has to offer. His contact balance, elusiveness, and upside on third down are all superior to his fellow committee members. Expect his snap share to stay above 50% moving forward.

I’ve harped on Ty Johnson frequently, but his trip to London was fairly successful. He had a nice cut for a one-yard touchdown. It was also one of his better performances on passing downs. His athleticism shows up in short-yardage spots where his burst is amplified, as well as opportunities after the catch.

The Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

The Jets’ repugnant offense meant there was not a ton of production to go around. Similarly, there isn’t much to say regarding the group. It’s clear Corey Davis and Jamison Crowder are the team’s top two targets. Keelan Cole outsnapped Elijah Moore, though I thought Moore played well; Wilson’s play hurt Moore rather frequently on Sunday. Others got in on the action, with Braxton Berrios and Denzel Mims seeing 11% and 14% of the team’s offensively snaps.

Without knowing the extent of Mims’ playbook knowledge and/or practice habits, it is hard to say how New York should be using him. However, given Mims’ prowess as a blocker and the opportunity to script plays for the offense, I’d like to see the coaching staff put him on the field early. Perhaps this vote of confidence could help spur a rhythm or some semblance of positive momentum.

As for the tight ends, Tyler Kroft’s injury allowed Trevon Wesco to see a significant boost in playing time. He was used almost entirely as a blocker and didn’t move the needle one way or another with his performance. Ryan Griffin again struggled to make any real impact, despite being on the field for 91% of the offense’s snaps.

The Offensive Line

While the offensive line was a bit of a mixed bag, it’s hard not to be encouraged by their performance. After the disaster that was Week 1, even mediocre play deserves its flowers, and New York’s front five have surpassed that at times.

That starts with Alijah Vera-Tucker. He took another step forward in Week 5, as the New York Jets rookie allowed no pressured for the second consecutive game. After his tremendous struggles, he’s begun to show why Joe Douglas made him Mekhi Becton’s partner in crime.

Another relatively unsung hero would be George Fant. Since moving to the left side, he’s saw his play improve and has kept Wilson upright. On the other hand, Greg Van Roten regressed to his uninspiring status quo after Week 4’s victory. As a whole, the line struggled to consistently open up rushing lances.

The Defensive Line and Edge Rushers

Furthermore, the New York Jets defensive front had its ups and downs across the pond. The pass rush seemed to do all it could, though it was clear Atlanta game-planned around this aspect of the defense.

John Franklin-Myers played well in his first game since signing his extension and seemed to draw extra help. Bryce Huff had a nice day, too, even if the production wasn’t there. Shaq Lawson struggled a little bit. Yet, what stood out most was the play of Tim Ward. In only 12 snaps, Ward made his presence felt, racking up multiple pass deflections and a really encouraging run stuff. I doubt he sees his playing time skyrocket, but Saleh and Ulbrich may have a couple of packages with his name on it.

As for the interior defensive line, it wasn’t a great day. Nathan Shepherd and Sheldon Rankins saw significant struggles. Folorunso Fatukasi and Quinnen Williams were better, but didn’t exactly meet expectations. There were some nice flashes of stuffed runs, but neither New York’s interior defensive linemen nor linebackers played the run consistently, and it showed.

The Linebackers

Blake Cashman made his return to the gridiron on Sunday! He wasn’t particularly impactful, though it seems Saleh will continue to stress not putting too much on a recently-recovered player’s plate.

C.J. Mosley had his worst game of the year across the pond. We’ve seen him get exposed by weapons with elite athleticism, and this was no different. Christian McCaffrey bested Mosley in Week 1. In Week 5, Cordarrelle Patterson made lightwork of Mosley and the New York Jets.

To the contrary, there’s a discussion to be had about Quincy Williams. He’s one of the few players on the roster that completely shattered their preseason expectations. Thrusted into a starting spot, Williams has forced turnovers, made some huge tackles, and even added to the pass rush. Jarrad Davis will likely reclaim his starting spot once activated, but I suspect their may be a quicker trigger finger here for the staff if Davis struggles.

The Cornerbacks

Arguably the most disappointing position group in Week 5 were the New York Jets cornerbacks. Atlanta was without Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage, priming the Jets for a big day on defense. Instead, Kyle Pitts, Patterson, and Tajae Sharpe shredded the defense. Patterson was seemingly untouchable underneath, Sharpe was very efficient, and Pitts was seemingly impossible to guard. For that final point, I can’t say I blame New York.

