Aaron Glenn’s ideal Jets offensive strategy isn’t working as planned

Throughout the New York Jets’ offseason, Aaron Glenn and Frank Reich each reiterated that they wanted to utilize the running backs more in the passing game.

The idea made sense, especially given Breece Hall’s previous success as a receiving back. Glenn also admitted that Braelon Allen’s knee injury, which cost him the final three months last season, affected the Jets’ offensive plans.

Plenty can change when the Jets open against Robert Saleh and the Titans next Sunday, but perhaps we shouldn’t expect such a radical change. The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt shared that he counted seven total plays over the summer where Geno Smith threw to a running back; three of those targets went to Hall, and Allen received the other four.

It is unclear whether any of the Jets’ backup quarterbacks had greater success, either with those two or Isaiah Davis, during training camp. 

Will Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets incorporate running backs in the passing game?

What’s especially interesting is that Allen was the only one of the Jets’ top three running backs to catch a pass this preseason. Granted, the play only went for five yards against the Steelers on Aug. 21, so don’t worry if you forgot about it.

“That was the vision with [Allen], Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis last year,” Glenn said in June. 

At the time, we wondered how much Justin Fields’ presence had to do with Allen’s lack of pre-injury targets. Hall’s 36 catches marked his fewest since his rookie year, when he had 19 before getting hurt in the seventh game. However, the ex-Iowa State standout was on pace for roughly 46 catches and 529 yards, and that was with the almighty trio of Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Joe Flacco throwing his way. 

And although it’s easy to argue that the Jets didn’t want to expose too much of their game plan, that typically only applies to certain plays or formations. Take the Giants, for example. We’ve known for months that tight end Isaiah Likely will be a key part of their passing game, and he led the first-team offense in targets and catches during training camp.

But in Glenn’s defense, the receiving corps looks significantly better than it did four months ago. Adonai Mitchell has cemented his status as the No. 2 receiver, and Isaiah Williams repeatedly turned heads. Ex-Colts tight end Jelani Woods, who played for Reich in Indianapolis, earned a 53-man roster spot with an excellent summer.

With how many disasters the Jets have battled over the last 15 years, this is actually a good problem. It’s far better to be analyzing how little Smith threw to his running backs rather than bemoaning the Jets’ offense and wondering how long it’ll be before ownership hits the reset button on Glenn and Darren Mougey.

Focus on the positives, people. 

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