New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has made it clear that head coach Robert Saleh needs to increase his involvement with the entire team if he hopes to maintain his position.
Despite Saleh’s success in bolstering the defense and special teams, which are among the best in the league, the team’s offensive shortcomings have hindered their progress.
This offseason, during the start of Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Saleh has significantly stepped up his participation in the offensive planning, a move that has been well-received by his offensive staff.
Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett highlighted the benefits of Saleh’s involvement, stating, “He’s just been around a bunch and it’s great when you have that defensive perspective in there to kind of tell you some extra rules, things, ways you can attack, so we spiced some things up versus our defense and kind of test them out.”
Hackett faced challenges in his first year with the team, particularly after quarterback Aaron Rodgers sustained a season-ending Achilles injury just four plays into the opener. This injury not only derailed the Jets’ season but also cast doubt on the coaching staff’s ability to adapt to major setbacks.
The coaches have been retained for the 2024 season, but Johnson has emphasized that this year, excuses related to injuries or other external factors will no longer be acceptable; the focus must be on winning.
Saleh’s increased collaboration with the offensive team could prove crucial. He noted an improvement in team dynamics, saying, “This year is more back and forth and trying to evolve if that’s making sense. There’s more dialogue, I should say, so it has actually been really good, really beneficial for everybody because you can see it now where receivers are speaking to one another rather than asking questions to the coach or to the quarterback. They’re correcting things as a group, the running backs correcting things as a group, the o-line, same thing, so the continuity of year two is opening up the door for more dialogue rather than just listening.”
As the Jets aim to break a 13-year playoff drought, having a head coach who is actively engaged with all facets of the team is crucial. For Saleh, enhancing his role could be key to securing his future with the franchise.
