Tag: Nathaniel Hackett

Jets have worst offense by EPA measures this century

The Jets offense is so bad, you literally have to go back to the last century to find a worse unit.

It takes a special kind of performance to be one of the worst at your profession. It’s hard enough to deal with the fact that you’re the worst at something in a season or a year or whatever the case may be. But among the entire century to date? That’s almost impressive.

Behold the 2023 New York Jets offense, the worst NFL offense in the 21st century.

Noted by Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, the database for TruMedia goes back to the year 2000. The database includes 766 teams. The 2023 Jets rank dead last in terms of expected points added for play.

Dead. Last. No. 766 out of 766.

Not only that, the Jets offenses from 2020 (No. 745), 2019 (No. 734) and 2018 (No. 736) also rank near the very bottom of the list.

It almost seems surreal that a team has produced such poor offenses in such a short period of time compared to the rest of the league for almost 25 years.

The 2023 Jets have scored ten or fewer points in a game as a team four times out of 12 games. They have just ten offensive touchdowns and have failed to reach the end zone in three of their last five games.

The Jets are by far the worst third-down offense in the league as just 23.1%, including a 2/15 showing Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

Between quarterback play, injuries, the offensive line and play calling, the Jets have been going through quicksand on offense. Their defense is keeping them above water but just barely. It’s been that kind of year for the Jets.

Twitter reacts to Zach Wilson’s reported refusal to play for the Jets

The Jets have poisoned their quarterback situation to the point where former 2nd-overall pick Zach Wilson reportedly doesn’t want to play.

The New York Jets’ 2023 quarterback situation, ending as it did in a competitive sense a few plays into the regular season when Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tenson, is one of the worst in NFL history.

It’s bad enough at this point that Zach Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft who never quite panned out for the team, is now reluctant to return to the field for the team that drafted him — this per reports from Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.

Wilson had started a team-high nine games this season, but has been part of a merry-go-round that showed just how clueless the franchise was with any sort of backup plan for a Rodgers injury. Wilson has completed 190 of 321 passes this season for 1,944 yards, six touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 73.8. That’s not amazing by any stretch, but if you stack it up against the performances of Tom Boyle and Trevor Siemian, Rodgers’ other backups in this crazy quilt, Wilson looks like… well, Aaron Rodgers in comparison.

In their 15-8 embarrassment of a loss to the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, Boyle completed 14 of 25 passes for 148 yards, no touchdowns, an interception, and a passer rating of 56.7 before being benched in “favor” of Siemian, who completed five of 13 passes for 66 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, three sacks, and a passer rating of 55.3.

As for Wilson, he was benched in the Jets’ 32-6 Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and relegated to third quarterback before the Jets’ 34-13 Week 12 loss to the Miami Dolphins. In that Black Friday game, Boyle threw a 99-yard pick-six to Miami safety Jevon Holland.

So, you can understand why Wilson might have some hard feelings about the ways in which things have gone, though he hasn’t come close to looking like a functional starting quarterback in the NFL to date.

The Jets next face the Houston Texans next Sunday. Stay tuned to see who will be suiting up at the game’s most important position!

And meanwhile, you can check out the most prominent responses to this news on social media.

Nathaniel Hackett says he is pressing in games, experimenting with too many things

Nathaniel Hackett says he is pressing in games, experimenting with too many things

Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has been ridiculed all season long for either a lack of aggressiveness or lack of creativity, or whatever the case may be. He understands the issues and even pointed the finger at himself during his media availability Thursday.

Hackett believes many players on offense are pressing, including running back Breece Hall. However, Hackett put himself at the forefront, saying even he has been pressing this season.

When asked what he meant by that, Hackett said, “Sometimes it’s experimenting with too many new things or trying to take too many shots. Sometimes, you just have to let them go out and play.”

It’s interesting he mentions taking too many shots considering the Jets don’t exactly take as many shots as he’d like to let on. Only 22 of Zach Wilson’s 321 attempts have gone at least 20 yards. 24 quarterbacks have thrown more passes 20 yards downfield. Even Joshua Dobbs has thrown more (28). Tim Boyle has thrown 52 passes. None have gone 20 yards while only four have gone ten yards.

Hackett is obviously talking in coach-speak to make things seem good, but numbers and film don’t lie. The Jets have been very conservative this season. There’s no creativity with the offense, so maybe it is time to experiment with new things. The Jets need something to try and save their season, a season that is already all but lost at 4-7 heading into Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Jets could roll with same staff in 2024 thanks to Aaron Rodgers

A recent story by The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt says the Jets could run it back with the coaching staff in 2024 thanks to Aaron Rodgers.

