The answer to the New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson problem is staring them right in the face
The New York Jets are struggling to get Garrett Wilson involved on offense but the answer is staring them right in the face.
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson posted a frustrating four catches for 44 yards against the New England Patriots in Week 6. Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins offered hope of a mulligan. Instead, it was more of the same.
It was technically worse. So now, the New York Jets have a Garrett Wilson problem. If they want to fix it, there’s an obvious answer staring them right in the face. And no, it isn’t just ‘throw him the ball more’.
The New York Jets need to embrace more motion to help solve their Garrett Wilson woes
“A player of his magnitude, we have to do everything we can to try to get him the ball. And again, I’m going to put that on myself, of him not getting the targets that he needs. Because trust me, that’s in the game plan, to make sure that he gets the ball. So, we have to do everything we can to make sure we do that.”
— New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn
Spoiler alert: the New York Jets are NOT doing everything they can to get him the ball. And one of the most obvious answers is a simple fix. One that the Jets need to have an honest conversation with themselves about.
Heaven forbid the New York Jets get a little motion. As things currently stand, the Jets are one of the most static offenses in all of football. Entering into Week 7, the Jets used motion on 47% of their offensive plays, according to Sharp Football Analysis. That’s the sixth lowest rate of any offense in the league. By not implementing motion, the Jets are allowing opposing defenses to line up and leverage Wilson’s position. Be that in the slot, out wide, or anything else in between. And by not changing the picture at or before the snap, there’s little stress on the communication of opposing defenses.
Put Garrett Wilson in motion. Get him on the move at the snap to ensure free releases. Motion him across the set to try to create confusion for middle of the field defenders. Put him in a stack and motion him to a new position at the snap and force defenses to have to move and adjust their calls. I guarantee you it will generate better results than two catches for 26 yards. Wilson has less than 45 receiving yards in three of his last four games. It cannot happen.
So, New York. You want to put your money where your mouth is with Garrett Wilson? Adjust your offense. Lean more into motion and make sure Wilson is the one taking it. Then, and only then, can you say you’re doing everything you can to feed him the ball.
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