While much-maligned NY Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was taken off the hot stove after the team looked very impressive in the first three weeks of the season, a regression by Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos put the heat back on.
The biggest problem with the Jets' offense so far this season has been Garrett Wilson and his struggles to replicate his production from last year. While he has been matched up against elite cornerbacks like L'Jarius Sneed and Patrick Surtain II, just to name a few, the fact Wilson and Allen Lazard have had comparable starts is concerning.
Wilson took to the radio to voice his frustration with Hackett's offense, saying in the open that he doesn't feel like the Jets "do a lot of different stuff" and claiming that other teams around the league "mix it up."
Wilson even claims that the offense has been toned down even further this year when compared to the last two, claiming that his route tree has not been as complex or varied as it was with Zach Wilson. Who is to blame here, and will it ever get better?
Interesting comments from Garrett Wilson on @BartAndHahn. Obviously, he's frustrated by his slow start. On the #Jets offensive identity:
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 1, 2024
“I don’t think we do a lot of different stuff to be honest. I watch football on Sundays and I see a lot of teams mix it up and stuff like…
Garrett Wilson calls out NY Jets offense, Nathaniel Hackett
Part of why the Jets don't try anything different on offense, apart from Hackett's own lack of creativity and confidence, is the fact that Aaron Rodgers demands that it be this way. Like many older veteran quarterbacks, Rodgers wants control over the offense and the ability to change plays as he sees fit.
What Wilson and the rest of Jets fandom must realize, no matter if they like it or not, is that Hackett and Rodgers are a package deal. No offensive coordinator in the league is going to give Rodgers this level of freedom to use his football brain. Peyton Manning's offenses in Denver and Indianapolis were always near the bottom of the league in pre-snap motion.
The Jets could fire Hackett and hire some 38-year-old from the McShanahan tree to come in and run this (paging Mike LaFleur), but Rodgers wouldn't want to learn an entirely new offense or relinquish control of how the offense operates. The Jets have made their bed with Hackett and Rodgers.
While Hackett is clearly a below-average coordinator, he has been able to work wonders with Rodgers under center. Wilson is dying for some creativity, but unless Rodgers completely changes how he has operated right before he turns 41 years old, the Jets are stuck with Hackett until the bitter end.
