4 Biggest Takeaways From Robert Saleh, Jets at League Meetings

The New York Jets head coach kicked off league meetings Monday morning with some important answers regarding the offensive coaching staff, their offseason practice plan, and the "playoff mindset" of the organization.

Dec 28, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh loosk on during the first / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Saleh is entering his fourth season with the New York Jets.

His first three haven't exactly gone as well as he would have hoped.

Three straight losing seasons, and a continuation of the league's longest playoff drought have left Saleh, and the rest of the Jets organization on the hot seat entering a tumultuous 2024 season. Despite being a coach labeled on the hot seat, New York's fiery leader isn't too concerned with the expectations being placed on the roster.

"You could say that. You only get so many opportunities," Saleh said when asked if a coach of his stature needed to make the playoffs. "The pressure to win is always there in the NFL. You're always trying to achieve what you set out to achieve."

Dec 28, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh loosk on during the first / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Saleh, and a majority of coaches at the NFL annual league meetings in Orlando, Florida, were finally able to speak to reporters on Monday morning. Outside of addressing the high expectations this season, there was plenty more to get into for the Jets head coach.

Robert Saleh on Coaching Changes...or Lack Thereof

A big question heading into the offseason was surrounding Saleh's overall coaching staff. While many offensive assistants were allowed to find jobs elsewhere, the ire of many Jets fans fell at the feet of those that are returning for another season. At the top of that list are offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and passing game coordinator Todd Downing.

Despite the initial desire to bring in another experienced mind in the room to help both of his assistants out, Saleh made it clear that they weren't able to make it happen this offseason.

"I know he (Hackett) will be (better). When you lose, you're a loser," Saleh said to the defense of Hackett. "I suck, Joe D sucks, we all suck. It goes with the territory. The best thing we can do is put our heads down and go to work."

Saleh later mentioned that while they had some discussions with veteran offensive minds, they weren't able to get deals done, and are confident in the staff they have put together during the offseason.

Another coach returning that left several former players upset was offensive line coach Keith Carter. Carter's coaching methods have left several players outspoken about their distaste for it, but the Jets believe that the offensive line as a whole showed improvements down the stretch - even if the wins didn't exactly follow.

"For Keith, he is a hard charging football coach," Saleh said. "He's a damn good football coach. Sometimes messaging can get lost. I know he's working on all that stuff. I'm not worried about his ability to coach this football team."

It's true that New York's rushing attack did improve down the stretch of the season, but their pass blocking only got worse. While the Jets signed and traded for new reinforcements this offseason, it'll come down to Carter to find the best way to utilize the group as a whole in 2024.

Injury Updates To Players

Like it or not, the Jets are going to be entering another training camp and offseason workout session without the full group of offensive starters on the field together. While that may worry some fans of the Jets - especially after dealing with a lack of communication all year - Saleh is doing what he can to circumvent those kinds of issues.

The Jets head coach confirmed in Orlando that the team would be revising their offseason program to directly limit the amount of injuries the team has suffered over the past few seasons. In 2023 alone, outside of quarterback Aaron Rodgers being lost for the year with a torn Achilles, New York also went through 13 different offensive linemen and 13 different line combinations throughout the entire season.

That's the kind of injury bug Saleh is hoping to avoid in 2024.

Outside of that, though, the Jets coach gave insight into some of the players recovering from injuries suffered during last season. Offensive guard Aljiah Vera-Tucker - arguably the most complete offensive lineman on the Jets roster - is expected to be back for Week 1 and will play solely at right guard after two straight season-ending injuries while bouncing around different positions.

Despite the rash of injuries hit to AVT, and other offensive linemen, Saleh believes that the young crop of players forced into action last year will only get better off those experiences. He also isn;t worried about having a similar training camp to last season where the starting offensive line did not get to work together until the final week before the regular season.

"Not as much as a year ago," Saleh said when addressing the similarities of having missing linemen out during practices. "We're expecting those guys to be available in training camp, and we'll work accordingly to their schedule."

Offensive line injuries will be something the organization closely monitors, but it won't be the only injury status they are keeping an eye on.

Newly acquired wide receiver Mike Williams is a different story. The recently signed wideout formerly of the Chargers is recovering from a torn ACL. Saleh said that he still "had a long way to go" and compared it to running back Breece Hall's recovery time.

While Hall was able to return before opening day, those guarantees are not currently there for Williams.

Free Agent Plans

Saleh was complimentary of Jets general manager Joe Douglas and the "good job" he did to add talent to the existing roster. New York brought in All-Pro players like Tyron Smith, and acquired Pro Bowl caliber players like Morgan Moses, and Williams. Add in additional pieces to the starting roster, and the Jets are build much differently than last year's group.

That doesn't mean they are done, though.

New York's head coach highlighted the running back and safety position as two roles that the team will be looking to address over the next few weeks.

"It's given us a lot of flexibility with regards to the Draft so still a lot of work to do, a lot of things we still need to accomplish," Saleh explained. "Good so far...Winning offseason doesn't matter. You have to win football games."

Among the current plans that the organization is working through, the free agent decision of pass rushing dynamo Jadeveon Clowney is something the organization is still waiting on. Saleh said the Jets would welcome an addition of Clowney saying the "more the merrier" when it comes to edge rushers.

Clowney isn't the only free agent the Jets are currently talking to, either. Former wide receiver, and recently reinstated off the retirement list Corey Davis is a free agent and able to talk to other teams. Saleh made clear that the Jets would welcome back the former top overall pick should he decide on a return to Florham Park.

Aaron Rodgers and Offseason Distractions

Despite some previous rumors regarding frustration inside the team's facility at 1 Jets Drive, Saleh made clear that the organization wasn't concerned at all regarding the four-time NFL MVP's apparent dabble into the political field as a potential Vice President candidate for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Rodgers potentially trying to run for VP of the country wasn't the only distraction the team has been going through this offseason. Numerous reports of internal strife with the coachijng staff and front office have penned the Jets as a "dysfunctional mess" over the last few years, and 2023 in particular.

Saleh made it known he isn't worried about what happened last year.

“When we win football games, distractions will go away," the coach said.

What about Rodgers, though? How is the quarterback progressing in his recovery from an Achilles tear, and will he be ready for OTAs?

Saleh gave a positive answer on both questions.

"I'm expecting him to be available for the Spring," Saleh said. "You guys know it's become a seven-on-seven camp so he should be able to do all that stuff. As we get closer, we'll get the ball rolling with him."

Rodgers back at 100 percent would be a different scope during offseason workouts then the Jets had last season. The future Hall-of-Famer injured his calf during OTAs and was not available to work in the final few days of offseason workouts. While he did participate in training camp, the rash of injuries suffered along the offensive line hampered what New York was able to accomplish as an offense during camp.

That won't seem to be the case this coming offseason, though.

As the Jets continue to try and improve the team to be good enough to end a decade-long playoff drought, the organization is looing to it's more recent additions to help bring excitement back to Florham Park.

Until they start winning, though, the Jets head coach understands his seat will be as hot as any other man across the NFL.