It’s no secret the New York Jets have blatantly neglected the tight end position over the last two seasons, but could that be changing?
This may seem like an overreaction to a few days of offseason workouts, but a New York Jets fan can dream, can’t he?I remember the days of being terrified by the double tight end attack of the New England Patriots. While the blueprint was destroyed by a criminal, it doesn’t have to die.
The Jets are nowhere near the level offensively that the Patriots were in their prime. Heck, the talent at the tight end position (Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Jordan Leggett) isn’t that spectacular, unless of course, you’re in love with the measurables.
On paper, it’s exactly what you should be looking for. Both players are twin towers (6-foot-6 each) and over 250 pounds of man.
No team has ignored the tight end position more over the last 32 games, but I think the Jets could be onto something here.
Jenkins has lost weight and has looked healthy. While the rookie Leggett appears to be picking up the offense nicely. The Jets offense has sputtered over the last several seasons and a big factor has been the missing void at tight end.
The tight end can provide a security blanket, a vertical presence in the seam, and of course a red zone threat. That’s particularly where the Jets struggled last season.
One of these players has the bust label hanging over him after not putting it together in Tampa. While the other is undeniably talented, but has a moniker that screams inconsistency.
Inconsistencies …
Speaking of inconsistency, a lot of that had to do with the coaching philosophies in place. Now there’s a new sheriff in town (John Morton) who has different systems and idiosyncrasies. One that has historically been favorable to the tight end position.
That’s the west coast offense which Morton has been a part of for the majority of his career. As we talked about last week in our Week 1 OTA’s report, Morton wouldn’t commit to the west coast system, but said the offense would adapt on a weekly basis.
Chameleon offense
Adapting is a key word in NFL offenses today. The two tight end set revolutionized the game in the late 2000s with teams like the Patriots and San Francisco 49ers.
Who do you put on the tight end?
If you put a corner, a tight end will bully past. If you put a linebacker out there, a tight end will blaze past the defender.
You can manipulate man and zone coverages by moving the tight end across the formation.
So right now on paper, the Jets could have a dynamic duo at the tight end position. But if fairies were canaries we’d all be clicking our heels hoping to return to Kansas.
ASJ looks the part, he went to Vegas to clean up his act (a bit ironic). He seems to be doing all the right things off the field and apparently, at least early on, on the field as well.
While the Jets have one of the best young up and coming wide receiving corps in the NFL, they could have a comeback story and a gem in the fifth round.