Todd Downing, the Jets quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator, will call the offensive plays in Monday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich announced on Thursday. He will replace offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who had been calling the offense.
Ulbrich will continue calling the defense.
Hackett has been under immense scrutiny from ownership due in large part to the offense’s futility, sources told SNY. The Jets (2-3) rank 27th in yards per game and 25th in points this year. They are 23rd in DVOA. This despite having Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Running back Breece Hall (65 carries, 197 yards, two touchdowns) and receiver Garrett Wilson (33 catches, 292 yards, two touchdowns) have been particularly ineffective thus far.
Since starting the season 2-1, the Jets have dropped their last two games. They did not score a touchdown in a 10-9 loss to the Broncos. They scored just two against the Vikings in London on Sunday – a 23-17 defeat.
Former head coach Robert Saleh planned to demote Hackett on Tuesday, two sources told SNY. Coincidentally, chairman Woody Johnson fired Saleh that same day. Ownership told Ulbrich the decision was his on what to do with the offense – change or remain the same.
Rodgers said on his Wednesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show that adjustments needed to be made on offense. He said he would support whatever decision Ulbrich made.
Defensively, the Jets do not plan on altering their approach at this time. Ulbrich will attempt to both manage the game as a head coach and call the game defensively. The Jets do not want to “rock the boat” with their defensive philosophy, a source said. The Jets defense ranks second in yards per game (255.8) and fifth in points allowed (17). They’ve allowed just two offensive touchdowns in their last two games. They rank 12th in defensive DVOA.
The Jets will adjust accordingly if double the amount of responsibilities proves to be too much.
