FILE – New York Jets passing game coordinator Todd Downing walks the field before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV , File)Source: post
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets’ offense appeared well on its way to becoming the efficient, scoring and productive force they expected it to be this season.
A lot has certainly changed in the last three weeks.
After an offensive explosion in a dominant 24-3 win over New England on September 19, The jets were blocked in losses to Denver and Minnesota. Rodgers, 40, was banged up, the offensive line leaked and the running game disappeared.
Robert Saleh was fired from his coaching position Tuesday after a 2-3 start and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was demoted from play-calling duties by interim coach Jeff Ulbrich. Now it’s Todd Downing’s turn to try to revive the struggling offense.
“It’s definitely a unique week,” Downing said Friday. “I’ve been in this business for a long time and you think you’ve had a lot of different experiences – and this one was certainly new.”
Downing, 44, is the Jets’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, titles he retains during the offensive shakeup. Although Hackett also retains his title as coordinator, Downing’s vision and style will mark New York’s offense, starting in Monday night against Buffalo.
“Being given an opportunity like this, which is an incredible opportunity, definitely had a bittersweet taste because I love this man, I love his family,” Downing said of Hackett. “I think of him as a coach, I think of him even more as a person and a friend.
“And so, a lot of different emotions go through your brain. But obviously it’s an incredible opportunity and I’m excited to do what I can to help.
Downing is a longtime NFL assistant who worked with several teams before joining Saleh’s staff in New York last season. He worked as offensive coordinator with the Raiders in 2017 and the Titans from 2021 to 2022.
“For every Tennessee offense I faced when Todd was the playmaker there,” Ulbrich said, “they were tough, they were ruthless, they finished, they ran the ball, they played on their terms.”
That’s what Ulbrich wants to see from the Jets offense with Downing running things.
New York ranks 27th overall in the league in offense and last in rushing. This is despite the fact that Breece Hall, who entered the season, is considered one of the versatile running backs in the NFL. He’s averaging just 3 yards per carry, a far cry from his average of 4.5 yards.
“First of all, this team has a good running game,” Downing said. “We just haven’t seen it come to fruition in a consistent enough way.” Secondly, I think there have been times when you can find people a little rushed because there is an expectation on production and when it is not met you can feel a sense of emergency.
“But I believe our guys are ready to answer the bell and make the quarter-turn adjustments we need to get things on track.”
While a complete overhaul of the system in the middle of the season isn’t ideal, Downing said there are ways to adjust.
“I think every week when you prepare for the defense that you’re going against, you’re looking for ways to create advantages,” he said. “You look for ways to put stress on the defense. Sometimes it will involve movement and sometimes it might involve unique formations, things like that. I think it will happen week by week.
Rodgers is also coming off his worst start with the Jets after throwing three interceptions against Minnesota in London, including one returned for a touchdown and another that sealed the loss in the final moments.
“Over a career spanning two decades, he has very few incidents on the radar,” Downing said. “And I know Aaron himself said the last two weeks weren’t up to par. But this is not necessarily a red flag. He knows how to prepare. He knows how to diagnose defenses. He knows how to run the show on offense. And that’s what we expect this week.
Rodgers and Hackett are close from their days together in Green Bay, but Rodgers has publicly supported Ulbrich’s decision to change things up on offense, saying he has “a great relationship” with Downing.
“I want to be an open book on how to best serve him,” Downing said, “and each of our players.”
Downing’s Titans offense was middle of the pack in his first season, when running back Derrick Henry was injured, then finished 30th overall in his second, when quarterback Ryan Tannehill was injured .
He was fired after that season – which was also marked by a mid-season arrest for speeding and driving under the influence – and the Titans had many of the same issues the Jets offense is facing now: poor play, poor line play and lack of production.
“I think we are all products of our life experiences,” Downing said. “So I always tried to think first when pursuing different opportunities as my career progressed. So I hope I’m wiser, I hope I’m smarter. And I hope to have the opportunity to showcase the experiences I have accumulated over the years.
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