The list of what is wrong with the Jets offense is so long that it would look like a receipt from CVS.
One area that has been particularly troubling has been how the Jets have performed on their first possession of the game.
Theoretically, this is the series the offensive coaches and players have been working on all week. It is the one that is “scripted,” as in they choose their favorite 15 plays to start the game with and practice them all week.
The Jets need a new script.
They have been horrific at the start of games this year.
In eight games, the Jets have five three-and-outs, seven punts and one fumble on their opening drives. Thomas Morstead is usually in the game before you have downed your first beer.
The Jets have not scored points on their first possession all season. You have to go back to the Jaguars game last December for their last field goal at the open of a game, and that came after a takeaway by the defense. You have to go back to last Nov. 27 against the Bears for their last touchdown drive to open a game: Mike White hit Garrett Wilson for the score.
It did not start out poorly this year.
Breece Hall ran for 26 yards on the Jets’ first play of the season against the Bills. But here is how bad the Jets have been: Their rushing totals, including that run, on first series this year are eight carries for 27 yards. They had negative runs to open the games against the Cowboys and Patriots and that has resulted in them only having one more yard rushing than they did on opening night.
The Jets have four first downs on opening drives this season. Two of those came by penalty. In a four-game stretch from Week 2 to Week 6, the Jets had 12 plays for minus-1 yard total.
“That’s a good question,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday when asked what has led to the struggles to start a game. “You know, a young group. These aren’t excuses. It’s reality. When you lack continuity and you lack playing together, you’ve got a lot of guys in and out of the lineup, the precision it takes, especially when you’re young and you’re amped up, it’s ‘Monday Night Football.’ For example, last week, we gain a couple of yards on a run and then yeah, Zach [Wilson] was a little amped up. He’s not the first or the last. I’ve seen Hall of Famers sail the first ball. Then, we have a third-down opportunity and it just didn’t work out.
“Again, precision league, being precise. Things have just not gone our way in those situations. We’ve got to be better.”
The Jets have gained a total of 50 yards on 27 plays on opening possessions this season. They are 8-of-16 passing for 54 yards. There have been four sacks on opening drives, including Aaron Rodgers getting sacked in Week 1 and tearing his Achilles.
It is staggering to think this is what Nathaniel Hackett and the offensive coaches are coming up with all week.
Their longest opening drives have lasted five plays. Those came against the Bills in Week 1 and the Eagles in Week 6, and both were extended by penalties on the defense that resulted in a first down. Sacks and negative runs have plagued the Jets and resulted in many of these drives stalling.
I went back and watched the first series for the Jets in each game (it did not take long). Here is a breakdown of each game and what went wrong:
Bills (5 plays, 34 yards, 2 first downs, 1 by penalty)
Things started off great with the 26-yard run by Hall on the first play. Rodgers was injured on what was technically the third play of the drive because a penalty wiped out one play. The sack that resulted in the Rodgers’ injury moved the Jets back 10 yards, and they could not overcome second-and-20.
At Cowboys (3 plays, minus-2 yards, 0 first downs)
Hall was stopped for a 4-yard loss by DeMarcus Lawrence on first down to make it second-and-14. Wilson was sacked on third down by Micah Parsons to end the drive.
Patriots (3 plays, minus-5 yards, 0 first downs)
Wilson audibled on second down to a run by Hall, and it backfired. He was tackled for a 6-yard loss and set up third-and-15, effectively ending the drive.
Chiefs (3 plays, 5 yards, 0 first downs)
The Jets came out passing after getting criticism for running too much on first down against the Patriots. Three straight passes to Garrett Wilson resulted in one catch for five yards and a punt.
At Broncos (3 plays, 1 yard, 0 first downs)
Hall was stopped for no gain on first down and Wilson was sacked for an eight-yard loss on second down in a particularly ugly drive.
Eagles (5 plays, 12 yards, 1 first down by penalty)
For those scoring at home, the Jets had not gotten a first down on their opening drive since Week 1 when the Eagles were called for defensive holding, giving the Jets a new set of downs. They did nothing with it, though, getting a 5-yard pass to Garrett Wilson before no gain by Hall and another incompletion from Zach Wilson.
At Giants (4 plays, 1 yard, 1 first down)
The Jets opened this one up with a 12-yard pass to Hall for a first down, their first non-penalty first down since Week 1. But this drive ended in calamity when Kayvon Thibodeaux forced a fumble from Wilson on a strip-sack.
Chargers (3 plays, 4 yards, 0 first downs)
Troy Aikman ripped into Wilson after his second-down pass sailed over the head of tight end C.J. Uzomah. His third-down pass set up Allen Lazard to take a huge hit and the ugliness continued.
The Jets head to Las Vegas this week to face the Raiders. Surely, Hackett is working on his opening script. Maybe he should wing it this week.
Want to catch a game? The Jets schedule with links to buy tickets can be found here.
Stat’s so
Zach Wilson has struggled with accuracy throughout his career, though he has been better this year.
How does he stack up in the franchise record books?
Won’t bench Zach? They’ve already done it twice
One thing I have heard from fans about the Zach Wilson situation that should be corrected is the idea the Jets won’t move on from him.
They did move on from him.
Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh made the decision to bench him twice late last year and then decided to move on to Rodgers this offseason.
They did not think they would have to see him this year, so this idea that they refuse to acknowledge his shortcomings is not fair.
The problem for the Jets now is there are no good alternatives.
Mike White has left the building.
It is fair to criticize Douglas for going with Wilson as his No. 2 option. That decision could end up costing the Jets dearly if Wilson does not turn things around, but that should not be confused with the idea that the Jets are sticking with Wilson through thick and thin.
They moved on from him last year. Rodgers got hurt and the plan they had was ruined. That should not be overlooked.