Bryce Hall continues to be an encouraging tackler, but he struggled in man frequently on Sunday. Echols showed his typical ups and downs in coverage. Michael Carter II had his worst game as a professional and Javelin Guidry wasn’t much better. Interestingly enough, Jason Pinnock made a 15-snap appearance, too.

Containing the shorter routes should have been priority number one for the Jets secondary. Instead, they were carved up after the catch and gave up a ton of long drives. Maybe it was an outlier, and New York’s cornerns suddenly played down to their competition, but all in all it wasn’t pretty.

The Safeties

Losing Marcus Maye really puts a dent in this defense. With the possibility of him getting traded rising, New York’s safeties must improve. Jarrod Wilson was simply bad, and it cost him a roster spot. They all had their hands full and struggled at times, but there were still some bright spots for Sharrod Neasman and Ashtyn Davis. When Maye is off the field, expect these two to see the bulk of the playing time.

The Special Teams Units

Outside of a failed extra point, I thought the Jets had a really good day on this side of the ball. Ammendola hit both of his field goals, including a 49-yard attempt. Justin Hardee was spectacular in helping to defend the punt return. Also, Tevin Coleman ripped off a nice kick return that put New York in wonderful field position. This phase of the game was likely the Jets’ biggest separation agent from Atlanta. Similar performances would eventually parlay themselves into winning football.

The Outlook

Week 5 should have ended favorably for the New York Jets. Instead, they came out jet-lagged and let a banged up Falcons team earn the privilege of a happy flight home.

Much of this starts with Wilson, who played rather poorly. The uninsipiring starts to games and infuriating botched layups are both fixable, but his play was simply not conducive to a productive NFL offense. Sunday showed it will continue to take time for Wilson to grow into his potential.

At the same time, other young players played really well. Vera-Tucker, Quincy Williams, and Michael Carter took legitimate steps forward that shouldn’t be overshadowed by a handful of missed throws.

New York heads into the bye at 1-4. Their play in New England in Week 7 could be an interesting referendum on the organization’s progress. Until then, it’s up to Saleh, LaFleur, and Wilson to fix the offense and keep the plane on the runway.

New York Jets Week 3 Observations

For the New York Jets, Week 3 was a performance emblematic of the last decade of football. It was bad, it was boring, and it reinforced the feeling that things are never going to get better. Thankfully for Jets fans, there were still some positives among the mundane nothingness that was Sunday afternoon.

Zach Wilson

It’s been more than two weeks since New York has scored a touchdown. At some point, that comes back to the quarterback. Zach Wilson looked like a rookie quarterback coming off his first career butt-kicking. He was skittish and cursed by his bad habits. While it’s true that his teammates let him down frequently, it sure seemed like a two-way street.

Wilson missed a handful of throws that stunted drives. He took five sacks, speaking to Greg Van Roten’s eventual comments. I’ll write about it later this week, but Wilson’s struggles to process information within structure can cripple the offense. As incredible as his sack-dodging pocket movements are, and as much as the off-platform deep balls bring people to their feet, an inability to run the offense with any proficiency can render those skills meaningless.

However, Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas deserve some credit for starting Wilson from the jump, and not wasting assets on a veteran bridge quarterback. If the kid has the mental makeup to get through severe adversity, he’ll weather the storm and come out better for it. Wilson’s weaknesses need real-game reps to improve. Sitting behind a future C-List ESPN guest isn’t going to help Wilson when he gets punched in the mouth.

The Running Backs

New York’s offensive line played poorly, Denver’s front-seven played well. Subsequently, it wasn’t a pretty day for Jets running backs. In Tevin Coleman’s absence, Ty Johnson and Michael Carter split snaps to a tune of 57% and 43%, respectively. Neither played particularly well.

The bigger discussion at hand is production on passing downs from those two. Johnson’s big-play ability is nice, but there is no reason for him to be on the field in these situations. On Sunday, he totaled five targets, a catch, and six yards. To add (subtract?), he offered no value in pass protection.

Despite Carter’s ugly drop, he needs to be on the field. He’s tough and elusive in the open field and should block better, too. Neither back was productive on Sunday, which could give Coleman some more snaps upon his return, but Carter should be the committee’s priority going forward.

The Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

New York’s wide receivers struggled mightily on Sunday, though that wasn’t much of a surprise. Denver’s secondary is arguably the best in the league, and it showed. However, they still failed to meet the low expectations set for them. Corey Davis is, and should, be the target Wilson trusts the most in tight windows. He struggled to separate and had a massive drop on a deep third-down throw.

Additionally, Braxton Berrios had his worst game to date. The Jets missed Jamison Crowder badly in their Week 3 contest. On no play was this more apparent than Berrios’ drop-turned-interception.

