The team seems to have issues scoring. MLF had complicated but effective gameplans. Hackett seems to be a slow but steady, stay within the system OC that needs an advanced QB to run it effectively. Thoughts anyone?
IMO, working with the right qb, with more experience calling a game, MLF may be fine. Unfortunately a first time defensive-minded HC, a first time OC, no veteran QB that an immature Zach could sit and learn from was a disaster in the making. I do wish Hackett could design more plays that play to ZW's strengths - RPO, designed runs, rolling outs, etc
I think it's too early to tell. I didn't dislike MLF as much as many did here. with zach playing how he was and the o-line being all banged up, nobody could really run an offense
IMO neither is ideal, but I'll take Hackett every time over MLF. IMO MLF was too rigid, his play calling inconsistent, the play design on some of his plays was not good, he obviously was not a good teacher, was too negative, and didn't have a clue how to work with a rookie QB. He also alienated two of his young WRs. The Jets parted company with him for a reason. IMO Hackett is light years better. He seems to be too conservative, but in fairness to him, that might be because he's trying to bring Zach along slowly to avoid TOs or mistakes on Zach's part that could hurt the team or perhaps Zach isn't ready for a more open, aggressive offense. Hackett clearly is a better teacher, his play design is better, he clearly has adapted his scheme at least somewhat to what Zach can do well. He's too predictable, and doesn't seem to like to use gadget plays, which is ridiculous since we have Hardman and Gipson, so he's not putting all of his players in the best position to succeed. Even though he has helped Zach with his fundamentals and confidence, I think he could be holding Zach back by remaining so cautious and conservative with his playcalling, but again in fairness to Hackett, that could be on orders from Saleh, or it could be because of where Zach is in his development. Sooner or later he is going to have to open things up for Zach and the offense. In the Red Zone the last 2-3 weeks has Hackett not called a throw into the End Zone or has he called plays that would include those throws and Zach is just misreading the D or too slow in his processing to get to those throws? It seems to me that if they are targeting a pass to the End Zone that would be the #1 read. It does seem that at least on the play where posters have complained that Zach missed Conklin open in the EZ, Zach's 1st read was to a WR (Lazard?) in the left corner of the EZ, but that receiver was covered, so Zach threw to GW, so that seems like at least one play where the throw was supposed to go into the EZ.
I voted for, and I can't believe these words are coming out of my mouth, Hackett. He obviously has gotten more out of Zach Wilson than MLF ever did. That being said, setting MLF as the success bar is ridiculously misleading. How about a Saleh vs Gase poll next?
MLF was a more innovative, creative, and unpredictable play designer and caller, by far. MLF ran a much more modern offensive system. Hackett seems to have better people skills. I don't credit Hackett for Zach's improvement. I think Zach improved because of Zach and Rodgers. Zach couldn't complete a 5 yard out or screen pass to save his life last season and he threw a ton of boneheaded interceptions. There is nothing any OC can do to overcome that. MLF was the scapegoat for Zach's struggles last year unfortunately.
So far comparable. Zach has been bad with both, but the Jets have managed to limit his turnovers and let their defense win games. And if anyone's responsible for Zach's small improvement, it's probably Rodgers.
this is pretty simple. with Hackett, ZW finally looks like a NFL caliber qb, or at least in the making. Under MLF, that never happened. Everything else is a moot point.
It's the responsibility of the OC to make sure the QB can run his system. IOW, he has to adapt his system to the QB's strengths, and away from his weaknesses. LaFleur failed on the measure. It doesn't matter how "smart" he is, if he can't do that, he's a failure (See, Gase, A. for reference). Hackett is better, but the jury's out. His game plans and playcalling for Zach have been too conservative and predictable IMO. Against the Eagles he did finally dial up more passes on 1st down, but there weren't many designed roll outs, RPOs, but I haven't seen a detailed break down of the plays to know how many things Zach left on the table. I'm going to give Hackett the benefit of the doubt and say his game plan was creative enough last week to enable more points to have been scored, specifically more TDs. But neither he nor Zach were served by several key drops, penalties, and bad ref calls, such that if even half of those worked a lot more points would likely have been scored. Knowing they were drafting a rookie QB, who also didn't come from a major conference, the hiring of LaFleur was a terrible decision.
NFL caliber QB? That's a bold statement. Can't give the edge to either, because we don't have a viable QB, if anything Hackett wins by default, just because he got Wilson on his 3rd year, not his Rookie and 2nd year
Guess where MILF was last year with the Jets? Yep, 29th. Before that 28th. So, they are comparable, but under Hack Zach actually got visibly better. It's not showing yet as Zach started slow after being ruined under MILF last year, but the trajectory is pointing up. Under MILF Zach actually regressed to the point they had to use White and other QBs. Hack resurrected Zach, with the help of Rodgers of course, but a big reason Rodgers is even here is Hack. So, for now Hack is ahead, but he needs to do better than what he has so far, especially in the red zone.
Here's where Hackett's offenses finished in yards per play during his years as OC (in years where he didn't have Rodgers): 25th 15th 30th 29th 27th
I have to disagree with you on not crediting Hackett for Zach's improvement. While I think Zach has worked hard and Rodgers has definitely helped him a lot, I have read that it is Hackett who has really worked with Zach on his footwork, where MLF never did. I also disagree that there is nothing an OC can do to overcome mistakes. That is a big part of his job imo! He has to diagnose what is causing those mistakes and those errant throws. Is it lack of talent? Is it lack of football IQ? Is it something in his fundamentals? Is it some misunderstanding of the basics of the scheme? Based on what I've read, Hackett saw that Zach's footwork was still not right, he explained it, and has had Zach drilling on that throughout TC, preseason, and is still having him focus on that so it becomes natural. MLF was NOT the scapegoat imo. He was the cause of most of Zach's problems/issues. He was the cause precisely because he had no clue how to work with a rookie QB, how to teach him the fundamentals, didn't have Zach drilling on his footwork, threw too much at him at one time until Zach's head was spinning, he didn't adapt his scheme to what Zach could do well, and did little or nothing in games to help Zach get into a rhythm or build confidence. He was also critical, which doesn't help. With all due respect (seriously) I don't think you could be any more wrong about MLF.
Definitely Dan Henning. Architect of the Monday Night Miracle and innovator that brought the wildcat craze to the NFL.
