Aaron Rodgers: 'Doesn't Do S--t' for Jets That Offense Has Been 'Close' to Success
October 22, 2024
It doesn't matter much to New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers that the offense is seemingly "close" to clicking.
"Yeah, but what does that give you?" he said Tuesday during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. "You know, that doesn't do s--t for you. It's like, 'Hey we're close. All right. Maybe this week we'll put it together.'"
Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow"What does being close give ya..<br><br>That doesn't do shit for ya" ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronRodgers12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AaronRodgers12</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMSLive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMSLive</a> <a href="https://t.co/eqoSeFZm5M">pic.twitter.com/eqoSeFZm5M</a>
Later in the interview, Rodgers explained the need to effectively shift the overall identity of the franchise. Instead of the Jets leaning on their defense to win games, which has often been the case in recent years, they need to have the offense set the tone.
Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow"Let's get rolling on offense and let our defense play with a lead..<br><br>That's the mindset we need to have..<br><br>Let's go out there and win the game on offense"<a href="https://twitter.com/AaronRodgers12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AaronRodgers12</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMSLive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMSLive</a> <a href="https://t.co/RDYEUuSn8F">pic.twitter.com/RDYEUuSn8F</a>
Despite having the presence of Rodgers, running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson all year, New York is 23rd in average yards (307.0) and 24th in points (18.3).
It's too early to judge the combined impact of firing head coach Robert Saleh, making Todd Downing the play-caller, and acquiring Davante Adams toward improving the offense.
Rodgers' comments hit on a wider point, though.
You can take some encouragement early on from an underperforming offense if there are underlying metrics that point to an upward trend. Once you start approaching the halfway point of a season, you need to see tangible progress, and that's not happening for the Jets right now.
It's particularly concerning that Hall's yards per carry (3.7) and output per game (49.7) are on pace to be career lows. As much as New York's Super Bowl aspirations rest on Rodgers' shoulders, it needs an effective running game to ensure it isn't putting too much on a 40-year-old quarterback coming off a major Achilles injury.
There's still time for the Jets to right the ship offensively, but they need to begin turning that into reality soon.
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