New York Jets: Jeremy Bates as Offensive Coordinator is Baffling
By Erik Lambert
The New York Jets have always been a puzzling organization in terms of their conduct and it looks like 2018 is going to add to this legacy.
The handling of their offensive coordinator position has been surprising, to say the least. By all accounts John Morton, the man who held it this past season did a good job. Despite having a general lack of talent at every position on the depth chart he managed to take the team from 30th to 24th in points scored. A team that most expected to finish 0-16 at the start of the season managed a somewhat respectable 5-11 mark.
It’s hard not to feel like this move was an overreaction to what happened at the end of the season. New York managed to score just 32 points total over their final four games (8 points per game). Much of this was due to the loss of veteran Josh McCown at quarterback to injury. It’s not certain whether the Morton was blamed for the slide or something else but it certainly looks like he became the scapegoat. While that in itself was a questionable decision, the Jets’ rumored choice for a replacement is even more so.
Still a strong expectation the Jets will promote Jeremy Bates as their offensive coordinator but nothing finalized yet
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 29, 2018
Jeremy Bates feels like a massive step backward for the Jets
Bates has remained one of the more respected quarterback coaches in the NFL for a long time. However, there’s a reason he didn’t land an assistant position for five years after being fired by Chicago in 2013 and also why he lasted just one season in his only stint as an offensive coordinator. The man is not known for his ability to get the most out of his players. One merely must watch his work with the Seattle Seahawks in 2010 for an idea.
That year they finished 23rd in scoring but this was aided considerably by five non-offensive touchdowns including two on defense and three on special teams. Upon closer inspection, Bates didn’t really get as much out of the offense as he should’ve. He had a veteran former Pro Bowl QB in Matt Hasselbeck who would finish with the worst quarterback rating of his career as a starter. Marshawn Lynch, who reached four-straight Pro Bowls after that season, managed just 573 yards in 12 games at 3.5 yards per rush.
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Rookie receiver Golden Tate, a future Pro Bowler, was barely utilized. The management of personnel, in general, was underwhelming. So much so that Pete Carroll, who is notorious for loyalty to his coaches, fired him after one season. Now the Jets might make this man their next offensive coordinator.