Mornhinweg points to passing game as reason for poor play:smiley-dance017:
By Zach BrazillerDecember 18, 2014 | 11:32pm
Less than two weeks after reports surfaced of tension between Jets coach Rex Ryan and Marty Mornhinweg, the offensive coordinator hinted at the root of the problem.
In his weekly press conference, the second-year Jets assistant coach acknowledged the obvious: The key to being a productive offense and winning games is owning a potent passing attack, which the Jets have lacked in his two seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Yet, he did so without placing blame or specifically talking about the Jets’ inability to move the ball through the air.
“In this league, you need to pass the ball very efficiently to score points typically,” Mornhinweg said, when asked is this is what he envisioned his offense would be like with the Jets. “Now every game is a little bit different. Certainly, the passing game, you need to get that going at some point to win on a consistent basis.”
Two sources recently told The Post’s Brian Costello there has been tension between Ryan and Mornhinweg over play-calling. In a 16-13 loss to the Dolphins on Dec. 1, the Jets ran the ball 49 times and threw just 13 times, the fewest passes any team has attempted in a game this season.
Ryan, asked if the offense has developed an identity under Mornhinweg, predictably praised the ground game.
“I think we run the football very effectively,” he said. “When we’re protecting the football, I think we do a pretty darn good job offensively.”
Tellingly, there was nothing in there about the Jets spreading the field.
Brought in to spice up the Jets’ dormant offense, Mornhinweg has yet to produce results. The Jets’ offense is 25th in the league and is averaging just 16.4 points per game — third-fewest in the league. The rushing attack is second in the NFL, though the Jets’ 10 rushing touchdowns are tied for 14th most. The passing game is dead last, averaging just 169 yards per game, 24 yards less than the Seahawks, who are 31st.
“That was our strength and sort of how we’re built, trying to take care of the ball just a little bit better,” Mornhinweg said of the scaled-back game plans.
He said the Jets entered each of the past two seasons looking to spread the field and attack opposing defenses through the air, before going back to the “ground and pound” style Ryan prefers.
Mornhinweg conceded they changed things up early this year for a variety of reasons, from turnovers to having what he called “three really fine backs” in Chris Johnson, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell and nagging injuries to wide receivers, such as the groin that limited free-agent acquisition Eric Decker.
“Consciously, we morphed into quite a little bit of running,” Mornhinweg said. “Early in both seasons we have [tried to attack through the air], if you look at that, and then chose to play a certain style from that point on.”
Mornhinweg said the limited performance of Decker hasn’t “turned out quite the way we expected,” partially because of injuries.
Mornhinweg declined to directly fault quarterback Geno Smith for the offensive struggles. Though the offensive coordinator said Smith has been “up and down a little bit,” he also pointed to the second-year starter showing glimpses of promise, particularly in last week’s 16-11 victory over the Titans in Tennessee.
“He certainly put together some good games,” Mornhinweg said. “His challenge is to play at a high level on a consistent basis. It’s just that simple. … Certainly there’s a development process for every young player at every position. Quarterback is such an important position. You certainly have to do things there.:smiley-angry046:
“Every quarterback develops at a little bit [of a] different rate. There are some terrific quarterbacks that have been through a little bit more then Geno has. So, we’ll see.”
By Zach BrazillerDecember 18, 2014 | 11:32pm
Less than two weeks after reports surfaced of tension between Jets coach Rex Ryan and Marty Mornhinweg, the offensive coordinator hinted at the root of the problem.
In his weekly press conference, the second-year Jets assistant coach acknowledged the obvious: The key to being a productive offense and winning games is owning a potent passing attack, which the Jets have lacked in his two seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Yet, he did so without placing blame or specifically talking about the Jets’ inability to move the ball through the air.
“In this league, you need to pass the ball very efficiently to score points typically,” Mornhinweg said, when asked is this is what he envisioned his offense would be like with the Jets. “Now every game is a little bit different. Certainly, the passing game, you need to get that going at some point to win on a consistent basis.”
Two sources recently told The Post’s Brian Costello there has been tension between Ryan and Mornhinweg over play-calling. In a 16-13 loss to the Dolphins on Dec. 1, the Jets ran the ball 49 times and threw just 13 times, the fewest passes any team has attempted in a game this season.
Ryan, asked if the offense has developed an identity under Mornhinweg, predictably praised the ground game.
“I think we run the football very effectively,” he said. “When we’re protecting the football, I think we do a pretty darn good job offensively.”
Tellingly, there was nothing in there about the Jets spreading the field.
Brought in to spice up the Jets’ dormant offense, Mornhinweg has yet to produce results. The Jets’ offense is 25th in the league and is averaging just 16.4 points per game — third-fewest in the league. The rushing attack is second in the NFL, though the Jets’ 10 rushing touchdowns are tied for 14th most. The passing game is dead last, averaging just 169 yards per game, 24 yards less than the Seahawks, who are 31st.
“That was our strength and sort of how we’re built, trying to take care of the ball just a little bit better,” Mornhinweg said of the scaled-back game plans.
He said the Jets entered each of the past two seasons looking to spread the field and attack opposing defenses through the air, before going back to the “ground and pound” style Ryan prefers.
Mornhinweg conceded they changed things up early this year for a variety of reasons, from turnovers to having what he called “three really fine backs” in Chris Johnson, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell and nagging injuries to wide receivers, such as the groin that limited free-agent acquisition Eric Decker.
“Consciously, we morphed into quite a little bit of running,” Mornhinweg said. “Early in both seasons we have [tried to attack through the air], if you look at that, and then chose to play a certain style from that point on.”
Mornhinweg said the limited performance of Decker hasn’t “turned out quite the way we expected,” partially because of injuries.
Mornhinweg declined to directly fault quarterback Geno Smith for the offensive struggles. Though the offensive coordinator said Smith has been “up and down a little bit,” he also pointed to the second-year starter showing glimpses of promise, particularly in last week’s 16-11 victory over the Titans in Tennessee.
“He certainly put together some good games,” Mornhinweg said. “His challenge is to play at a high level on a consistent basis. It’s just that simple. … Certainly there’s a development process for every young player at every position. Quarterback is such an important position. You certainly have to do things there.:smiley-angry046:
“Every quarterback develops at a little bit [of a] different rate. There are some terrific quarterbacks that have been through a little bit more then Geno has. So, we’ll see.”
