Nathaniel Hackett on the Jets’ Offense and Return of Aaron Rodgers: ‘Now You Can Really Dial It Up’
In Year 2, Some New Faces, New Weapons and New Opportunity
It’s not that Year 2 for the Jets and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will have a new look. Sure, there will be some new wrinkles — and one big one, the return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the field — it’s more like the offense will be massaged, fine-tuned and then unleashed.
“Anytime you’re in a second-year offense, it’s a completely different feel from when you first start,” Hackett said as he looked forward to the start of training camp in a few weeks. “You’re installing plays, you’re installing alignments, and you’re talking about guys just trying to understand what they’re doing. Now you can really detail it up.
You can talk about the intricacies of the route. You can experiment with new plays, new motions, all kinds of different, fun things. So it’s been really good. I think the guys have really enjoyed it.”
While the system remains generally the same, some of the names have changed. In addition to Rodgers coming back after tearing an Achilles tendon, the Jets have bulked up the offensive line by signing Tyron Smith and John Simpson in free agency, trading for Morgan Moses, drafting Olu Fashanu in the first round while awaiting the return from injury of Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Then there’s the addition of WR Mike Williams and the drafting of Malachi Corley to team with budding superstar Garrett Wilson. Breece Hall remains the go-to guy out of the backfield while TE Tyler Conklin is likely to play a big part in the attack directed by Rodgers and Hackett.
