The New York Jets faced a tough loss at home, falling 10-9 against the Denver Broncos. The game was characterized by a barrage of penalties, with the Jets committing an NFL-high 13 penalties in their Week 4 defeat. This debacle marks a significant setback as they now stand at a 2-2 record for the 2024 season.
Offensive Woes and Penalty Plague
An alarming eight of the 13 penalties were committed by the offense, ranking as the second-most offensive penalties in Week 4, just behind the Houston Texans' nine. Among these, five were due to false starts, a point of contention and discussion among the Jets' leadership.
Head coach Robert Saleh pointed to Aaron Rodgers’ hard count and pre-snap cadence as the root cause of the false starts: "We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence. Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back," he explained.
The penalties were not isolated to any single player. Left guard John Simpson was flagged for two false starts, running back Breece Hall for another two, and left tackle Tyron Smith for one, rounding out the unfortunate tally. This surge in penalties was unexpected, considering the Jets had only one false start violation in the first three weeks of the season.
Rodgers’ Perspective
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, known for his meticulous attention to detail, gave his take on the situation. "That's one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable. We haven't had an issue. We've only had one false start. [Right tackle] Morgan had one false start I believe until this. You know it's been a weapon. We use it every day in practice. We rarely have a false start. To have five today it seemed like, four or five. Yeah, it seems like an outlier. I don't know if we need to make mass changes based on kind of an outlier game," he commented, suggesting that this could be an anomaly rather than a persistent problem.
The Hard Count Debate
Aaron Rodgers' hard count has been widely recognized as a weapon throughout his career. Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly praised its effectiveness: "He nailed it: 'my hard count is a weapon.' The amount of big plays, go ask Jordy Nelson. 'Hey Jordy, do you think the hard count that Aaron Rodgers has is effective?' He would say, 'Yeah, I got paid a lot of money on go balls that Aaron threw me after a defensive lineman jumped offsides.'" Kuechly's endorsement underscores the potential benefits of Rodgers’ strategy, albeit with the risk of increased false start penalties.
Backing this sentiment, former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams, who has experienced Rodgers' hard count firsthand, noted, "Aaron is all about the attention to detail. So, snap count, that's attention to detail. You got to be locked in on something like that. We always talked about in Green Bay 'that the play is hard enough to win on its own, so let's not lose it pre-snap.' ... At least let's get our pre-snap operation smooth.' Everybody hears the same snap count in the huddle, so there's really no excuse for one of these things. Holding people accountable, I agree (with Rodgers). Sometimes that's what you have to do versus run from it. Have certain consequences if guys can't get right."
Looking for Solutions
Coach Saleh and Rodgers clearly have different perspectives on the matter, but both emphasize accountability and maintaining high standards. The Jets only had eight offensive penalties from Weeks 1 to 3, tying for the 10th-fewest in the league, which suggests a disciplined unit capable of executing effectively. The sudden spike to eight offensive penalties in Week 4 is indeed concerning but may well be an outlier.
The game could have taken a different turn if not for a missed opportunity by Greg Zuerlein. With just 51 seconds left in the game, Zuerlein missed a 50-yard, go-ahead field goal, which would have shifted the momentum in the Jets’ favor. This missed field goal added to the frustration of an already penalty-ridden game.
Moving forward, the Jets will need to address the issues that led to this disappointing performance. Whether it’s refining the hard count cadence or ensuring stricter discipline on the field, the team’s ability to adapt and overcome these challenges will be crucial for their success in the coming weeks. With both the head coach and the quarterback emphasizing different strategies, finding a balanced approach could be the key to restoring their early-season form and keeping their playoff aspirations alive.