The Jets’ offense is drawing some optimism this offseason, and Frank Reich isn’t trying to keep that enthusiasm quiet.
New York still has plenty to prove before anyone talks seriously about what it can do once the games count. But there have been enough encouraging signs to suggest the unit may finally have some real chemistry. If Geno Smith can be what people expect him to be, and if Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall keep giving the offense the kind of juice they can provide, the pieces are there for something better than the usual offseason talk.
Reich, speaking to reporters, made his confidence clear in the way he views the group he has to work with.
"We don't have 11 starters on offense, we got like 15," Reich said, speaking generally about his skill-position players.
"That's the way I look at it, or however many it is. It's not 11, I promise you.
I know that's all they let on the field at one time, but us as a coaching staff, we got more than 11 starters, and so we're going to play them all, and want to play them all, and mix it up. That just just brings good energy.
Everybody's in it."
That kind of approach fits Reich’s background. He’s coached some creative offenses over the years, and he’s also taken his share of criticism for the way those units have looked at times. Still, there’s a path here for the Jets if everything clicks around him.
This is not being framed as a dominant offense, and nothing in the discussion suggests that. But with Smith at quarterback, Wilson giving them a top-tier receiving threat, and Hall offering above-average production out of the backfield, the Jets have enough talent to believe the offense can at least look respectable.
In Other News...
Jets Backup Quarterback Search Suddenly Points To One Interesting Trade Path
With their roster mostly set, the Jets are still sorting out what they want behind their starter at quarterback, and that search has taken an interesting turn. NFL insider Connor Hughes floated the idea that New York could explore a trade with Philadelphia, where Andy Dalton or Tanner McKee might offer a more ready-made answer than developmental option Cade Klubnik.
It is only speculative for now, but it does highlight where the Jets are in the process: looking for someone who can better match the offense if called upon in a pinch. Whether that leads to real talks with the Eagles or just keeps New York weighing its backup options, the position remains one of the more notable unresolved questions on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Just Put Two Shaky Roster Spots Under Real Pressure
The Jets kept busy on the waiver wire by adding two players who can immediately tug at a couple of unsettled roster spots. Kicker Blake Grupe, who was recently released after losing Indianapolis kicking competition, arrives with a chance to push for a job the Jets have been evaluating closely, while linebacker Trevin Wallace comes over from Carolina after already getting into 25 NFL games.
Both moves fit the same theme for a roster still being sorted out after preseason performances and injuries created openings. Grupe gives the Jets another option at a position that can turn from routine to urgent in a hurry, and Wallace adds a young defender with draft pedigree and real experience, the kind of claim that can change how the final roster picture looks before long. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Brand-New 53-Man Roster Already Has A Few Shaky Spots
The Jets have their initial 53-man roster in place, but the work is hardly finished. As waiver claims roll in, the club could create room by making a few short-term moves, and Andrew Beck, Tim Patrick and Kohl Levao have emerged as the most obvious names to watch in that shuffle.
Beck and Patrick would give New York some flexibility because both are vested veterans and could come back on the practice squad if needed. Levaos situation is a little different, since he would have to clear waivers first, but even he appears likely to stick around if the Jets decide to open a spot elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]