Elijah Moore is yet to look comfortable in the offense and left with a concussion. Perhaps Denzel Mims could find his way into some NFL action against a porous Tennessee Titans defense as a result.

It’s redundant by now, but it’s clear the Mike LaFleur offense will not reach its ceiling without an addition at tight end. The blocking has been bad and somehow the receiving has been worse. To LaFleur’s credit, they are no longer seeing double-digit targets per game.

The Offensive Line

It wasn’t a great day for New York’s offensive linemen, but the blame should not be shared equally. The tackles played well, outside of a few ugly reps. The interior, however, was exceptionally bad. Van Roten is not a replacement-level player. Alijah Vera-Tucker continued to look out of place. As a whole, they still cannot protect against various stunts, and left Wilson pressured frequently.

The Jets will hold out hope for Vera-Tucker, just like they will with Wilson. That doesn’t mean either is playing good football right now. The entire line had their hands full on runs, and the ugly reps in pass protection likely won’t end soon. For a unit about to face Harold Landry and Jeffery Simmons, communicating better is a must.

The Defensive Line and Edge Rushers

Coming into Week 3, we knew the New York Jets’ biggest advantage would be their interior defensive line against Denver’s questionable interior offensive line. As pass rushers, they exceeded expectations. Quinnen Williams, Foley Fatukasi, and Sheldon Rankins all played a role in consistently pushing the pocket. Williams in particular had his best game of the season.

From a volume standpoint, the Jets defense struggled against the run, allowing 121 yards and two scores. They certainly had their woes, but considering the Broncos ran the ball 37 times, it could have been worse.

As for the edge rushers, things stayed pretty consistent. Bryce Huff had his flashes, but otherwise the group was unsatisfactory.

The Linebackers

It’s fair to say C.J. Mosley’s Week 3 performance was his best one in a New York Jets uniform. He looked quicker than he has, played a role in limiting Noah Fant, and was the Jets’ best run-defending linebacker. The Alabama product was rewarded with ten total tackles on the day.

Quincy Williams again had his moments, racking up six solo tackles, two of which were behind the line of scrimmage. However, the positives end there for New York’s linebackers. They played a big role in allowing Denver’s biggest runs, were manipulated in the pass game, and (especially the rookies) looked conservative amidst their struggles.

The Cornerbacks

This was supposed to be New York’s biggest test yet for their corners. Unfortunately, injuries to K.J. Hamler and, in Week 1, Jerry Jeudy, made the contest less entertaining. We saw Brandin Echols struggle against Courtland Sutton, in which poor technique resulted not only in catches, but a penalty flag, too. It’s nothing he can’t recover from, but it certainly wasn’t a great day for the rookie.

Furthermore, I felt Michael Carter II continued to handle himself well. His strong rookie campaign has been matched by Bryce Hall’s sophomore improvements. Hall’s limitations flashed on some reps against Tim Patrick, but ultimately had a decent outing.

The Safeties

Marcus Maye did his typical Marcus Maye things on Sunday, showing up all over the place and showcasing his skills as the secondary’s best player. Still, he was not immune from the nuance of Teddy Bridgewater. One thing Bridgewater does well is manipulate defenders with his eyes and hitches to open up throwing lanes. Maye fell victim, like much of the Jets defense.

Injuries have definitely played their part, but New York has struggled to find any kind of production from their second safety spot. Adrian Colbert and Jarrod Wilson both struggled in the loss. Until Ashtyn Davis returns, I don’t see this getting any better.

The Special Teams Units

The only instance of note here was the malpractice that was Thomas Morstead’s delay of game penalty. It took three points off the board and seemed revelatory of what would be to come.

The Outlook

New York did not play well on Sunday. The defense couldn’t force a stop and the offense couldn’t score. It was a non-competitive contest that epitomized the bad, boring brand of Jets football fans have become numb too. Thankfully, the defense is closer every day to returning to full health and reaching its potential. We’ve seen the flashes from Williams and others on the defensive line. Mosley looks good and the young corners have exceeded expectations. They’ll have to be at their best to slow down Julio Jones in Week 4.

As for the offense, everyone deserves a portion of the blame. LaFleur has frankly not executed as a play caller. Hopefully, with time, the offensive line and wide receiver corps can play up to the expectations set for them. Until then, Wilson will likely to continue to struggle.

If there’s anything going for them, Tennessee’s defense has allowed 84 points in three games. They’ll likely fall to 0-4, but a solid day against a poor secondary could be what Wilson needs to fix his rookie season.