Notebook | C Connor McGovern, G Wes Schweitzer Expected to Go on IR

After ‘Debacle’ in Denver, HC Robert Saleh Credits Offense for Late Game Execution

Improvements in Late Game Execution

After the Jets offense failed to come away with points in an end of half hurry-up scenario against Denver in Week 5, they got a second chance Sunday in the fourth quarter against the Giants. With just 24 seconds remaining, the Jets moved 58 yards in two plays before a Zach Wilson spike preceded Greg Zeurlein’s game-tying 35-yard field goal.

 

A day after his club’s overtime victory, HC Robert Saleh expressed admiration for the unit’s ability to respond in the rain after the failure three weeks ago.

 

“It’s something we work on every week,” Saleh said. “Especially, after the Denver

debacle, right? Before Sunday, there was just a reminder and just going over the

rules and what needs to get done and credit to [Zach Wilson] and the urgency

of the entire the whole operation. Credit to [Allen] Lazard to stay right where he

was and to set the ball. Credit to [Xavier] Newman to sprint his butt down, grab

the ball, look for the side judge just put the ball down before the ref so he could

tap it, which saves us about a half a second to a second.”

 

Against the Broncos, Jets TE C.J. Uzomah caught a pass inbounds and went down at the Denver 13-yard line with 8 seconds

left in the half. The offense got back to the line but failed to spike the ball before

the clock hit triple zeros. Against the Giants, Wilson completed passes to

Garrett Wilson and Lazard and OL Xavier Newman, who took his first NFL

snaps at center Sunday, got the ball set in time to allow Wilson to spike it.

“Credit to Zach (Wilson) and everyone just getting their feet in the ground and

spiking the ball and the clock operator for having a quick trigger,” Saleh stated.

Everything about it was executed flawlessly. You can’t execute it much

better, so that video will be on the instruct tape for many teams in the

league and, for many years to come, for many coaches as well as our offensive.”

Change in ‘Mindset’ for Bryce Huff

Jets DE Bryce Huff has continued to elevate his game this season, becoming an every-down defender. In Week 8 against the Giants, he tied his career-high for sacks in a season (3.5) while recording a sack in a third straight game. Huff said the key to his early success has been a change in mindset when rushing the passer.

 

“I am switching from instead of going against the man, I’m going after the

quarterback,” Huff said. “So instead of just burning an edge or hitting a cross

hop or swipe, I’ve been playing to cater toward quarterbacks, so say it’s someone

who likes to escape up the middle, I’ll play toward the middle, or if they like to

escape outside, I’ll just play toward the outside. So, I’ve just been working on

rushing on the QB instead of just the man.”

 

Huff is second on the team among defensive ends in snaps played (175) after playing just 191 snaps a year ago.

“I have definitely just been homing in on the details in practices and taking it to gameday,” Huff stated. “Just staying locked in and focused and executing our assignments and just really creating an identify for ourselves.”