Jets' Training Camp Countdown: Enough Time for Offense Installation?

Series of nine Jets questions that will be answered this preseason

The Jets Country Training Camp Countdown, a series of nine questions, runs from July 10 through 18, counting down the days until rookies and veterans report to the New York Jets' facility on July 19.

With a new quarterback and new offensive coordinator in town, change is in the air for the New York Jets.

Although future Hall-of-Fame field general Aaron Rodgers and coach Nathaniel Hackett are abundantly familiar with one another, there is almost always an adjustment period needed when a new offense is installed.

Increasing the necessary amount of acclimation time, the Jets' roster features a new mix of personnel at the offensive skill positions. In addition to trading for Rodgers, general manager Joe Douglas and Co. signed veteran free-agent receivers Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb and drafted Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda.

Since time is of the essence in the ultra-competitive NFL, how quickly can the Jets' upgraded unit come together and begin to operate at a high level? 

Despite similarities to some concepts employed under prior Jets' OC Mike LaFleur, Gang Green has to learn Hackett's version of the West Coast Offense and zone running scheme. 

The offensive personnel will have to work diligently to grasp the concepts of the new scheme and attain a certain comfort level, especially considering the difficulty of their early regular season schedule. The team simply can't afford to watch any growing pains last past August.

According to Hackett, there's a lot of progress waiting to be made during training camp.

"Far away. We’ve got a lot of work to do," said Hackett on the final day of Phase 3 OTAs. "I think the guys have gotten the nuts and bolts of it during this offseason. There’s a lot of guys that haven’t been out there that we need to see and be able to evaluate and see how they fit in, but there’s a lot of work still to be done."

Rodgers, who worked with Hackett for three successful seasons (2019-21) in Green Bay, offered a different assessment than his offensive coordinator.

QB Aaron Rodgers (8) at OTAs with Robert Saleh and Nathaniel Hackett looking on / © Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com

"That’s coach talk. I like where we’re at and I appreciate, as every player does, that Rob [Robert Saleh] cut the last week," said Rodgers responding to Hackett's remarks after the last remaining OTAs practice.

Rodgers did suggest, however, that there will be more of an opportunity for growth during training camp when more players will practice.

"But it will be exciting to get Randall [Cobb] back and Mecole [Hardman] back and Conk [Tyler Conklin] back and Breece [Hall] back," said Rodgers. "There’s a lot of guys who are going to be part of this offense that we haven’t seen, but the guys that we’ve had, I think we’ve done some nice things."

The good news is that there will be less of an adjustment for two of the team's receivers— Lazard and Cobb, who were Packers' teammates prior to landing with the Jets. Lazard also brings valued experience as an effective run blocker in Hackett's scheme.

"Remember, Hackett was with Randall, too, so he’s a guy who’s got a lot of experience in the system. He’s a guy that they’re very comfortable and familiar with," said Saleh. 

The Jets' third-year head coach subsequently referred to Lazard and Cobb as "flag bearers."

"The guys who are going to plant the flag and be able to echo the messaging," said Saleh.

While the flags may have been planted this spring, there are still plenty of moving parts that need to sync up in time for the Monday Night Football season opener against the Buffalo Bills. 

It's worth noting that it wasn't until Rodgers's second season with Hackett that he accounted for historical statistical results. 

Although Rodgers and Hackett should be able to finish each other's sentences at this point, they need to become more comfortable with new personnel in a new environment and they need to do it quickly.

The clock starts ticking on July 19 in Florham Park.

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