New Jersey’s Florham Park.This summer, the New York Jets’ passing game has lacked many big throws.
Some supporters are worried about whether Justin Fields and the offense will be able to stretch the field against opponents this season due to the absence of deep throws. As an alternative, depending on the run and incorporating short passes could work well.
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“I mean, if I’m being honest with you, we’re okay with taking 8-yard completions every play,” Fields stated before to practice on Tuesday.
In the Jets’ 31-12 preseason loss to the Giants on Saturday night, Fields and the offensive starters only played two series, and the game was hardly an impressive aerial performance.
Fields was just 1 for 5 throwing for 4 yards after signing a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason to take Aaron Rodgers’ spot as the Jets’ primary quarterback. Fields scored five yards on his lone carry, which was first referred to be a pass play, as New York ran the ball 13 times for 55 yards.
Boring, yes. Additionally, coach Aaron Glenn stated that the offense was lacking overall. However, Fields maintains that there is a way to systematically test teams on the ground.
You want explosives, of sure, but we won’t push the ball down the field, Fields stated, as I stated on Saturday. We’re okay with taking the 8- or 10-yard pass, taking time off the clock, and simply going down the field for 10- or 15-play drives if they want depth on the second level. It wears down the defenders.
With Isaiah Davis, Braelon Allen, and Breece Hall in the backfield, the Jets’ running game is one of their strong points. Despite Davis missing the Giants game due to an ankle injury, they all appeared healthy during training camp and the two preseason games.
The Jets ran on ten consecutive plays to start their second possession on Saturday night, showcasing the ground-and-pound strategy. Fields then failed to complete the play on third-and-two to Garrett Wilson. Nick Folk made a 38-yard field goal to cap off the 11-play drive.
According to Fields, the fans might not find the offensive side of the ball to be as thrilling. It’s an efficient ball, as I mentioned. Additionally, the defense is growing weary of driving down the field in that manner.
John Simpson, the left guard, is happy about it, stating that knowing it will be a run play makes him and his teammates offensive linemen a little more excited.
According to Simpson, physicality is what makes this team unique. “I believe the coach does a wonderful job of communicating to us that’s what he wants, regardless of the play—run, pass, whatever. Whatever it is, he wants it to be tactile.
That’s what it is, and I’m prepared if it means we have to run the ball 12 or 15 times in a succession.
He and his O-line teammates were listening to the play calls for nearly the whole second series on Saturday night.
“Let’s go,” Simpson said, laughing, “yes, I love it.” I simply want to dominate and be as physically strong as possible. I don’t really care what the play is, but I do get a little excited when I hear a run call.
Additionally, Fields seems like a good fit for Tanner Engstrand’s offense’s run-first scheme. His ability to scramble is amazing, and he has a way of using his legs to turn what looks like a broken play into a positive.
In 2022, Fields rushed for a career-high 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns in his second NFL season with Chicago. Having been teammates with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore in 2023, Simpson is accustomed to playing with a quarterback who can sprint.
For me, it’s not all that different,” Simpson remarked. It is only football at the end of the day. If he must escape and run, he will locate an open hole. Just the five of us O-linemen are defending and carrying out our duties. After that, he will get free if he needs to.
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