Gang’s offense on path to be historically bad
THE guys in green were hootin’ and hollerin’ and exchanging high fives all over the Jets’ indoor practice facility on Monday. The guys in white, not so much.
Time after time, the Jets defense with their green jerseys overwhelmed their counterparts on offense smothering quarterbacks and receivers and winning just about every play from scrimmage. This was the scene during training camp at Florham Park, N.J., and it’s what’s likely going to happen when opposing defenses play the Jets during the upcoming regular season. With wide receiver Quincy Enunwa lost for the season to a neck injury, the Jets offense is shaping up to be one of the worst in franchise history. “How the hell are the #Jets going to score a damn point?” former Jet Damien Woody tweeted after learning Enunwa was out for the year. It’s a valid question. Without Enunwa the Jets receiving corps might be the worst in the league, absent of a credible threat after losing Brandon Marshall to the Giants and releasing Eric Decker, who signed with the Titans. Robby Anderson, who made the team last year as a free agent, suddenly is the best receiver in a room full of mostly rookies and unknowns, leaving an already quarterback-challenged offense without any proven receivers. “Our young guys are going to have to grow up fast,” head coach Todd Bowles said. It was difficult enough to see the Jets being a potent offense even with Enunwa. Without him, they could be the worst offense the Jets have ever put on the field, especially early in the season. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the 1976 Jets averaged the fewest points with 12.1 during their 3-11 season. The 1971 Jets, two years removed from their Super Bowl season, averaged the fewest yards in team history at 233.4 yards per game. The Jets averaged just 17.2 points per game during their 5-11 season last year which ranked 30th. Yes, it’s only the second week of training camp, but there’s been nothing evident during practices to make anyone believe this offensive unit, under new coordinator John Morton, will do any better than those numbers.
General manager Mike Maccagnan had to know he was taking a gamble by not re-signing Marshall and releasing Decker, who played just three games last year and underwent hip and shoulder surgeries. Maccagnan’s reasoning in June was this: “Our focus right now is seeing our young players and how they do.”
Not good so far. ArDarius Stewart, the third-round draft pick from Alabama, and Chad Hansen, the fourth-rounder from Cal, are still figuring out where to line up. Tight end Jordan Leggett, a fifth-round choice from Clemson, dropped two catchable passes during the team sessions on Monday.
Right now the Jets’ best wideouts are Anderson, Jalin Marshall and Charone Peake. Ex-Bear Marquess Wilson has shown flashes, while Lucky Whitehead, the former Cowboy, is still learning the offense.
“We’ve got four preseason games and we’ll see who comes out when the lights come on,” Bowles said.
The lights will only expose just how limited the Jets are on offense. Running backs Matt Forte and Bilal Powell might be the only real options for the Jets to shorten games and keep what should be a good defense from being overworked. But every team in the league will know that blueprint.
It was as if the Jets defense smelled blood on Monday. It blitzed at will during the team sessions, pouring through the offensive line and making life miserable for quarterbacks Josh McCown, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty. Passes were overthrown or batted away with ease.
It wasn’t until the final play of practice that the offense scored when tight end Austin SeferianJenkins made a terrific catch of a McCown pass. Seferian-Jenkins, who was covered closely by linebacker Demario Davis, spiked the ball as if he scored the winning touchdown at MetLife Stadium.
Don’t expect to see that too often once the regular season begins.