Five Reasons the New York Jets Can Return to the Playoffs in 2013: #3

Nov 11, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and head coach Andy Reid talks with quarterback Nick Foles (9) during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 38-23. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

We got away from it for a day, but we return to the countdown. The countdown of five reasons the Jets can get back to the playoffs in 2013. So far we have talked about the offensive line, and coach Rex Ryan.  Now we bring you the number 3 reason the Jets can get back to the playoffs.

MARTY MORNHINWEG

Is that an odd choice?  Sure.  How is an offensive coordinator, and a new one at that, going to be a reason that the Jets can get back to the playoffs.  Stay with me here, I will bring you my logic.

First of all, you have the work he has done with quarterbacks in his career.  The best example is what he has done with Michael Vick.  Vick was a talented quarterback with the Falcons, but he never was the most efficient quarterback in the league.  Enter Marty Mornhinweg.  Michael Vick had his best seasons of his career under Marty Mornhinweg, throwing for over 60% under his tutelage.  There was even talk that Marty would be able to bring Michael Vick to the Jets.

Not that we wanted that, just saying.

If anyone is going to make our quarterback situation right, or at least better, it’s going to be Marty Mornhinweg.

Secondly, the style of offense is the reason.  For all these years, as we know, the Jets have proferred this “Ground and Pound” mentality.  Control the clock, limit the other team’s time of possession, and play great defense.  It worked for a while, but then, all of a sudden, it stopped.  The Jets offense couldn’t get out of its own way.  Why?  Because they were not built to score points.

And you have to be able to score points to win in the current day NFL.

Moving to Marty Mornhinweg is a clear step away from that old mentality of Ground and Pound.  We have talked about it a lot, that Marty Mornhinweg is a disciple of Bill Walsh, and the famed “West Coast Offense”.  Built on short passes to open up the running game, what this system does is get the ball down the field.  Short, well timed passes put pressure on the defense, and is built to put points on the board.

This is a reason with questions, I am not naive to say it isn’t.  The Jets have to be able to adapt to the new system, and do it quickly.  If they can, and the quarterback can perform efficiently, the Jets will be able to compete, and have a chance to get back to the playoffs in 2013.