3 biggest reasons Jets will actually be good this year under Robert Saleh

Robert Saleh was brought in as the new head coach of the New York Jets. Here are three seasons why it was a fantastic decision by the franchise.

For over a decade now, the New York Jets have been absolutely abysmal on both sides of the ball. The hiring of Robert Saleh will inject new life into a club that hasn’t smelled the postseason since they reached back-to-back AFC championship games under Rex Ryan. With Saleh coming on board, this represents a new chapter for a franchise that’s desperately in need of a culture shift.

After a highly successful run as the defensive coordinator of the 49ers, Saleh is looking to transform the Jets into a surprise playoff contender. With this being his first head coaching stint in the NFL, let’s take a look at the biggest reasons the Jets will thrive under his coaching direction.

Robert Saleh is a defensive guru

While under Saleh’s direction, the San Francisco 49ers boasted a top-5 defense, and with their smash-mouth defensive style you certainly can understand why. With the Jets, Saleh will be tasked with implementing a 4-3 defense on a team that’s been running a 3-4 defensive scheme for the last 15 seasons. Now that Saleh’s running the show, they’ll have to break tradition in order for them to elevate to postseason status.

This is a gamble that’s every bit worth it, especially considering how incremental his play-calling was during the Niners super bowl run in 2020. For quite a while now the Jets have needed a new approach to how they target and utilize their defensive personnel, and with one of the architects of the Seahawks’ legion of boom now in control, they’re definitely in for a real treat with Robert Saleh at the helm.

Mike LaFleur is their new Offensive Coordinator

Another former 49ers coach joining Saleh’s staff in Mike LaFleur will be bringing a winning offensive mentality to the Jets who will also have a clean slate with Zach Wilson as their new starting quarterback. Under LaFleur, the Jets’ offense will be adding a new element with innovation, explosion, and speed.

This is something that he’s been able to cook up with Kyle Shanahan throughout their various stops across the NFL. In this new Jets offensive scheme you can definitely expect to see lots of pre/post-snap motions, outside zone runs, and play-action passing all season long. Between LaFleur’s stealthy play-calling and Wilson’s deep arm threat and mobility, you can definitely expect the Jets to become one of the most electrifying offenses in the league.

This fast-paced and dynamic style will transform them into a top-10 offense in the NFL. With previous successes as an elite play-caller with the 49ers, LaFleur will be reeling in a new offensive regime for the Jets.

Culture Import

Shanahan, Saleh, and LaFleur were able to transform the 49ers from a lottery team into a Super Bowl contender, and now it can be expected that Saleh and LaFleur will be bringing that championship mantra to the New York Jets. This is a team that has endured all sorts of mishaps and hit rock bottom as of late, but under Saleh’s direction, the Jets will improve immensely and embody a winning culture.

Look out for the Jets to be the new team to take the league by storm and massively exceed expectations while adding to an already super competitive AFC East. With Saleh as head coach, the Jets are definitely on to bigger and better things.