The beauty of fall guys within the NFL is that they’re interchangeable. It could possibly be a quarterback, a coordinator, a distraction, the pinnacle coach, the proprietor, or Roger Goodell, and normally there’s sufficient vitriol to unfold round. Take the New York Jets for instance. They’re one of the scrutinized franchises within the NFL regardless of giving the media no motive to count on competence.
Usually, in a 12 months like this, even the energy and conditioning man catches a stray. At 4-7, and firmly within the Tim Boyle portion on the calendar, the 2023 Jets seem like an abject failure. The damage to Aaron Rodgers is accountable for positive, then there’s Zach Wilson, and so forth down the checklist.
So certainly just a few writers will throw a pair jabs Nathaniel Hackett’s method, proper? Columnists at The Denver Submit took turns whacking on the Hackett pinata a season in the past. Fast, any individual blindfold Phil Mushnick and have him dictate 700 phrases. (However, Sean, how does that change from his present writing course of? I don’t know, interior monologue, I don’t know.)
It doesn’t take a moron to determine why there’s not equal disdain for bumbling QB and coordinator alike. Whereas I can’t say anybody anticipated a lot out of Randall Cobb this 12 months, Allen Lazard is on the precise aspect of 30, and performed underneath Hackett in Inexperienced Bay. The latter is averaging two catches per recreation, and the previous has three receptions all season.
I perceive that these additions are extra worthwhile with a wholesome Rodgers, and you’ll’t decide each acquisition in a vacuum. I’ll ask this although: Take away the anti-vaxxer, and the way comfortable would you be about any of these three pickups? (Boyle technically counts as a fourth FOA if you wish to nitpick.)
Bringing on Hackett was akin to the Giants hiring Jason Garrett after he was ousted in Dallas, and it’s debatably worse contemplating the plethora of low lights out of Mile Excessive a 12 months in the past. Nonetheless, it takes a number of failings, impartial of franchise QBs, for NFL entrance workplaces to determine who’s and isn’t a very good coach.
Nothing about Russell Wilson and the Broncos final season made folks imagine Hack-Man must be in command of an NFL offense. The previous Denver head coach solely lasted 4 video games longer than Frank Reich did in Carolina this 12 months, and in the meantime, it took all of six outings for Sean Payton to carry out an exorcism on DangeRuss.
In 2022, Hack’s Broncos averaged 5.1 yards per play, good for twenty third within the NFL. This season, the Jets are at 4.4, which places them at thirtieth, solely forward of the Giants and Panthers. These are the types of stats that hot-take artists use to bury the designated scapegoat.
The Rodgers commerce took a bit focus off the offensive line, which once more may’ve been offset by the four-time MVP. So the massive uglies could be a motive the operating recreation is backside 5, nevertheless it additionally could possibly be scheme. Dalvin Cook dinner is sort of a yard and a half under his profession per-carry common, and regardless of getting back from an ACL damage, Breece Corridor is again to full pace. Combine in Garrett Wilson, and it takes actual effort to be this impotent.
That is under no circumstances a protection of Zach Wilson. It was within the stars that his upbringing/fall out of the league ought to characteristic a season of tutelage underneath Hackett. They had been meant to share a headset, however apparently not the cocoon of safety. That’s solely afforded to Rodgers’ interior circle.
The place is the outrage, New York? Who’re you afraid of? I imply, my god, the man’s solely performed 4 snaps for gangrene, and also you’d suppose half of Milwaukee migrated to Manhattan. It’s going to be enjoyable when No. 8 returns in physique solely, and Jets followers have to search out one other individual to pin it on. Will it’s Robert Saleh, or Hackett?
Keep tuned to search out out, or wait till this fraught experiment predictably deteriorates right into a 30 for 30.
