Jets head coach has surprising criticism for team's best offensive player

Running back Breece Hall has been the one bright spot on the New York Jets offense this season, but head coach Robert Saleh still wants to see a little something more from his standout player. 

Specifically, he wants to see him do more to get the tough yards and not always be focused on hitting the big run.

From ProFootballTalk.

“Breece is a special talent,” Saleh said. “When the ball is in his hands, we’re better. But there’s the grimy yards that a back has to understand that he needs to get. . . . Right now, when you press, you’re trying to create explosives all over the place, and for the most part in the NFL, the O-line is going to block it for two or three yards and he’s got to go find four or five. And that means lowering your shoulder, getting dirty, getting grimy, finishing runs and not trying to find ways to bounce and make people miss at the line of scrimmage all the time. . . . 95 percent of runs are body blows.”

Hall is averaging 4.6 yards per carry for the season (14th in the NFL), but he has been very boom-or-bust with his runs. He has also seen his yard per carry average take a significant hit as the season has gone on. He has not averaged over 3.6 yards per carry in more than six weeks and has not rushed for more than 50 yards in a game at any point during that stretch. 

Hall is still making plays in the passing game and has been the one Jets player capable of making the type of splash play on offense that can swing a game.

But Saleh seems to think he is leaving some yards on the field by consistently trying to go for more big runs.

While there might be some truth to that, the far more likely scenario is the Jets offensive line simply is not good enough to open up holes for him, while the Jets passing game is not offering any cover for the running game. With Zach Wilson and Tim Boyle struggling to complete passes and make plays down field, opposing defenses are able to crowd the line of scrimmage, pack the box and completely sell out on stopping the run.

That is one of the many negatives to having a completely inept passing offense (which the Jets absolutely have). 

The Jets' other primary running back, veteran Dalvin Cook, is only averaging 3.2 yards per carry for the season and has shown zero ability to make any sort of a big play. 

The problem with Hall's recent production and the Jets offense is the most likely explanation. The offense simply is not good enough or have enough good players to establish drives and make consistent plays.