Head coach Robert Saleh, general manager Joe Douglas and even offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett could all be back in 2024 and it’s all thanks to one Aaron Rodgers. That’s according to a recent story by Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.

Rodgers has said on numerous occasions he believes in Hackett’s offense. “I won MVP twice in the same offense,” Rodgers said on November 14. “I’m a believer in the offense.”

While Hackett wasn’t the primary play-caller during Rodgers’ two MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021 in Green Bay — Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was — Hackett did help when the offense reached the red zone, or the “gold zone” as Hackett always called it.

Aaron Rodgers’ Week 1 Achilles injury could be used as a pass for the staff. The Jets may still fully believe in what the offense can be with Rodgers as their quarterback and part of that is having Hackett as the offensive coordinator. Him being hired helped lure Rodgers to New York, after all.

Rodgers has remained committed to not only playing in 2024, but to returning this season, even trying to be cleared for practice this week. While a return this week is highly unlikely, a return next week is possible and Rodgers could be back in the lineup, or at least attempt to do so, December 24 against the Washington Commanders.

The Jets are 4-7 after a 34-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Black Friday as the offense continues to struggle. The Jets started their eighth different offensive line combination in that game and will likely make it nine in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons.

With how invested the Jets are in Rodgers, they likely stick with the status quo on the sideline for at least one more season as the Jets look to make a run in 2024.

Robert Saleh backs Nathaniel Hackett, non-committal on Tim Boyle

Robert Saleh backs Nathaniel Hackett, non-committal on Tim Boyle

After yet another disastrous performance on offense, questions again came up about offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and his role on offense going forward. Head coach Robert Saleh continues to back Hackett and says “there’s no consideration” about a change in who calls the plays on offense.

The Jets compiled just 159 yards of offense in their 34-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins to fall to 4-7 on the season. Quarterback Tim Boyle was sacked seven times and had just 179 passing yards while throwing two interceptions. Saleh was also non-committal on who the starting quarterback would be but added he’s “not there yet” on going to Trevor Siemian at quarterback instead of Boyle.

The Jets believe they have a ready-made in-house option to help run the offense in passing-game coordinator Todd Downing, but Saleh has been behind Hackett the entire time, despite the offense performing much worse than teams that made a change at the position in recent weeks, including the Buffalo Bills firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and handing the reigns to quarterbacks coach Joe Brady — the Bills beat the Jets 32-6 in Brady’s first game as interim offensive coordinator.

It feels inevitable that the Jets will allow Siemian to see at least one start this season. Of course, Aaron Rodgers is still pushing to play again this season, but with the Jets now sitting at 4-7, how much is he really willing to risk the injury at this point with the season just about lost? The 2023 New York Jets will go down as one of the biggest what-if teams the league has ever seen.

Courtland Sutton shares funny Russell Wilson meme on Instagram

“The media convinced me that Russ was the problem, and not Hackett.” Burn!

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is tired of the flak quarterback Russell Wilson has received over the last two years.

Wilson, admittedly, had a poor season under former head coach Nathaniel Hackett in 2022. The veteran quarterback has played much better under new coach Sean Payton, however, and Sutton wants Wilson’s critics to apologize.

Sutton shared a meme on his Instagram story on Tuesday night entitled “Russell Wilson Apology Form.” The form lists several reasons for previous behavior, including “The media convinced me that Russ was the problem, and not Hackett.” Burn! (Sean Payton would be proud.)

Here’s a look at the full form (click the image to expand):

Wilson has thrown 18 touchdown passes through nine games this season, tied for second-most in the NFL. The only quarterbacks with more passing TDs than Wilson are Josh Allen (19) and Tua Tagovailoa (19), and they also have more interceptions (11 and 7, respectively) than Wilson (4).

Wilson is having a nice bounce-back season under Payton, and Sutton had been a beneficiary with seven touchdown catches, a new career high.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Robert Saleh sticking with Zach Wilson, Nathaniel Hackett

Robert Saleh sticking with Zach Wilson, Nathaniel Hackett

No changes are coming on the offensive side of the football for the Jets despite the struggles over the past few weeks or even months.

Head coach Robert Saleh told reporters Monday he will stick with Zach Wilson at quarterback and Nathaniel Hackett as the offensive play-caller.

At this point, it doesn’t seem like too much of a surprise that Saleh is hanging on with Wilson. Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas have been holding on to hope for so long. The only quarterback move they’ve made since Aaron Rodgers’ injury in Week 1 was adding Trevor Siemian to the practice squad. Siemian has yet to be on the active roster this season.

