Early Struggles Could Lead to Results for Geno, Jets

Very interesting read.

I'm going to add one counterpoint to it though. The reason the Jets didn't run the ball all 4th quarter is that they're not interested in developing a QB who helps them run the ball.

If you're committed to a modern NFL offense then you're committed to passing the ball to set up the run. That's the way most good NFL offenses operate these days. 4 yards and a cloud of dust is yesterday's game.

The Jets hired Marty Mornhinweg to develop a pass first attack that is capable of putting up points at the same pace the Patriots do and competing with them on a more than even footing with that offensive profile. There was nothing in Mornhinweg's past that suggested that they were going to do anything but pass 60% of the time.

This is the right profile to set in today's NFL. Defense is still very important but being able to light up the scoreboard is what gets you to Super Bowls.

The Jets need to figure out if Geno Smith is the QB for that high octane offense. If he isn't then they need to go draft somebody to fill the role next year. Protecting Smith by running the ball 55-60% of the time like they did with Mark Sanchez is just asking Smith to turn into Mark Sanchez Part II.

 

Lighting up the scoreboard is important but so is minimizing turnovers especially with a rookie QB which is hard to do when you ask him to throw a bunch. It's tough to have a rookie in today's NFL I imagine with all the expectations but it should still be 50/50 pass to run ratio IMO when you have a rook behind center. Especially behind a great defense.

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Good points for sure. My entire logic behind the idea of running the ball more in that game is that it was wet and rainy, and the wide receivers were clearly struggling to catch the ball. I'm not sure if it was Geno's reads or Mornhinweg's calls to continue to pass to Clyde Gates, because he clearly couldn't deal with the conditions. This is a pass first league for sure, but in essentially a 3-0 ball game, why force the ball downfield when the run was pretty effective particularly with Ivory.

I didn't touch on it either, but not having a returner back for the entire game killed our field position. What's the point in even having guys cover the gunners, might as well have just came with the 11 man block everytime, it may have worked eventually.

Any criticism is dually noted though, and I appreciate it. I'm a bit opinionated about the Jets, so I can easily understand if someone disagrees.

 

We're kind of screwed no matter what we do this year, it being a rebuilding year and all. I can see the point of view that the Jets should try to grab every win they can even if it means not trying to make big strides on offense.

2011 + 2012 really set us up for an unfortunate season.

Anyway, it was a good read and it made me think some and that's worth a lot.

 

Even though we're trying to develop a QB, still need to run the ball. Especially in the 4th QT. Especially when its RAINING. Especially when its a 3 point game. Especially when we are averaging 4 ypc

 

I agree- I think Geno can strategically run with the ball in certain situations even though he is mostly a pocket passing traditional style QB. When there's nowhere to throw, he should either see if he can run, or just dump the ball into the stands, especially if we're down by 3 and in field goal range. But it was his second game, and he's still learnin'.

Also, at least he didn't cry when he got his first NFL win.

 

I don't think MM was playing for the tie (something Sparano was famous for).

We needed a first down there and IF Geno got it, then most likely Ivory/Powell would have been called upon to drive us home.

If Geno completes that pass, we have 1st down deep in Pats' territory with plenty of time to ram the ball down their throats for a much needed win, or at least run out the clock for a game tying FG.

It wasn't a bad call....it was a bad throw.

 

Nice write up!

Great points made by everyone else as well. It's hard to say what exactly they are trying to accomplish after only two games... Hopefully, of the course of the next two we'll be able to identify if they are trying to win this year or basically sitting in evaluation mode. They really can't do both with what we have.