I went to a dark place for this week’s newsletter. I have spent most of my day digging through the past 13 years of Jets offenses. I know, I know. I deserve a raise.
Why 13 years? That is how long it has been since the Jets last made the playoffs, so I decided to look at the offenses during these “drought years” and rank them.
It is pretty easy to figure out which offense was the best during this time. The 2015 Jets look like the 1999 Rams compared to the other years.
It is also pretty easy to figure out that we are watching the worst version of a Jets offense many of us have ever seen.
Perhaps those of you who go back to 1976 would argue, but it’s been a while since the Jets have been this bad.
What struck me when looking through the scores, statistics and names of the past 13 years is how what I thought was terrible in 2013 or ’16 would look pretty good right now. That is just how bad this Jets offense currently is.
Without further ado, here are my rankings of Jets offenses from the past 13 years:
1. 2015
Offensive coordinator: Chan Gailey
Yards per game: 370.3
Points per game: 24.2
Leading passer: Ryan Fitzpatrick (59.6 completion pct., 3,905 yards, 31 TDs, 15 INTs)
Leading rusher: Chris Ivory (247 rushes, 1,070 yards, 7 TDs)
Leading receiver: Brandon Marshall (109 receptions, 1,502 yards, 14 TDs)
This was actually a good offense, the only one on this list that I would put in that category. They were 10th in yards per game and 11th in points per game that season. They scored 30 points in five games and their season-low was 17 points.
This was Todd Bowles’ first season as head coach and he brought Gailey in to call the offense. Geno Smith was knocked out in training camp and Fitzpatrick took over and never looked back and set the Jets single-season record for touchdown passes. This was the last hoorah for Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson on the offensive line. Marshall had the best season ever by a Jets wide receiver and was one of two players to catch for more than 1,000 yards (Eric Decker was the other). Ivory also kicked in 1,000-yard season on the ground.
2. 2011
Offensive coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer
Yards per game: 311.8
Points per game: 23.6
Leading passer: Mark Sanchez (56.7 completion pct., 3,474 yards, 26 TDs, 18 INTs)
Leading rusher: Shonn Greene (253 rushes, 1,054 yards, 6 TDs)
Leading receiver: Dustin Keller (65 receptions, 815 yards, 5 TDs)
I’m sorry, Schotty. I can remember ripping Schottenheimer during this season, thinking this offense was no good. But as the years go on, Schottenheimer looks better.
This was the year the Jets turned the offense over to Sanchez. He did throw 26 touchdowns, which is tied for third in team history. Their lowest point total was 13 that year and they scored 20 or more in 10 games.
The chemistry of this offense went south with Santonio Holmes fighting with Sanchez. This was the beginning of the end of the Rex Ryan era, but this offense had some good moments.
3. 2017
Offensive coordinator: John Morton
Yards per game: 305.3
Points per game: 18.6
Leading passer: Josh McCown (67.3 completion pct., 2,926 yards, 18 TDs, 9 INTs)
Leading rusher: Bilal Powell (178 rushes, 772 yards, 5 TDs)
Leading receiver: Robbie Chosen (63 receptions, 941 yards, 7 TDs)
There are other teams with better statistics than this one, but it’s not clear exactly what this offense would have done had McCown not broken his hand just as the unit was just seeming to hit its stride. They had put up 488 yards against the Chiefs the week before McCown was lost for the season and Bryce Petty had to take over.
Though the Jets were supposedly tanking for a quarterback, the offense was pretty good. They scored 20 or more points in six out of eight games during a stretch in the middle of the season.
Morton got a raw deal when he was fired after one year as the coordinator. He got caught up in some office politics inside the Jets and lost his job. It was not right.
4. 2018
Offensive coordinator: Jeremy Bates
Yards per game: 299.2
Points per game: 20.8
Leading passer: Sam Darnold (57.7 completion pct., 2,865 yards, 17 TDs, 15 INTs)
Leading rusher: Isaiah Crowell (143 rushes, 685 yards, 6 TDs)
Leading receiver: Robbie Chosen (50 receptions, 752 yards, 6 TDs)
We’re going to hit several rookie quarterback seasons here, and those should be judged accordingly. This one was Darnold’s rookie year. He started 13 games while McCown started three. There were plenty of ups and downs this season. The Jets had 512 yards and 34 points against the Broncos in one of the best offensive displays they’ve had. They also out up 42 points and 374 yards against the Colts. Darnold played well down the stretch and Robbie Chosen (formerly Anderson) showed promise at receiver, as did rookie tight end Chris Herndon.
