NY Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett is making excuses for his own mistakes

The NY Jets' offense has been one of the worst in the NFL, at least from a statistical standpoint, through the first two weeks of the season. Of course, this could largely be blamed on the team's expected change in quarterback plans, but Zach Wilson is far from the only culprit.

Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett deserves his share of blame for the Jets' offensive woes. From his puzzling personnel usage to his egregious gameplan against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, Hackett has been underwhelming so far in his short Jets career.

The veteran offensive coach spoke to reporters on Thursday, and he was asked to field a number of questions regarding his dubious decisions to this point. Instead of taking ownership, however, Hackett decided to play the blame game.

When asked about Breece Hall's stunning lack of touches in the Jets' Week 2 loss to the Cowboys, Hackett placed the blame on the team's lack of offensive plays, saying, "Everybody's workload was low."

Hackett was later asked a similar question about Mecole Hardman's lack of snaps through two weeks. Once again, Hackett placed the blame solely on the Jets' limited offensive snaps as a team.

Of course, neither of these excuses hold up. It was just a way for Hackett to deflect blame away from himself.

It's time to be concerned about NY Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett

Hall was given an embarrassing four touches this past Sunday. The Jets ran a total of 49 plays and couldn't get Hall the ball more than four times. Hall's four touches came on 1st-and-10, 1st-and-10, 2nd-and-10, and 2nd-and-10. He didn't touch the ball past the Jets' 32-yard line.

Even with Hall on a snap count, the Jets refused to put him in the game in important situations. He wasn't on the field when the team faced crucial third-down plays. In the seven plays the Jets ran inside Cowboys territory, Hall didn't touch the ball once, and he was rarely even in the game.

None of that can be blamed on a lack of offensive snaps.

The same is true for Hardman's situation. The Jets ran over 50 offensive plays in Week 1, and Hardman didn't receive a single offensive snap. He was again absent from the game plan in Week 2, only seeing snaps in garbage time, for the most part.

What about Hackett's (and offensive line coach Keith Carter's) awful pass-block game plan — the one that left Duane Brown on an island alone to block Micah Parsons 14 times on Sunday?

Hackett refused to take blame for that, either, instead insisting that the offensive line's struggles were due to the Jets frequently being in a "two-minute offense." He blamed the flow of the game for all of his own shortcomings as a coach.

The Jets were thoroughly out-coached on Sunday, and the team's offensive struggles were a direct result of that. Hackett failed to do his job, and instead of owning up to that, he insisted on placing the blame on external factors.

It's only Week 3. Hackett has coached two games with the Jets. There is still ample time for him to turn this Jets' offense around, even with Zach Wilson under center.

Unfortunately, his poor track record as an offensive coordinator — more specifically as a play caller — doesn't produce much optimism.

The Jets might have a coaching problem on offense, and it seems to start with a lack of accountability.