This one subtle change instantly unlocked the NY Jets offense in Week 6

The NY Jets made the long-awaited decision to switch offensive play-callers this past Monday, handing the reins of the offense over to passing game coordinator Todd Downing.

While Aaron Rodgers and the offense may have only managed 20 points, the final scoreline doesn't paint the full picture. The Jets' offense was cooking on Monday night. Untimely penalties and bone-headed mistakes ultimately cost them, but the offense was much improved in Week 6.

The Jets finished with just shy of 400 total yards of offense. They averaged 6.7 yards per play, as compared to just 6.0 yards per play for the Bills. If not for a Tyron Smith holding penalty and a pair of missed field goals the Jets score 30+ on Monday.

The difference between this week's Jets offense was night and day compared to previous weeks. So, what changed? What did Downing and the Jets do differently? It all boils down to one specific statistic.

Todd Downing unlocked the NY Jets offense with pre-snap motion

The Jets added some new wrinkles to their offense in Week 6, most notably an expanded use of pre-snap motion. It's an element the offense has avoided to this point, mostly because Rodgers has been against it. That changed on Monday night.

The Jets used pre-snap motion on a season-high 72.9% of their plays in Week 6. For context, they entered the game with a pre-snap motion average of just 46.5%, a number that ranked 31st in the NFL.

It worked too. The Jets averaged 7.7 yards on plays they used motion on Monday night. This was accompanied by an increased use of 11 personnel as the Jets attempted to get their best players on the field. Fewer multi-tight end sets — more snaps for the Jets wide receivers and running backs.

The Jets averaged just 4.0 yards per play when not using motion in Week 6. This extreme discrepancy shouldn't come as a surprise, either.

The Jets had the fifth-highest success rate when using pre-snap motion entering Monday's game. This makes it even more confounding that the team's pre-snap motion usage rate ranked 31st.

The switch benefited the Jets' running game more than anything. The team averaged an excellent 6.3 yards per rush attempt and tallied four explosive runs on plays they used motion after recording just three over the first five weeks combined.

The Jets have been a very efficient pre-snap motion and play-action team this season, but because of Rodgers' own preferences, they've strayed away from both. That changed on Monday, and it likely had a lot to do with the switch from Nathaniel Hackett to Downing.

The Jets' offense is still far from perfect. They still struggle to finish drives and find it hard to get out of their own way. But the process worked on Monday night, more so than it has at any point this season.

That's an encouraging sign for a Jets team that has been starved for competent offensive play. Downing and Rodgers may have unlocked the Jets' offensive potential.

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