The New York Jets had a clear plan in mind for the offseason. After the disastrous two-year Aaron Rodgers tenure, moving on from the legendary quarterback and building a fresh coach-quarterback duo was the right call, at least on paper.
The team brought in Aaron Glenn as the new head coach and signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal to see if he could lock down the starting quarterback job long-term. How he performs is anyone’s guess, but a two-time Super Bowl champion has a different vision for what the Jets should focus on.
New York Jets Need To Shift Targets With Justin Fields
Heading into the new season, most people expect the Jets to go through a soft reboot. Fields’ performance, along with the team’s overall direction, could shape the franchise’s future. But a playoff run seems far-fetched.
Oddsmakers have their win total set at 5.5, which is well below postseason expectations. On paper, the roster has decent weapons. And Fields, who would have finished 15th on PFSN’s QB+ metric if he had met the prerequisites, has the tools to surprise people.
But former Jets offensive lineman and current analyst Damien Woody believes the team needs to change its mindset. During an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Woody was asked if he thought New York had a shot at the playoffs.
“I would not,” he said bluntly about the Jets returning to postseason football. Still, he added, “I think the Jets are going to be better than what the Vegas win total is.”
What he wants to see from the Jets is something else entirely. “What the Jets need to do with Justin Fields, they need to break the record, whatever the Jets franchise record is for rushing attempts, they need to break it.”
But it’s not just about chasing stats. Woody believes that leaning heavily on the run game is the best strategy for a team that will depend on its offensive line and a highly athletic quarterback. “This team could be sneaky towards the end of the year.”
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From Week 6 onward last season, the Jets’ offensive line became a steady unit and would have finished 14th on PFSN’s OL+ metric over the final four weeks. If that momentum carries into 2025, it could anchor the team’s offense.
And if the Jets follow Woody’s blueprint, they might just reshape their attack around the run game, especially with Fields at the center of it.