When Todd Downing took over play-calling duties before the Jets' Week 6 game against the Bills, he was tasked with finding solutions to the offensive problems that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was unable to solve.
They had Aaron Rodgers. Other stars included Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.
They also revamped their offensive line.
But with the Gang Gang offensive line set to play its eighth game under Downing on Sunday, the underwhelming result remains disappointing, with Downing, who previously decided to play the Titans, calling it “extremely disappointing.” “It's disappointing,” he said — because he knows interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. I promoted him to improve it.
The Jets are averaging the second fewest yards per game (291.3) in the NFL this season behind the Patriots.
Under Hackett, he averaged 18.6 points per game, but under Downing, that number increased by just a tenth to 18.9.
Downing said: “When change happens, it's hard to feel like you're being asked to help or to see if you can make an impact. And so far, more than this… We haven't had good results.”
There were moments, like the second half of the Jets' 21-point win over the Texans on Oct. 31, when the Jets' offense worked as expected under Rodgers and Downing. They also added wideout Davante Adams to the unit in October.
However, in other instances, criminals have gone missing again.
Gang Green scored just six points in an embarrassing loss to the Cardinals on Nov. 10, and after scoring two touchdown drives in the first frame against the Seahawks on Sunday. He did not score another goal for the rest of the game.
“We've shown a little bit of what we're capable of offensively, but unfortunately it's gone like a bottle rocket. We've got to continue to find a way to be consistent,” Downing said. .
Hackett expressed similar sentiments throughout last season after Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear.
With Rodgers back, that carried over into the first five weeks of 2024.
And that has not changed under the Downing administration, and the struggle has not faded.
Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said he wasn't at all surprised by Kene Nwanwu's 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on Sunday.
Nwanwu, a 26-year-old running back who has spent the season on the practice squad since signing in September, was named the AFC's special teams player of the week on Tuesday.
“He wasn't complaining about not getting enough playing time,” Boyer said, acknowledging that he told his players this was a “really good lesson” for everyone. “He wasn't complaining about not being on the active roster. He's committed and when he gets an opportunity, he makes the most of it, and he certainly did.”
RB Hall (knee), CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring), OL Aliyah Vera-Tucker (ankle), OL John Simpson (illness), LB CJ Mosley (neck) missed Thursday's practice, OL Morgan Moses (knee/shoulder), OL Olu Fashanu (toe) and CB Quantez Stigers (illness) were limited participants.
OL Wes Schweitzer (finger) and WR Allen Lazard (chest) were full participants for the second consecutive day.
Boyer said he's never seen a Gunner make a tackle while being triple-teamed, like he did at one point Sunday when the Seahawks tried to contain wideout Irv Charles. Ta. “If you can find a better special teamer than me in this league, I’d love to meet him,” Boyer said.
