Jets Statistical Rankings Post Week 2
Each week, I’ll be checking up on where the New York Jets currently stand in a variety of different statistical categories.
Let’s dive into the Jets’ current rankings following Week 2 of the NFL season.
*- keep in mind that in this post, higher rankings are always better, even for stats in which less = more.
PASSING OFFENSE:
Passing yards: 324 (29th)
Passing touchdowns: 1 (T-29th)
Interceptions thrown: 0 (one of eight teams without any)
Passing first downs: 18 (T-28th)
Yards per pass attempt: 5.2 (31st)
Yards per completion: 7.4 (32nd)
Sack rate allowed: 10.0% (28th)
Net yards per pass play: 4.1 (31st)
Touchdown rate: 1.4% (30th)
Interception rate: 0.0% (one of eight teams at zero)
Passing first down rate: 26.3% (28th)
Team passer rating: 87.5 (19th)
20+ yard plays: 3 (31st)
Passing offense DVOA* rank: 29th
*- DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) is a method of evaluating teams, units, or players in a comparative fashion. It takes the result of every single play during the NFL season and compares each one to the league-average expectation based on situational factors. In this case, DVOA gives us a single number that provides a strong estimate of a unit’s value.
Notes: Luck was not any kinder to the Jets in Week 2 than it was in Week 1. After playing through the season-opening game with a quarterback battling mononucleosis and a wide receiver dealing with a neck injury, the Jets had their #2 quarterback go down less than halfway through his first start. Trevor Siemian was knocked out for the season with an ankle injury, throwing third-stringer Luke Falk into the action.
Falk was decent, but it was hard for him to do anything with the performance up front. For the second week in a row, the Jets’ offensive line was manhandled. This team, their pass protection in particular was brutal. Left tackle Kelvin Beachum was dominated, allowing six pressures. Myles Garrett picked up three sacks and two more quarterback hits.
Next week, Falk heads into Gillette Stadium, a place that has been hell for first-year starters. Visiting starting quarterbacks playing in their first regular season are 0-14 in Foxborough since 2001.
The Jets patiently await the returns of Sam Darnold (potentially Week 5) and Chris Herndon (Week 6). But until then, they need this offensive line to perform much, much better to have a chance at winning football games.
RUSHING OFFENSE:
Rushing yards: 161 (25th)
Rushing touchdowns: 0 (one of seven teams without any)
Rushing first downs: 7 (T-26th)
10+ yard plays: 4 (T-21st)
Yards per rush attempt: 3.6 (24th)
Rushing first down rate: 15.6% (27th)
Power success (3rd/4th & 2 yards or less to go): 100% (one of seven perfect teams)
Stuff rate (runs for no gain or less): 28% (30th)
Rushing offense DVOA rank: 22nd
Notes: Same old, same old in the running game. The Jets offensive run blocked awfully, as Le’Veon Bell picked up only 0.5 yards before contact per rushing attempt. Bell needed to do it all by himself yet again. He forced a league-leading 11 missed tackles in Week 2, including four in the running game. He is leading the NFL with a total of 20 forced missed tackles.
Bell has been one of the best running backs in football through two weeks. His contributions have been the only thing separating the Jets from fielding the league’s worst rushing attack. If the offensive line can get it together, and the passing game can become more of a threat, the Jets do have the potential to put forth one of the league’s best run games – all thanks to the elite level that Bell is playing at right now.
OVERALL OFFENSE:
Total yards: 485 (31st)
Yards per play: 3.9 (31st)
Points per drive: 0.43 (T-31st)
Third down conversion rate: 29.0% (25th)
Percentage of drives resulting in a score: 8.7% (T-31st)
Percentage of drives resulting in a turnover: 8.7% (T-13th)
Red zone touchdown rate: 50.0% (T-17th)
Red zone trips: 2 (T-30th)
Offense DVOA rank: 28th
Notes: New York simply needs to be patient and wait for reinforcements to arrive. They are on their third-string quarterback (Luke Falk), who will be making his starting debut in New England. One of their starting wide receivers is done for the season (Quincy Enunwa), while the player they acquired to replace him (Demaryius Thomas) is now going to miss time. The team’s starting tight end (Chris Herndon) is halfway through serving a four-game suspension.
The only unit on the offense that does not deserve any slack is the offensive line. Somehow, they need to play better. That could require some moving of the chess pieces. Could they bench Ryan Kalil for Jonotthan Harrison? Kelvin Beachum for Alex Lewis? Brandon Shell for Chuma Edoga? Brian Winters for Tom Compton?
If no improvements are made against the Patriots, changes need to be made up front out of the bye week.
