Breece Hall, Jets' Sluggish Run Game Look to Get Right vs. Falcons
Like the rest of his offensive teammates, Breece Hall is searching for answers.
The New York Jets' offense has managed only 10 touchdowns through 11 games while ranking 31st out of 32 NFL teams in total yards (260.2 ypg).
Even with a team-high four total touchdowns to his credit, Hall's statistical production has dropped off dramatically since he led the league in yards per carry after a Week 5 performance in Denver. Hall ranks 24th on the NFL individual leaderboard with 569 rushing yards. Down to 4.6, his ypc average ranks 15th amongst league leaders and he hasn't scored a touchdown rushing in any of the last five games.
"I feel like right now, I’m just trying to make a play. It’s been hard for me to get an open space and get some good looks. It’s a lot of guys pressing and stuff right now," said Hall after the Week 12 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Hall rushed seven times for 25 yards in the 34-13 setback on Black Friday, totaling fewer than 30 yards on the ground for the third game in a row. The second-year pro has not eclipsed the 50-yard rushing mark since October 8.
"I’ve been making mistakes I never made in my career, so, it’s frustrating. Just trying to find a way to get better every week and trying to stay positive," said Hall.
The Jets' RB1 is averaging only 2.6 yards per rush over his last six appearances. His longest rush during that span was a 14-yarder at Buffalo.
"There’s grimy yards that a back has to understand he has to get. There’s a saying that if an O-line blocks it for nothing, he’s got to find two. If they block it for three, he’s got to find six. If they block it for negative yardage, he’s got to find a way back to the line of scrimmage," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh on Hall's recent dip in production.
Hall sounded willing to accept his head coach's criticism.
"If you're not able to call out your best players on offense, then you can't really call out anybody," said Hall after Thursday's practice.
Jets' offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett offered his thoughts on the offense's inability to effectively move the football on the ground.
"Across the board, I think everybody is pressing a little bit. I think Breece is sometimes looking for a big hitter and trying to spring that down the field 80-yard touchdown that he is capable of," said Hackett. "Those come within those small yardage plays first and being able to lower your pads and get downhill and get a couple of those plays. I think that we just have to get into a rhythm and get more plays."
Hall and Co. will look to get the train back on track when the Atlanta Falcons visit East Rutherford on December 3. The Falcons rank 16th amongst NFL teams in run defense, allowing 112.0 yards per contest. Opponents are averaging 4.05 yards per carry against Atlanta, which has permitted at least 122 yards on the ground its last four times out.
Dealing with a hamstring issue, Hall is listed as questionable to play on the official injury report. His availability for Sunday seems probable as he was upgraded to full participation on Friday.
"He’s a big back, he’s 220 pounds, and he’s got elite speed, but he also has elite ability to lower his shoulder and get vertical when he needs to." said Saleh. "Once he reconnects to that, I think we’ll start seeing him for what we know he is."
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