Aaron Rodgers shines as ‘beacon of motivation’ for Jets،
FLORHAM PARK, NJ – A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. Uplifting presence: Early in last week’s game, Aaron Rodgers spoke to defensive end Bryce Huff on the sideline and offered him some advice about rushing: He told Huff that Giants quarterback from New York, Tyrod Taylor, when under duress, tends to run straight up. middle coming out of the pocket.
Heeding the advice, Huff rushed to his next play instead of rushing to the outside — a change that allowed him to play in the inside lane. Sure enough, he sacked Taylor as he climbed up the middle. Huff yelled at Rodgers.
“He’s on the sidelines, supporting us and engaging,” he said. “It’s really cool because he’s always there, just setting the mood and being a cool leader.”
With his words and his presence, Rodgers inspires his teammates. He rehabilitated his surgically repaired left Achilles in California, flew to the games and returned. It’s an unusual dynamic, rallying around an injured teammate. In the world of the NFL, injured players are often isolated from the rest of the team, virtually anonymous. Out of sight, out of mind. Not Rodgers, who wore a helmet the last two games.
“Anytime he’s in the building, it’s awesome, man,” defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson said. “His energy, his aura, it’s great. You feel it. Even when he was on the sidelines on Sunday, man, you smell the juice and you love him.
“We see it in fits and starts. So we saw it last Saturday [in the locker room] and he walks as if nothing happened. It’s just a testament to the work he’s done. This is inspiring even in itself. His willingness to come back here with us, man, he’s a real competitor and a real leader.”
Tackle Mekhi Becton said, “You can see the smile on everyone’s face when you see him come into the building, so it’s like an uplifting spirit every time he walks in here.”
Several players said it was motivating to watch Rodgers throw a football and perform abbreviated stepbacks during pregame warmups. That tells them that maybe, just maybe, he can come back if they stay in the playoff race. Rodgers, injured in Week 1, said his goal is to play again this season.
“It could be an alien,” Becton said. “It’s a little crazy at his age, and because of his injury, to recover so quickly. He’s a different guy, that’s for sure.”
Huff said, “Despite all the doctors and analysts saying it’s not possible, he just continues to prove that he exceeds the standards that everyone puts on him. So he’s definitely a beacon of motivation.”
General manager Joe Douglas said the team has no timetable for Rodgers. Make no mistake, this will be a big story next month.
2. Historical issues: The Jets’ third-down offense is the worst in the league (23% conversation rate). Maybe you already knew that. But did you know that this is the worst in the last 45 years?
The Elias Sports Bureau can trace third-down rates as far back as 1978, and the Jets find themselves at the absolute bottom, slightly below the 2005 San Francisco 49ers (24%).
When asked to explain their historic woes, the Jets usually lean toward the cliché answer: improve first and second down to avoid too many third-and-long situations. While there is a lot of truth in this, it doesn’t exactly represent the whole story. Frankly, they’re not good in any third-down situation.
On third-and-short (3 yards or less), they’re an abysmal 3-of-16 (19%), which ranks 32nd. In fact, the closest team isn’t even in the same area code: the Cleveland Browns with 46%.
On third-and-medium (4-6 yards), the Jets are 9 of 25 (36%), a ranking of 25th.
On third and long (7 yards or more), they are 8 of 46 (17%), 28th.
Do you have the photo? The problem extends to all levels: short, medium and long.
3. Something needs to change: No matter how well the defense plays, winning ways are only sustainable if the offense plays better situational football, which means more efficiency on third down and in the red zone (32nd). Every week, the Jets’ refrain is the same: “We’re close” to a breakthrough. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is tired of hearing that.
“Closeness is never good,” he said.
Wide receiver Garrett Wilson said “we’re going to try some new things” Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC). Wilson is in favor of this, pointing out that what they are doing is not working. He also said he can help the cause by getting open more consistently on third down.
4. Did you know? Zach Wilson leads all quarters with three fourth quarter kills.
5. Standing pat: Despite obvious needs at offensive line and wide receiver, Douglas made no trades at the deadline. Maybe he learned a lesson from last year.
Twenty-four hours after Breece Hall injured his left ACL on October 23, Douglas traded for a replacement running back, acquiring James Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Douglas was applauded for his aggression. As it turned out, Robinson was ineffective. He came in with a knee injury and was absolutely not a factor. In hindsight, the Jets should have trusted rookie Zonovan Knight, who ended up outperforming Robinson. The trade cost them a 2023 sixth-round pick.
This time, Douglas is putting his faith in the roster he built before the season, which means leaning on players such as wide receiver Xavier Gipson and center Joe Tippmann, both rookies, to play key roles at during the second half of the season.
6. Blockbuster 2.0? The Jets made the biggest trade of the 2023 offseason (Rodgers). Could they do it again in 2024 with Rodgers’ best friend, receiver Davante Adams?
The Jets inquired about Adams before the trade deadline, a person familiar with the matter confirmed, fueling speculation about another run on him this offseason. After this week’s upset, the Las Vegas Raiders believe they have a new regime in place. Perhaps they will be willing to listen to offers, which was not the case this time. Maybe Adams, frustrated in Vegas, will force the issue.
Adams, 30, is signed through 2026, but only his 2024 salary ($16.9 million) is guaranteed. A trade would make Rodgers happy, and the Jets are here for it.
7. Bag sequence: The Jets have had “informal” discussions with Huff about a contract extension, Douglas said. Only 25 years old and in a prime position, Huff is their No. 1 priority among their future free agents.
He’s in tears, after recording a sack in three straight games. He attributes some of his increased production to a different approach. Instead of just focusing on the offensive tackle, as he did in the past, Huff is paying more attention to the quarterback and his tendencies.
8. Carousel: With injuries piling up, the Jets will start their fifth different offensive line combination against the Chargers. They have already used eight different inputs; a ninth (Billy Turner) could crack the lineup Monday night. A year ago, 11 different players were in play. Douglas admitted the lack of continuity is a source of frustration.
Do you remember the good old days? In 2009, the Jets started the same five games every game: D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Alan Faneca, Nick Mangold, Brandon Moore and Damien Woody. It was a rare event.
9. Good news, bad news: The Jets were only penalized 320 yards, the third-fewest total in the league. They would be much better off if they could eliminate personal fouls. They committed a league-high six unnecessary roughness penalties. Linebacker Quincy Williams was fined four times totaling a team-high $51,472.
10. The last word: “Damn, he’s the best punter I’ve ever been around in my life.” — defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who broke into the NFL as a player in 2000, on Thomas Morstead
