Evolution is a necessity of life. You can’t expect situations to get better without a period of self-reflection and adaptation. While it’s never easy, it can often become more fulfilling than staying on the path. Such is the experience for Joe Douglas and the New York Jets. After expediting their return to the playoffs through the Aaron Rodgers trade, the team realized it’s easier said than done. The injuries and issues on offense across the board held this team to another 7-10 season. This time around, it appears that the shock to the system has them trending in the right direction. One path that has been highlighted is the investments made in the running game to help the offense.
Especially when you factor in their moves this off-season, New York has embraced fixing their offense laden with potential. Nathaniel Hackett also seems to be taking a page from Matt LaFleur’s move. The offense is heading in the right direction thanks to running back Breece Hall. From the additions to the offensive line, the selection of Corley in the third, and the Braelon Allen pick; the blueprint is becoming clearer for New York.
Strong Jets Draft Highlights New Offensive Mindset
Entering this season, it will be 12 consecutive seasons that the New York Jets failed to reach the postseason. As it stands, it’s currently the longest postseason-less streak in the NFL. Besides the 7-10 record, the Jets can pride themselves with a top-five defense. One that added an All-Pro edge rusher in Haason Reddick. They just need the offense to hold themselves to that standard. Aaron Rodgers is going to help, but relying on a 40-year-old coming off an Achilles tear to fix everything is delusional. However, last year’s playoffs gave them an idea of how to overcome this.
New York is heavily investing in the running game
To overcome their subpar performance, Joe Douglas needed to look to the past. Aaron Rodgers past specifically. While the eventual Hall of Famer won consecutive MVPs to begin the decade; that only told half the story. Green Bay thrived under Matt LaFleur because they paired Aaron with a strong running game. While Aaron had a career renaissance, credit is due to the Packers running backs. The trio of Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and AJ Dillon made Rodgers job so much easier.
Since Matt LaFleur came to Green Bay in 2019, he and Aaron Rodgers played a combined 102 games, including the playoffs. Of those 102 games, 43 included over 100 rushing yards from the Green Bay Packers. The ability of Green Bay to make defenses pay on the ground allowed Aaron to have the time to operate with the ball in his hands. The returning investment in the running game is felt across the league as well. Except for the Chiefs; three out of the four teams in the conference championship games finished within the top ten of total rushing yards.
How the Jets improved the running game
To capitalize on a strong running game, an impact player is needed in the backfield. Fortunately for New York, they have one in Breece Hall. The 2022 second-round draft pick became a revelation in the past two seasons. Few players in the league can account for 1,500 total yards less than a year after ACL surgery. Hall showcased his value as a receiver as well with 76 receptions.
The Jets recognized his value by making major additions on the offensive line. Along with accomplished Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith, New York brought in Morgan Moses and John Simpson from Baltimore. Moses and Simpson spent the past year blocking for league MVP Lamar Jackson and helping Baltimore lead the league in rushing. Pair them with a healthy Alijah Vera-Tucker(one of the better run-blocking guards in the league), New York can create opportunities for Breece Hall to take over.
Breece Hall an additional year removed from the ACL injury and behind the new #Jets O-Line is going to be something special ✈️
pic.twitter.com/2UMPm839v5— Dylan Mehl (@DylanMehl) May 7, 2024
To ensure their running game is sustainable, New York realized they needed another running back to compliment Breece. So, Joe Douglas went on to pick Braelon Allen in the 4th round. The 20-year-old running back was the lead rusher at the University of Wisconsin for the past three years. Allen lives to run between the tackles, rushing for over 975 yards and at least 11 touchdowns each season. While he failed to run over 1,000 yards last year, returning to his college center Joe Tippmann will help him regain form. Allen’s physicality between the gaps is a perfect compliment to Breece Hall’s elusiveness in the open field.
For those that love offensive line play (I do), watch the #Badgers starting center Joe Tippmann No. 75, put his man in the dirt, opening up a gaping hole for Braelon Allen on his 96-yard TD run. pic.twitter.com/Yf3qusNeZB
— Dillon Graff (@DillonGraff) September 4, 2022
Running back room behind Hall and Allen
In addition, New York will be having some competition for Israel Abanikanda for the third running back job. Although seldom used behind Dalvin Cook, Abanikanda still offers the upside many witnessed at the University of Pittsburgh. Fifth-round pick Isaiah Davis was the best running back in the FCS the past two seasons. Davis ran for 2,999 total yards within 39 games the past two seasons. His 36 total touchdowns are responsible for South Dakota State winning back-to-back national championships. It remains to be seen if that kind of production can be sustained in the league without having Mason McCormick or Garrett Greenfield blocking for you. However, that kind of potential behind Hall and Allen can open up more opportunities for the passing game.
Main Photo: [Vincent Carchietta] – USA Today Sports
