The 2019 preseason has been more valuable than most for the Jets due in large part to a change of philosophies on both sides of the ball.
With a new head coach comes new schemes. Adam Gase and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains have installed an offense completely different than the one New York ran a year ago, while defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has come in and established multiple defensive systems.
With Gase and Loggains calling the shots on offense, Gang Green’s offense has looked worlds better in the preseason than it did all of last season with Jeremy Bates calling plays. Where exactly are the Jets improving on offense, though? Here are four areas in which New York will improve based on what we’ve seen so far this preseason.
Passing Yards Per Attempt
The days of constant bubble screens and designed check-downs are over. With Adam Gase and Dowell Loggains on the sideline taking care of business, New York’s offense is primed to return to normal in 2019.
This means that Sam Darnold’s yards per attempt will inevitably increase. Gase and Loggains are letting Darnold lose in his second season, a far cry from what Jeremy Bates allowed him to do last season. In 2018, Darnold averaged a measly 6.1 yards per attempt. So far this preseason, he has averaged 8.4.
It’s safe to say Gase and Loggains are opening things up for Darnold and the rest of the offense. As a result, Darnold’s numbers will likely rise across the board. The way it looks right now, yards per attempt is the statistic primed to take the biggest jump this upcoming season.
Yards Per Carry
With Le’Veon Bell and Ty Montgomery coming to the Jets, it’s safe to assume New York’s rushing attack will take a major step in the right direction after an abysmal showing in 2018.
Bell didn’t appear in preseason action, but he has averaged 4.3 yards per carry for his career. Montgomery has averaged 3.8 yards per carry so far this preseason, while Trenton Cannon is averaging 3.7 yards per carry, including an 8.5 YPC showing against the Saints in Week 3 of the preseason.
To put those numbers in perspective, Elijah McGuire averaged three yards per carry last season after taking over as the starting tailback once Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell went down for the season due to injury. Crowell played well (4.8 yards per carry) when healthy despite playing behind a banged-up and underperforming offensive line.
Imagine what Bell, Montgomery and company can accomplish playing behind an improved line featuring former Pro Bowlers Kelechi Osemele and Ryan Kalil, as well as a healthy Brian Winters and Brandon Shell. Expect New York’s tailbacks to have a successful season in the yards per carry department running behind that unit.
Yards Per Catch
As Darnold’s yards per passing attempt numbers rise due to Adam Gase’s offense, his receivers’ yards per catch numbers will naturally rise as well.
Robby Anderson’s preseason statistics are a prime example of what is to come in New York’s passing attack this upcoming season. In 2018, the Temple product averaged 15.4 yards per catch — a modest, but impressive total. So far in the preseason, Anderson has averaged 18.4 yards per reception.
Jamison Crowder who is averaging 13 yards per reception in the preseason, can expect much of the same while providing the Jets with a reliable option in the slot.
Sacks Allowed
As previously mentioned, New York’s offensive line is much improved heading into 2019. Kelechi Osemele and Ryan Kalil are upgrades at their respective positions, while the trio of Kelvin Beachum, Brian Winters and Brandon Shell return to help hold down the fort.
Playing behind an offensive line that simply was not up to snuff in 2018, Sam Darnold was sacked 30 times as a rookie. So far this preseason, he has only been sacked once playing behind an incomplete offensive line, as Osemele, Winters, Kalil and Shell have all missed at least one game. This speaks to the depth of New York’s line, as even the backups are keeping Darnold from getting sacked.
When healthy, the Jets have an extremely talented line to protect their second-year signal caller. Even if a starter or two is banged up and has to miss time, the backups have proved they can get the job done as well. With this in mind, it’s safe to assume Darnold will not take anywhere near 30 sacks this upcoming season.
