A win is a win however, Robert Saleh needs to change things

 Aaron Rodgers put on the Superman cap yesterday afternoon in Nashville… sort of. It might have not been vintage Aaron Rodgers, but he did turn back the clock when it was needed on the final touchdown drive that ultimately became the game winning touchdown drive.

Rodgers only threw for 176 yards in this game and now hasn’t thrown for 300 yards or more since Week 12 of the 2021 season. That is a concern. Perhaps though the only concern from the players on offense since Breece Hall and rookie Braelon Allen combined for 95 yards on the ground, 75 yards receiving, and were responsible for all three of the Jets touchdowns. Garrett Wilson had the critical play in game—a 26-yard reception on a third and one that kept the aforementioned game clinching touchdown drive alive. Other than that, for Wilson, he only grabbed three other balls from Aaron Rodgers, but was the Jets leading receiver with 57 yards.

The Jets offense clearly is still in preseason mode and in the process of getting to know Aaron Rodgers, so as the unit takes baby steps hopefully better offensive outputs will follow. The biggest thing on offense is the play calling from Offensive Coordinator Nathanial Hackett. The style of offense Hackett is running is extremely confusing given the talent at quarterback and at the skill positions. It seems very basic and predictable. This could be the case of a football fan just wanting to complain for the sake of complaining—but that is the feeling from watching both of the Jets games so far. Maybe it's a case of not overcomplicating things with Rodgers figuring out timing with his receivers, but things will need to get more complicated from a scheme standpoint as the Jets play better defenses.

Speaking of defense, how the Jets defense started the game against the Tennessee Titans rushing attack was absolutely unacceptable. If it wasn’t for Will Levis gifting the Jets two turnovers on back-to-back plays, the tenor of the game would have changed, and the final result would have been a lot different. All week the talk leading up to yesterday afternoon was about the lack of run defense and at the start the game it was much of the same from the San Francisco game. That’s on the coaching staff. That is on Robert Saleh. What also is on Saleh’s shoulders is the fact the Jets were the more penalized team again, this time with seven penalties for 70 yards. If the Jets want to be a playoff team, being the more penalized team week after week cannot happen. The fact penalties are an issue to this extent five years into Robert Saleh’s tenure is laughable. It must change. Real accountability for penalties must happen and it needs to happen immediately.

Elsewhere on the defense, it was a mix bag. Will McDonald IV had a tremendous day with three sacks. Brandin Echols had four tackles an interception. However, the Jets lost one of their difference makers, Jermaine Johnson to an Achilles injury in the first half. Johnson’s injury does change the Haason Reddick conversation due to the level of pressure on the quarter the Jets defense will lose with Johnson out for the season.

On special teams, that is perhaps the only area where the Jets were clearly the better team. Thomas Morstead had six punts, two of those were downed inside the 20, and his longest punt was 57 yards. Greg Zuerlein was perfect in the kicking department and Irv Charles had a huge punt block in the 3rd quarter that flipped the field for the Jets and ended with Zuerlein’s only field goal of the day.

The win for the Jets is a good win simply because there is no such thing as a “bad win.” But there are plenty of things to still be concerned about with this team on yet another short week. The Jets took care of business and did what playoffs teams are supposed to do; beat teams you’re supposed to beat. They will be tested again in the home opener against the New England Patriots on Thursday. If there are indeed a different team than in years past, they will win their home opener. If Aaron Rodgers is the difference maker he was thought to be when he was traded for, he will deliver a great performance on a short week. Right now, this group might not be the same ‘ole Jets, but they are still showing signs of it. If this team wants to end the playoff drought, that also needs to change.