CHEMISTRY THE KEY
Jets’ top priority: Offensive execution
The Jets’ starting offense gets one last run-through before the regular season Saturday night against the Giants, and some positive signs would be encouraging.
Preseason statistics mean very little because teams don’t go deep into their playbooks, keeping things simple. Still, the Jets’ offense has not shown a lot in the first two preseason games. The starters have played five series combined, gaining 143 total yards and scoring one touchdown with one turnover. They really only had one good series.
The Jets insisted the results are not really what matters in the preseason. They are looking to see how they execute. People commonly refer to the third preseason game as a “dress rehearsal” for the regular season, but coach Todd Bowles said it is not even close.
“It’s not a dress rehearsal, because the regular season is 10 times more amped up than this,” Bowles said. “It’s a completely different deal, but you do want to develop some chemistry as you play your guys longer because they play shorter amounts of time in the other two games. You do want to see some chemistry and some cohesiveness.”
The offense has been a work in progress this training camp because of some missing pieces. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick missed all of spring practice during his contract standoff, leaving him a little behind when training camp started. Fitzpatrick has shaken off the rust and has clicked in practice with receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.
Running back Matt Forte sat out most of training camp and the first two preseason games with a hamstring injury. The veteran back returned to camp last week and has looked good in practice, according to teammates.
Unlike the first two preseason games, the Jets studied some film of the Giants and put in plays specifically for this game.
Bowles said he will judge the offense by how in sync the players are.
“It doesn’t have to be a successful play, it just has to be they’re on the same page,” Bowles said. “It can be an errant throw. As long as guys aren’t running free and guys aren’t getting knocked in the backfield from that standpoint. The quarterback and the receiver, from a chemistry and a timing standpoint, you get a feel that people are on the same page. And then if they are all failing together, that’s actually a good thing because they’re all on the same page. Obviously, it’s easy to pick out a good play, but it has to be the rough plays that they get through that kind of develops the chemistry.”