Saleh continues to defend the play of Wilson. In the last two games, he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass and has been sacked 10 times. For the season, he has five touchdown passes against six interceptions, with a passer rating of 74.6.

“He’s actually playing pretty well,” Saleh said. “It’s hard to make changes just to make changes to pacify something,” he added.

Saleh did mention the team may look into “personnel changes” to try to get something going on offense.

As for who will call the offense, Saleh is sticking with Hackett as the play-caller despite some perhaps thinking the reins should be handed over to passing game coordinator Todd Downing. Hackett has had his own issues this season, especially in the end zone. But Saleh is going to stick with his guy.

Garrett Wilson sounded so defeated while failing to find positives in the Jets’ lifeless offense

A miserable Garrett Wilson won’t be rescued by Aaron Rodgers.

To say the New York Jets have an anemic offense would be an understatement.

New York is not only third-last in scoring per game (16 points) but it’s also scored just eight total touchdowns. In nine games. That’s right, Gang Green is averaging less than one touchdown every week. Woof.

Unfortunately, for some of the Jets’ bright young players, like star receiver Garrett Wilson, none of these problems are new. Under the guise of Zach Wilson trying (and failing) to play quarterback, the Jets offense was also atrocious in 2022. It’s part of the reason New York traded for Aaron Rodgers in the first place and why (delusional) people think the veteran still might come back this year after tearing an Achilles.

After the Jets took a 16-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on the chin on Sunday night, Garrett Wilson sounded impossibly defeated. At this point, with an offense that hasn’t gained traction for nearly two years, it’s hard to blame the promising playmaker:

Here’s a full transcript of Wilson’s comments:

“I don’t know what y’all [reporters] want me to say, man. I’m tired of this, man. I wanna play better. The whole offense wants to play better … we come out every week trying to make it happen, and, you know, it’s frustrating.”

To Wilson’s credit, he’s done his part. He’s on pace for a 100-plus catch season with over 1,200 yards and has really been the only consistently excellent piece of the Jets’ offensive attack. It’s just that everyone else stinks (namely Zach Wilson and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett), and it’s dragging the entire operation into the ground. These are not the kinds of trick plays a functional offense calls in a midseason game:

Plus, it’s not as if New York didn’t have options to find a more capable starting quarterback at the trade deadline. (For one, not adding Josh Dobbs is looking mighty silly right now.)

By no means is New York’s season over at 4-5. But it’s getting increasingly harder to imagine this team even staying afloat for an AFC playoff bid come December. That’s just woeful the Jets offense is.

Garrett Wilson says players-only meeting could happen: ‘I want to play better’

Garrett Wilson says players only meeting could happen: ‘I want to be better’

Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson might feel like he is on an island. The wide receivers outside of Wilson have struggled to create separation and make plays consistently.

Frustrations started boiling over in the locker room as the players spoke to the media after Sunday’s 16-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders to fall to 4-5.

Wilson expressed his disappointment following Sunday’s game, in which Wilson led the team again in receiving yards with 93 on nine catches.

“I don’t know what y’all want me to say, man,” Wilson said. “I’m tired of this, man. I want to play better. The whole offense wants to play better. We’ve been saying what we’ve been trying to do. We come out every week trying to make it happen. It’s frustrating.”

Wilson also added that a players-only meeting could be on the table.

Something has to change as the season is quickly becoming lost at 4-5 and the team now sitting 13th in the playoff standings. They are only one game out of a playoff spot, but now have to jump a handful of teams and have lost to the Raiders and Chargers, who are above them in the standings.

Wilson was as dejected as he has been since coming into the league as the offense continues to sputter under his second offensive coordinator in as many seasons in the NFL. He’s also taking on more of a leadership role. Perhaps he will be the one leading a meeting, if it comes to fruition.

Cameras show Aaron Rodgers maybe shaking his head at a Nathaniel Hackett play call

What does this say about the Jets’ offense right now?

It’s a question worth asking during the New York Jets’ 16-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders: Was Aaron Rodgers shaking his head at a play call made in the second quarter by offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett?

If so, it’s not a huge deal. Rodgers has been on a headset on the Jets’ sidelines as he recovers from a torn Achilles, and of course he’s going to disagree with a play call or two, and Rodgers and Hackett have worked together a lot over the years.

So while everyone is reading into this, like RODGERS HATES HACKETT’S PLAY CALLS, let’s pump the brakes a bit: