FLORHAM PARK, NJ – A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. Hall’s future: Every NFL team has produced a 1,000-yard rusher over the past nine seasons except the Jets.
Breece Hall (954 yards) is poised to change that, but his pursuit of the milestone has turned into an exploration rather than a sprint. The last five games have been rough — 46 yards per game, just 3.0 per carry — a late-season swoon that could hurt him at the bargaining table. Numbers matter.
However, by all indications, the Jets remain very interested in retaining Hall before he hits the open market as a free agent in March. Coach Aaron Glenn called him a “high-level offense” who, to borrow one of the coach’s expressions, still has a lot of meat on the bone.
“I am happy to [the 1,000 yards]but we want to get more out of it,” Glenn said.
Glenn and Hall attributed the slowdown to an increased number of eight-man fronts, with opponents loading the box because they’re not afraid of rookie quarterback Brady Cook beating them through the air. This is not a knock against Cook; this is how defenses attack rookie QBs.
Except in this case, it’s not statistically accurate.
Hall has faced eight-man fronts at about the same rate over the last five games (29% of his carries) as he has over the first 10 games (28%), according to Next Gen Stats. He had no problem with that in the first part of the season (4.6 per race); now it’s causing problems (1.4).
There could be mitigating factors such as the project and surrounding staff. Ultimately, Hall, who turns 25 next season, will arguably be the best free agent running back and could earn as much as $12 million per year.
The Jets have to ask themselves, “If we lose Hall, who will replace him?” »
Other free agent options are Travis Etienne Jr. (27 next season) and Kenneth Walker III (26) – both comparable to Hall in terms of production, but older. The best in the draft will be Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Love, a potential top-10 pick.
The Jets can’t afford to skimp on this position, considering how important the running game is to their offense. This is who they are. The other side of the coin is Hall’s desire to return. Frustrated by four years of defeat, he might decide to look elsewhere.
2. Little brotherhood: There have only been 18 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Jets history, compiled by just seven players: Curtis Martin (seven times), Thomas Jones (three), Freeman McNeil (two), Adrian Murrell (two), Shonn Greene (two), John Riggins (one) and Chris Ivory (one).
Ivory (2015) was the last to do so.
3. Growing pains: To say the offense is struggling with Cook would be an understatement. The numbers – 33 drives, 17 sacks, six interceptions and three fumbles (one lost).
That boils down to almost one negative play per drive.
4. Growing Pains, Part II: What do the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears have in common other than a playoff spot? They are led by coaches hired during the offseason, proof that rapid turnarounds are possible.
It didn’t work out that way for Glenn and the Jets, who took a step backwards in terms of wins and losses.
Mike Vrabel, Liam Coen and Ben Johnson inherited young, ascendant quarterbacks. Glenn bet on Justin Fields, who was young and had a chance to move up. This unfortunate decision looms large in the Jets’ 3-12 mess.
The Jets, 0-1 against the Patriots, get another chance against Vrabel & Co. on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
5. Other changes are coming: Glenn has already made a big change to his coaching staff, firing defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Don’t be surprised if he makes more moves after the season, especially on defense. Line coach Eric Washington, a Wilks guy, is a name to watch.
“Your staff is the most important part of being a head coach, and it’s always a work in progress,” Glenn said. “Just like players – players come and players go – coaches come and coaches go.”
6. Mysterious man: One of the biggest mysteries is the disappearance of edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who recorded no sacks and just one quarterback hit in his last five games. This is a significant player as the organization – and specifically the current regime – exercised its fifth-year option, committing to a guaranteed $13.4 million in 2026.
Johnson’s slow season (three sacks) can be attributed, in part, to Achilles surgery 15 months ago, according to Glenn. And yet, it is interesting to note that he has lost nothing in explosiveness, considering his descent times. According to Next Gen Stats, this year’s average (0.88 seconds) is virtually the same as 2023’s (0.87), its best year.
If Johnson was hoping to get a contract extension this offseason, the chances of that happening are slim.
7. Missing stars: The Jets can say they lead the league in at least one category: Most Pro Bowl players drafted play for other teams.
These players are former first-round picks Quinnen Williams (2019), Sam Darnold (2018) and Leonard Williams (2015), who play for the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and Seahawks, respectively.
All three were chosen by general manager Mike Maccagnan, who was fired in 2019.
8. Go (not so) fancy: The Jets are averaging a league-low 145.9 passing yards, the fourth-lowest mark in franchise history, according to ESPN Research. Numbers aside, this year could be the worst, given the circumstances of the other three.
In 1971 (98.5 yards), Joe Namath was injured for most of the year. In 1976 (114.7), Namath was on his last legs – his final season in New York. In 1977 (143.0), a rookie, Richard Todd, was the starter.
This season, we can’t blame injuries or rookies. It’s just… well, bad.
9. Run the rush: The Jets knew almost two weeks ago that Fields (knee) was headed to injured reserve, so they moved quickly to find a third (emergency) quarterback.
On December 17, Hendon Hooker received a call from the Jets at 7:30 a.m., inviting him to a workout. He packed his bags quickly and took a 9:30 a.m. flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, his home, to JFK. A car was waiting for him and took him to a hotel near the Jets’ facilities. The next morning, he practiced and was placed on the practice squad before being elevated for Sunday’s game.
Hooker, a 2023 third-round pick of the Detroit Lions, knows Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand from their time at Motown.
“It’s a familiar voice and a familiar playlist,” Hooker said of Engstrand. “It’s comfortable.”
10. The last word: “We know it’s our last home game. We’re looking forward to it. We know they’re a very, very good opponent, so there’s nothing better than going out there and probably ruining what they’re trying to accomplish as a team, just making sure that our last game is a game that our fans will remember.” -Glenn
