Robert Saleh – Jets could’ve done better after losing Aaron Rodgers،
From hiring a new offensive coordinator to signing free agents, the New York Jets have tailored their 2023 plan around one player: quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
While coach Robert Saleh said he had no regrets even though he lost Rodgers to an Achilles injury in the fourth game of the season, he admitted Monday that the team could have do a better job adjusting without Rodgers.
“When you have a Hall of Fame quarterback, you're going to build him around his strengths, period,” Saleh said. “It's a very common thing throughout the league. It's not just a Jets thing. It's the entire league.
“Could we have done things better? I'm talking about myself and the coaching staff, as far as, 'All right, this is our worst-case scenario, what now?' Absolutely, and it’s something we’ll make sure we do much better with in 2024.”
Early in the season, Saleh said the Jets were one of six to eight teams with a legitimate chance at the Super Bowl, but that quickly fell apart due to quarterback instability, injuries on the offensive line and a historically mediocre offense. The Jets improved to 6-9 on Sunday with a last-second 30-28 victory over the Washington Commanders, but that doesn't erase two hard facts: This is their eighth straight losing season and their 13th consecutive season out of the playoffs. – the two longest active droughts in the NFL.
Reflecting on the challenges, coaches and players recognized that the offensive system was built specifically for Rodgers, who helped with the installation in the spring. When he fell, the operation went wrong and the team took time to adapt. He had an 11-game streak in which he scored more than 20 points just once.
The other outstanding question is whether the Jets made a mistake in giving Zach Wilson, their former starter, the backup job. The No. 2 overall pick in 2021 continued his struggles and was eventually benched in Week 12 in favor of career journeyman Tim Boyle, who was released after two poor starts.
When asked if he learned any lessons from relying too much on Rodgers, Saleh – unsolicited – mentioned Wilson.
“I still think when you look at the process that we went through in that regard, I still feel like it was solid,” he said. I don't think anyone anticipated (the injury) four games in, but Zach is going to be a good football player for a long time in this league. I believe that.”
But that may not be the case with the Jets. Wilson has been returned to the starting lineup, but his status for next season is uncertain even though he is under contract. There's a good chance another quarterback will back up Rodgers, 40, who has said he wants to play at least two more seasons.
One certainty is the return of Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, both of whom received a vote of confidence from owner Woody Johnson on Sunday. Embattled offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, a Rodgers confidant who received rave support from the quarterback, is also expected to return. Saleh said Johnson “never wavered in his support for us and the things we are trying to do.”
Three years ago, during his introductory press conference, Saleh predicted multiple Super Bowls for the Jets. Since then, they have been between 17 and 32 years old.
“It’s been a chore,” he said. “Everyone closes their eyes and immediately imagines success, but we knew there would be a process. Obviously we all felt good coming into this year with all the expectations and hype around the football team – and it was great.
“It didn't go the way we wanted obviously, but that doesn't mean the goal of winning championships is over. I still think we have a very good football team. I've said it before: I think we've built a championship team. There are a lot of things we've learned through adversity over the last three months since Aaron's injury that will help us.”
The Jets play Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns, still waiting for Wilson to clear the concussion protocol. If he doesn't, they'll start Trevor Siemian for the second week in a row.
