Frank Reich is staring Jets' offensive X-factor right in the face

The New York Jets have been quite a difficult offensive puzzle to figure out under Frank Reich. They have shown they can move the ball, even in adverse circumstances, but the team has just 11 touchdowns in six games, largely due to poor execution.

Head coach Aaron Glenn offered a strong defense of Reich before Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins, stating that the team's propensity for explosive passing plays off of play action and a strong running game are feathers in the former head coach's cap. The Jets' play-action game may be what Reich is underutilizing more than any other facet of their offense.

Despite the Jets ranking 26th in the league in play-action rate, they rank in the top four across the NFL in yards per attempt, EPA per play, and passer rating off play action. The Jets have done well in this area, but Reich never truly leans on it until the game script forces him to.

New York Jets OC Frank Reich needs to lean on play-action passing game

Miami's secondary has punched well above its weight class this season, which is a credit to new head coach Jeff Hafley and his scheme. However, they have some clear weak spots, and the Jets need to air it out if they want to get the most out of their offense in this contest.

Reich is running out of excuses. With Adonai Mitchell and Dylan Parham close to returning from their injuries and Omar Cooper Jr. looking like the first-round pick he was promised to be, the Jets are not like past teams that lacked the talent to have a robust passing game beyond just chucking it to Garrett Wilson.

Frank Reich has had a mixed showing as New York Jets offensive coordinator

Reich is a different flavor of bad when compared to past Jets offensive minds like Adam Gase, Jeremy Bates, Nathaniel Hackett, or anyone else in that proverbial clown car. He seems to exceed most of those names. The experienced coach clearly had an ability to figure out a team's weaknesses before a game and attack early on.

Where he gets exposed, like in the last two weeks, is his inability to make adjustments on the fly. After Wilson torched the Cleveland Browns in a Week 5 win, it took until the fourth quarter to get anything else going offensively. New England gave up plenty of yards, but his situational play-calling played right into Zak Kuhr's hands.

Reich not only has drawn up a surprisingly effective play-action game, but he also has two rookie first-round picks, a Pro Bowl-level No. 1 wide receiver, and a deep running back room to take advantage of. It's hard not to wonder if a younger play-caller more in line with modern offensive trends would be performing better.

Reich hasn't been awful by any stretch, but he is inarguably leaving points on the table due to his poor situational awareness. Airing it out off play action more seems to be exactly what this Jets team needs schematically, and it's on Reich and Glenn to ensure they lean on that winning formula more.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow