It’s not like I’m opposed to “featuring a rushing attack.” In my perfect world, football would revert back to pre-2010 where many different things could serve as a team’s identity (whereas today it’s more similar across the board). 

To me, it’s more about this: Since the rules drastically changed, the #Jets have NOT yet hired a head coach who genuinely understands the way the game is played today, and/or is unwilling to adapt. 

Yes, BAL is a tremendous rushing team (mainly bc of Lamar; sheesh, the top three rushing teams in the NFL are led by Lamar, Hurts and Daniels, go figure?!?!), but BAL  is also the eighth-best passing team in the NFL.

The days of being this or being that are over. It’s a new day, and an elite modern offense must have a dangerous passing game. Period. 

Forget “rush offense” or “pass offense.” It’s about having a “modern offense” that schemes with today’s landscape in mind (ie often playing ahead of the chains instead of managing the chains, scheming players open in key spots, and taking what the defense is giving you, as opposed to trying to “establish an identity.”

Robert Saleh came in with glowing words about LaFleur and how he was set to run the Shanahan run-first offense. What I often saw were the Jets trying to establish an identity as opposed to taking what the D gave them, and allowing a natural flow take hold—and instead try to feature the defense in the game plan. Year in, year out, they rammed the ball on the ground to open seasons despite defenses game planning for it (see loading the box and daring Zach Wilson to beat them over the top). 

Zach Wilson or not, that vision is impossible with the way the game is played today. 

You’ll also see the OCs who “get it” not play conservatively late in games, whereas the Jets constantly have—understanding the modern game versus not. 

It’s all why I believing trying to “mold” a certain type of offense is counterproductive. Your offense should be predicated on the current era of football, personnel in the building, and coaching brainpower at the helm. 

Put a Lamar, Hurts, or Daniels on the team, sure, it’ll be a rush team, first and foremost. No doubt.