Bryce Hall’s Impressive Early-Season NFL Numbers

Two weeks ago, I wrote about how Bryce Hall had a chance for a breakout year as the New York Jets’ No. 1 cornerback this season:

“Bryce Hall will be tested early and often against the NFL’s best receivers this season, but a great challenge is also a great opportunity, and Hall has a chance like no other for a breakout season in 2021.”

Although the Jets have struggled so far through the first two weeks of the NFL season, losing to the Panthers and the Patriots, Hall and the rest of the Jets’ relatively inexperienced defensive backs unit have been a bright spot.

Per Pro Football Focus, the New York Jets defensive backs are allowing 5.0 air yards per reception (3rd in the NFL), 8.5 yards per reception (4th), 5.9 yards per target (6th), and 0.84 yards per cover snap (6th).

The Jets have one of only three cornerback units who have not allowed a single touchdown this season and they are the only group of defensive backs with zero touchdowns allowed and zero penalties this season.

“Guidry, Michael Carter II, Echols, and Bryce [Hall] have been playing fantastically,” said Jets head coach Robert Saleh on the play of the Jets’ cornerbacks. “These guys are only going to get better with more reps.”

Robert Saleh on #Jets Corners Javelin Guidry, Michael Carter II, Brandin Echols and Bryce Hall: The've been playing fantastic and they're only going to get better. They're going to get tested and they're going to continue to win. Hats off to them.
— Eric Allen (@eallenjets) September 20, 2021

Bryce Hall’s stats have been the most impressive out of the group, as he locked down the entire right side of the field against the Panthers and Patriots. The mark of a good cornerback performance is that you never hear his name called because the opposing quarterback never targeted the receiver he was covering.

Through the first two weeks of the season, Hall has only been targeted a total of three times, allowing just two receptions for 41 receiving yards. Against the Panthers, Hall was targeted just two times, allowing one nine-yard reception on 37 total snaps in coverage. Against the Patriots, Hall allowed one reception for 32 yards on his only target of the game. The 32-yard reception was a pass play to the tight end Hunter Henry due to a miscommunication between Hall and Jets linebacker Quincy Williams on who was supposed to tag the tight end.

Bryce Hall has only been targeted 3 times this year. Having watched the tape it's for 2 reasons:

1) Teams are testing the Jets rookies
2) Bryce is offering so little seperation that QBs have looked away quickly.

2 receptions allowed, 0 touchdowns and 0 missed tackles. #Jets pic.twitter.com/3Ar8PQOCgH
— David Wyatt-Hupton (@DWyattHupton) September 20, 2021

Hall is averaging 24.0 coverage snaps per target, first in the NFL among cornerbacks with at least 50 coverage snaps. He has allowed zero touchdowns and zero missed tackles.

Bryce Hall is dominating his assignments and keeping the ball from coming his way

72 coverage snaps
3 targets

24.0 coverage snaps per target: 1st among 80 qualified CB#Jets
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) September 21, 2021

While it is still far too early to draw any long-term conclusions, the early numbers suggest that Bryce Hall and the Jets cornerback unit are on their way to becoming a strength for the New York Jets this season.

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