5. 2013
Offensive coordinator: Marty Mornhinweg
Yards per game: 318.1
Points per game: 18.1
Leading passer: Geno Smith (55.8 completion pct., 3,046 yards, 12 TDs, 21 INTs)
Leading rusher: Chris Ivory (182 rushes, 833 yards, 3 TDs)
Leading receiver: Jeremy Kerley (43 receptions, 523 yards, 3 TDs)
This was another year the Jets began with zero expectations. Some predictions had them pegged for 0-16. ESPN rated them the worst team in the league entering training camp. Smith became the starter as a rookie after Sanchez injured his shoulder in the fourth quarter of a preseason game that Ryan famously put him in. It was Jets QB high jinks at its finest.
Smith was up and down all year, but when the season ended with the Jets scoring 20 points or more in their final four games, it felt like the arrow was pointing up.
6. 2016
Offensive coordinator: Chan Gailey
Yards per game: 329.3
Points per game: 17.2
Leading passer: Ryan Fitzpatrick (56.6 completion pct., 2,710 yards, 12 TDs, 17 INTs)
Leading rusher: Matt Forte (218 rushes, 813 yards, 7 TDs)
Leading receiver: Quincy Enunwa (58 receptions, 857 yards, 4 TDs)
The Jets decided to run it back with the same group that had so much success in 2015, but all of the good vibes turned sour. It began with a prolonged contract standoff between the team and Fitzpatrick. He signed the night before training camp began and was never able to catch up. In Week 3, Fitzpatrick threw six interceptions in Kansas City and Marshall and Sheldon Richardson got into an argument at halftime. Things splintered and Bowles was never able to put the team back together again.
The offense finished 30th in points per game. They ended up starting three quarterbacks and they had the worst red-zone percentage in the NFL.
7. 2014
Offensive coordinator: Marty Mornhinweg
Yards per game: 326.6
Points per game: 17.7
Leading passer: Geno Smith (59.7 completion pct., 2,525 yards, 13 TDs, 13 INTs)
Leading rusher: Chris Ivory (198 rushes, 821 yards, 6 TDs)
Leading receiver: Eric Decker (74 receptions, 962 yards, 5 TDs)
The Jets added Decker in the offseason and he put up decent numbers, but he was not a No. 1 receiver. Michael Vick started three games after Ryan benched Smith. There was an ugly shutout in San Diego and the team did not score 30 points until the final game in Miami, which was Ryan’s final game as the Jets coach.
8. 2019
Offensive coordinator: Dowell Loggains
Yards per game: 273
Points per game: 17.3
Leading passer: Sam Darnold (61.9 completion pct., 3,024 yards, 19 TDs, 13 INTs)
Leading rusher: Le’Veon Bell (245 rushes, 789 yards, 3 TDs)
Leading receiver: Jamison Crowder (78 receptions, 833 yards, 6 TDs)
This is where things really feel like they went off the rails. This was Adam Gase’s first season as the Jets coach. GM Mike Maccagnan signed Bell to a big free-agent contract despite Gase not wanting him. A few months later, Maccagnan was fired and Gase was stuck with Bell. Gase turned out to be right about Bell, who did not look like the player he had been with the Steelers.
The offensive line issues really ratcheted up this year with Ryan Kalil not working out and injuries cropping up. Darnold got mononucleosis after Week 1, forcing the team to start Trevor Siemian and then Luke Falk. With Falk at quarterback, they squeezed out 105 yards against the Patriots and 128 against the Eagles. Darnold saw ghosts against the Patriots and the Jets finished 32nd in yards and 31st in points.
9. 2021
Offensive coordinator: Mike LaFleur
Yards per game: 306.4
Points per game: 18.2
Leading passer: Zach Wilson (55.6 completion pct.), 2,334 yards, 9 TDs, 11 INTs)
Leading rusher: Michael Carter (147 rushes, 639 yards, 4 TDs)
Leading receiver: Elijah Moore (43 receptions, 538 yards, 5 TDs)
Another rookie quarterback season. This one was Wilson’s. It was also the first year for Robert Saleh and LaFleur. Wilson struggled mightily and the team’s best offensive game came with Mike White at quarterback. In fact, they scored 30 points twice that season and both were games that Wilson did not start. In all, the Jets played four quarterbacks that season, which included appearances from Joe Flacco and Josh Johnson.
