Aaron Rodgers has a new head coach with Jeff Ulbrich taking over the New York Jets in the interim for Robert Saleh, who was fired earlier this week. The Jets made another key move on their coaching staff on Thursday, demoting Nathaniel Hackett ahead of the team's Week 6 game against the Bills.
Hackett, Rodgers' good friend from their Packers days, has been replaced by Todd Downing, who didn't work with Rodgers in Green Bay.
The Jets are No. 27 in total offense after five games and No. 25 in scoring offense, averaging only 18.8 games. They are No. 17 in passing yards per game but are dead last in the league in rushing yards per game at 80.4
All those numbers with Rodgers screamed that change needed to be made, much more so than removing the defensive-minded Saleh. Ulbrich, as defensive coordinator and play-caller, has helmed the No. 2 total defense. The 2-3 Jets are No. 5 in scoring defense, allowing only 17 points per game, tied with the 3-2 Bears and 5-0 Chiefs.
How will the offense change for the better for Rodgers? Here's breaking down the Downing promotion.
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What was wrong with Nathaniel Hackett's play-calling for Aaron Rodgers?
First, let's diagnose the problem before considering Downing's hire.
Hackett tried to operate the offense like in 2019-21 when both he and Rodgers were under Matt LaFleur in Green Bay. The Packers had three consecutive 13-win seasons and Rodgers won a couple of NFL MVP awards.
But at 40 coming off a torn Achilles' with new personnel all around him, Rodgers isn't the same QB. The Jets were calling for passes 64.2 percent of the time with Rodgers, third in the league behind the Seahawks and Browns. With a defense that's often dominant in games, that shouldn't be part of the winning formula for complementary football.
In those three fine years when Hackett, Rodgers and LaFleur were together, the Packers didn't come close to throwing 60 percent of the time. The Packers also were effective running with that lean toward more balance, with an above-average to strong rushing attack to support Rodgers.
While Rodgers is still trying to get down chemistry with wide receivers not named Allen Lazard, including go-to guy Garrett Wilson and big-play threat Mike Williams, it also wasn't smart to force things with the passing game downfield so often.
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How Todd Downing can solve Aaron Rodgers and the Jets' offense
Downing has been an offensive coordinator for three previous seasons in the NFL, first with the 2017 Raiders and then with the 2021-22 Titans under Mike Vrabel. In 2017, the Raiders ran the ball only 38.9 percent of the time, but they were a bad 6-10 team under Jack Del Rio.
But when Downing was doing his recent work in Tennessee with Derrick Henry rumbling in the backfield, the Titans had a passing frequency of only 51 percent. Downing, after coaching the Titans' tight ends, kept the run-heavy mentality of Arthur Smith. Part of that was setting up QB Ryan Tannehill for passing success on run-related plays such as play-action and bootlegs.
Rodgers may be bummed that his buddy isn't in his ear calling the plays, but this is exactly what the Jets needed. There's no way this team should be last in rushing with its run-blocking improvements and two talented backs, Breece Hall and rookie Braelon Allen. In the Jets' two wins this season, they ran 24 times for 101 yards against the Titans in Week 2 and then 33 times for 133 yards in a rout of the Patriots in Week 3.
But against a beatable Broncos run defense in Week 4, which ended up being a 10-9 loss and a close game throughout, the Jets had 47 Rodgers dropbacks to 23 rushing attempts, a ridiculous 78 percent passing rate. It got even worse against the Vikings in London in Week 5 in what became a one-possession game in the third quarter with 57 dropbacks to only 14 runs, an 81 percent passing clip.
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To say Hackett got too pass-happy with a dysfunctional passing offense would be the understatement of the Jets' season. Downing needs to spark the offensive line with fewer protection duties, get them working downhill, and get the ball more to Hall and Allen to take pressure off Rodgers and set him up better for efficient downfield passing with his still big arm.
Downing needs to make Hall and Allen the centerpiece of the game plan in a must-win division home game against the Bills. The Bills, with their tackle and linebacker issues, allow the most scrimmage yards to running backs as rushers and receivers. Both Hall and Allen are made to burn that group with a reasonable amount of volume.
Getting Rodgers going with more run support and throwing more short-to-intermediate routes to the backs and tight end Tyler Conklin with the added benefit of more 12 (two tight ends) than 11 personnel looks (three wide receivers) can make the Jets offense what needs to be: A ball control unit that scores plenty given the defense will continue to not give up many points.
That in turn will add up the most important stat for the Jets: More wins with Rodgers.