PASSING DEFENSE:
Passing yards: 547 (21st)
Passing touchdowns: 2 (T-7th)
Interceptions: 3 (T-4th)
Passing first downs: 21 (T-7th)
Yards per pass attempt: 8.0 (22nd)
Yards per completion: 13.5 (26th)
Sack rate: 5.3% (T-24th)
Net yards per pass play: 7.2 (T-24th)
Touchdown rate: 2.8% (10th)
Interception rate: 4.2% (4th)
Passing first down rate: 27.6% (6th)
Team passer rating: 77.3 (10th)
20+ yard plays: 11 (29th)
Passing defense DVOA rank: 6th
Notes: The Jets benched Trumaine Johnson in favor of Nate Hairston, and got good results. Hairston allowed a 31-yard catch to Odell Beckham at the beginning of the game, but stayed very quiet afterwards.
Darryl Roberts had a strong bounceback game. He allowed only one first down across eight targets.
Brian Poole had some issues with his run defense and tackling, but his coverage was good yet again, as he allowed no first downs across seven targets in his direction. Through two weeks, he ranks third out of 108 qualified cornerbacks in fewest yards allowed per cover snap, with a tremendous mark of 0.21.
The Jets pass rush can get better. They need more from Henry Anderson and Leonard Williams, who have combined for zero sacks so far. Both players have gotten through to the quarterback a few times, but they have each struggled with their finishing. If the Jets are going to surprise the Patriots, they will need dominant performances from both Anderson and Williams against New England’s strong interior offensive line.
RUSHING DEFENSE:
Rushing yards: 198 (T-11th)
Rushing touchdowns: 2 (T-20th)
Rushing first downs: 11 (T-14th)
10+ yard plays: 6 (T-14th)
Yards per rush attempt: 4.3 (16th)
Rushing first down rate: 26.1% (21st)
Power success: 50% (T-7th)
Stuff rate: 28% (T-5th)
Rushing defense DVOA rank: 11th
Notes: Without C.J. Mosley, the Jets run defense bounced back in a big way against the Browns. They did break down one time, allowing a 19-yard score to Nick Chubb, but they were phenomenal otherwise. Outside of that touchdown run, the Jets allowed 55 yards on 20 carries, a measly average of 2.6 per attempt.
Steve McLendon has been the driving force for the Jets run defense. Against the Browns, he was in on four run stops for two yards or less and no first down, tied for second among defensive tackles in Week 2.
Run defense is one thing the Jets have been able to hang their hat on year after year. It seems that will be the case once more.
OVERALL DEFENSE:
Total yards: 745 (19th)
Yards per play: 6.1 (22nd)
Points per drive: 1.67 (14th)
Third down conversion rate: 39.1% (16th)
Percentage of drives resulting in a score: 33.3% (14th)
Percentage of drives resulting in a turnover: 20.8% (T-2nd)
Red zone touchdown rate: 66.7% (T-19th)
Red zone trips: 3 (T-3rd)
Defense DVOA rank: 6th
Notes: All things considered, Gregg Williams’ unit has weathered the early storm nicely so far. With starters C.J. Mosley, Jordan Jenkins, Brandon Copeland, Quinnen Williams, and Avery Williamson all out of the lineup for at least some time, the Jets have managed to rank sixth in defensive DVOA through two weeks. While their pass rush has been mediocre, the Jets have made up for it with timely playmaking and strong run defense.
The Jets defense has been helped out by two poor performances by opposing quarterbacks Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield, but perhaps Gregg’s versatile scheming has played a part in their struggles.
You can win a lot of football games with the quality of play the Jets defense has put forth thus far. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible for a defense to make up for an offensive unit that has scored 11 points in two weeks.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Punt DVOA rank: 24th
Kickoff DVOA rank: 13th
Punt return DVOA rank: 13th
Kickoff return DVOA rank: T-24th
Field goal/extra point DVOA rank: 27th
Special teams DVOA rank: 24th
Notes: The major notable occurrence for the Jets on special teams was the fact that new kicker Sam Ficken made his only field goal attempt, a 46-yarder that gave the Jets their only points of the game. It was a solid one, too, going nearly down the middle with the distance to have been good from a few yards further out. The crowd erupted with a sarcastic roar as the offense finally put points on the board and a kicker finally put a no-doubter through the uprights.
It takes a lot more than one game for a kicker to prove his worth, but Ficken got off on the right foot. The Jets are obviously hoping the fourth time is the charm. With all of the other problems they are dealing with, Kickin’ Ficken emerging as the Jets’ answer at kicker would be a huge relief for them.