10. 2022
Offensive coordinator: Mike LaFleur
Yards per game: 318.2
Points per game: 17.4
Leading passer: Zach Wilson (54.5 completion pct., 1,688 yards, 6 TDs, 7 INTs)
Leading rusher: Breece Hall (80 rushes, 463 yards, 4 TDs)
Leading receiver: Garrett Wilson (83 receptions, 1,103 yards, 4 TDs)
You remember last year, right? The Jets ended the season without scoring a touchdown in the final three games. They had five games in which they tallied fewer than 10 points. They started three quarterbacks and played four (Chris Streveler!). LaFleur was fired at the end of the season.
11. 2012
Offensive coordinator: Tony Sparano
Yards per game: 299.2
Points per game: 17.6
Leading passer: Mark Sanchez (54.3 completion pct., 2,883 yards, 13 TDs, 18 INTs)
Leading rusher: Shonn Greene (276 rushes, 1,063 yards, 8 TDs
Leading receiver: Jeremy Kerley (56 receptions, 827 yards, 2 TDs)
Maybe the messiest Jets season I’ve covered was 2012. The team traded for Tim Tebow in the offseason, which upset a lot of people and affected Sanchez, and then they did not even really use him. Anyone remember Chaz Schillens and Clyde Gates at receiver?
12. 2020
Offensive coordinator: Dowell Loggains
Yards per game: 279.9
Points per game: 15.2
Leading passer: Sam Darnold (59.6 completion pct., 2,208 yards, 9 TDs, 11 INTs)
Leading rusher: Frank Gore (187 rushes, 653 yards, 2 TDs)
Leading receiver: Jamison Crowder (59 receptions, 699 yards, 6 TDS)
This team finished dead last in both yards and points. The skill players on this team included Breshard Perriman and Chris Hogan. Gore ended up as the team’s leading rusher. The only good news was this 2-14 season was supposed to give the Jets a high draft pick and a new franchise QB, who turned out to be Wilson.
13. 2023
Offensive coordinator: Nathaniel Hackett
Yards per game: 260.1
Points per game: 14.3
Leading passer: Zach Wilson (59.2 completion pct., 1,944 yards, 6 TDs, 7 INTs)
Leading rusher: Breece Hall (137 rushes, 585 yards, 2 TDs)
Leading receiver: Garrett Wilson (67 receptions, 745 yards, 3 TDs)
There are still five games to go, but this season has been epic. They have scored 10 offensive touchdowns in 12 games. They are on pace to be the worst team on third down since anyone started keeping track. Everything went wrong after Aaron Rodgers was lost four plays into the season.
Want to catch a game? The Jets schedule with links to buy tickets can be found here.
Youth movement
Though the Jets’ offensive struggles have been brutal this season, the team is at least getting some younger players experience now. In Sunday’s loss to the Falcons, the Jets had six offensive starters who are either rookies or in their second year.
They have gone young at wide receiver with undrafted players Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee getting bigger roles. Carter Warren and Joe Tippmann are getting experience on the offensive line. And Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall look like potential stars if they can ever get a better cast around them.
Stat’s so
Garrett Wilson tied Wayne Chrebet for the most catches in a player’s first two seasons as a Jet on Sunday. Wilson now has 150 receptions in two years, the same number as Chrebet.
Here are the top 10 Jets players by receptions in their first two seasons:
1. Wayne Chrebet, 1995-96: 150 rec.
1. Garrett Wilson, 2022-23: 150 rec.
3. Keyshawn Johnson, 1996-97: 133 rec.
4. Al Toon, 1985-86: 131 rec.
5. Rob Moore, 1990-91: 114 rec.
6. Robbie Chosen, 2016-17: 105 rec.
7. Clark Gaines, 1976-77: 96 rec.
8. Matt Snell, 1964-65: 94 rec.
9. Dustin Keller, 2008-09: 93 rec.
10. George Sauer, 1965-66: 92 rec.
Source: Stathead