Jets Offensive Report Card: Week 1
Tyler Conklin and Corey Davis celebrate after a fourth quarter touchdown. (NFL.com)
A busy offseason saw the New York Jets invest millions of dollars and premium draft capital to inject difference-making talent into a long-dormant offense. Unfortunately, we will have to wait a bit longer to see if said talent can provide the necessary boost it'll take for the Jets to send out an offensive unit capable of hanging with the NFL's best (and worst) offenses.
Last Sunday's 24-9 loss to Baltimore saw the Jets out-gain their opponents in total yardage (378 to 274) and first downs (24 to 13). Though infrequent, there were certainly flashes of the team's improved playmaking corps having the potential to deliver an exciting product on the field.
However, self-inflicted errors (two fumbles and an interception) and the inability to convert on third down (two for 14) prevented the Jets from sustaining drives. It's only Week One, so there's no need to hit the panic button. But Sunday's game proved that the Jets offense is far from a finished product.
Here, we'll address each offensive position group and assign them a letter grade that reflects their performance in Week One.
Quarterback: C
If you had asked me to assign a grade to Joe Flacco's performance in the game's immediate aftermath, I would've given a much harsher grade. However, contrary to popular opinion, I don't believe the 37-year-old's performance was all that bad.
Yes, Flacco's inability to navigate or break out of the pocket certainly handicaps the offense to an extent. He also looked indecisive and struggled to get the ball out quickly.
None of these occurrences should come as a surprise, as Flacco hasn't looked like a starting-caliber quarterback in half a decade. But the rest of the Jets' offense did him no favors.
The offensive line struggled to protect the veteran quarterback for most of the game and let up 20 total pressures, per PFF. In addition, drops (four), which had been an issue throughout training camp, hampered the team's ability to move the ball.
All be told, Flacco is who he is at this point in his career. The coaching staff trusts him to run the offense, but success will be tough to find if the rest of the offense cannot hold up their end of the bargain. And, as Peyton Manning stated on Monday Night Football's "ManningCast", if you throw the ball 59 times with your backup quarterback, it likely won't be a great day at the offense.
For those reasons, I'm giving Flacco a slight pass for his mistakes. A "C" grade seems fitting for his performance.
Running Back: B-
The Jets want their running game to be the identity of the offense. In Michael Carter and Breece Hall, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur has two backs with the talent to eventually form one of the more potent running back duos in the league.
In their first game action together, the duo played well, averaging a respectable 4.6 yards per carry. Carter and Hall were also quite active in the passing game (nine and 10 targets, respectively), often serving as safety blankets for Flacco. It wasn't all sunshine and roses, though.
Both backs committed brutal mistakes that directly cost the offense points. Early in the fourth quarter, Hall lost a fumble at Baltimore's 15-yard line, killing what was a strong drive down the field. Later in the quarter, Carter dropped a would-be touchdown on fourth down. Those are back-breaking miscues that this offense can't afford to make a habit of.
Overall, the Jets running game flashed promise. Outside of the turnover and a dropped touchdown pass, the running backs had a positive impact on the offense. However, the passing game is the biggest X-factor here. If the Jets can force opponents to respect the pass, there will be more opportunities for Hall and Carter to eat in the ground game.
I wouldn't be opposed to a "B" grade for the duo, but two red zone miscues bump this grade down to a B-.
Pass Catchers (Wide Receiver and Tight End): B-
The offseason saw Joe Douglas dig deep into his treasure trove of resources to improve the Jets' pass-catching corps. First, at wide receiver, they re-signed fan favorite Braxton Berrios and selected Ohio State's Garrett Wilson with the 10th overall pick in April's draft. Then, much to the pleasure of Jets fans everywhere, the team invested $48 million (C.J. Uzomah & Tyler Conklin) and a third-round pick (Jeremy Ruckert) in a tight end room that has been talent-starved for over a decade.
However, a few unfortunate circumstances prevented the revamped pass-catching corps from taking flight in Week One. First, in an effort to mitigate the effect of an offensive line in flux, the Jets offense spent a large portion of the first half in 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends).
The strategy didn't help much as the offense struggled to move the ball in the first half. Additionally, their insistence on running three-tight end sets led to Wilson playing just six snaps in the first half. That cannot and should not happen.
Wilson (four catches, 52 yards) is arguably already the Jets' most talented receiver. The team cannot afford to sit him in favor of Lawrence Cager. Cager, a converted tight end who made the roster after a strong camp, was almost a complete negative in the contest. Uzomah (zero targets) and Conklin (four catches, 14 yards, and a lost fumble) failed to make much of an impact either. However, Conklin did secure the Jets' lone touchdown in the game's waning moments.
Elijah Moore (five catches, 49 yards) and Corey Davis (six catches, 77 yards) had their moments, but much of the Jets' receiving production occurred when the game was already out of hand. If there's a silver lining, there were several occurrences where Jets receivers were open downfield but weren't targeted.
The Jets' pass catchers are too talented not to put their stamp on each contest. So, while the missing production was somewhat out of their control, I need to see some consistency in the passing game before issuing a grade any higher than a B-.
Offensive Line: D
Perhaps the most important position group on the team other than quarterback, the Jets' offensive line struggled mightily in their first test of the season. Injuries to tackles Mekhi Becton (out for season) and Duane Brown (short-term IR) limited the unit's time to gel together in practice. Rookie Max Mitchell, who was drafted as a developmental prospect, was thrust into the starting lineup at right tackle.
The result? A complete disaster.
The offensive line let up 20 total pressures, per Pro Football Focus, including eight by guard Laken Tomlinson, who the Jets signed to a three-year, $40 million deal in the offseason. George Fant also struggled to re-acclimate to the left tackle position after Brown's injury, surrendering four pressures.
Now, part of the offensive line's struggles can be attributed to Flacco having the speed and agility of an elderly tortoise. Zach Wilson's eventual return to the lineup will help, but the unit must play better for the offense to have a chance.
If there's one thing that saved the unit from turning in a complete stinker, it would be the play of Alijah Vera-Tucker. The second-year guard was undoubtedly the Jets' best offensive lineman, finishing with a league-best 91.1 run blocking grade. He'll have to clean up his pass protection (three pressures allowed), but it certainly looks like he will be on his way to a Pro Bowl nomination in the near future.
Nevertheless, offensive lines tend to improve throughout the season as the units become more accustomed to playing together. The same was true for the Jets last year, as the unit was quietly one of the league's better units after a rough start.
And, after last week's "D" performance, the unit can only go up from hereβ¦we hope.
