Jets need Breece Hall (don't trade him) and Hall needs the ball!
Jets running back Breece Hall runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 26 in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Jeff Dean
Breece Hall went to his coaches before the Jets played Cincinnati last week and told them to give him the damn ball — or something to that effect.
“I told them with Garrett [Wilson] not playing, I need the ball at least 20, 25 times,” Hall said. “I’ve always told them, like I hate losing, but if we lose, I want it to be on me.”
It’s a good thing the Jets listened. Hall had 21 touches and 151 yards rushing, receiving and passing to help the Jets earn their first win of the season, 39-38.
Hall accounted for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter — two rushing and a 4-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Mason Taylor. The last non-quarterback to throw a TD pass and run for at least two scores in a game was Miami’s Ronnie Brown in 2008.
Now here’s something that coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey should listen to — don’t trade Hall. That should not have been Hall’s last game with the Jets, who are on their bye this week.
The trade deadline is Tuesday and there is interest in Hall. He has an expiring contract and teams need running backs. So do the Jets.
They want to be a ground-and-pound team. Hall is only 24 and he’s elusive and explosive. His 133 yards rushing Sunday were the third-most of his career. He already has three games with at least 100 yards rushing this season after having only one last year.
“My coaches know I’m not selfish, like I’m not out there begging for the ball and whatever,” Hall said. “But they have told me, ‘Breece, you’ve earned the respect of everybody, you got every means to demand the ball and talk to us.’
“I’m more so chill. I just let the game come to me kind of thing, but this week I was like, ‘I need the ball this week.’ ”
Unless the Jets are blown away by a trade offer, they should keep Hall and try to extend his contract. His chances of being traded might be greater had Braelon Allen not suffered a likely season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Behind Hall in the running back group are Isaiah Davis — who had 109 scrimmage yards Sunday — Khalil Herbert and Kene Nwangwu.
There are other Jets who could be gone by Tuesday. Quinnen Williams, Will McDonald, Quincy Williams, Allen Lazard and Jermaine Johnson have been mentioned in trade rumors. The Jets dealt cornerback Michael Carter II to Philadelphia on Wednesday.
They would have to get a Godfather offer — an offer they can’t refuse — for Quinnen Williams. Johnson said the front office expressed to him that they want him here. It wouldn’t be surprising if Quincy Williams or Lazard were traded. At this point, it would be if Hall were dealt.
The Belichick way
Glenn tried taking a page out of Bill Belichick’s book against Cincinnati. The Jets’ defensive game plan was designed to not let Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins beat them. Glenn played for Belichick from 1997-99 when he was the Jets’ defensive coordinator, and Belichick is known for scheming to take away the opponent’s best player.
The Jets were willing to concede some runs by Chase Brown and Samaje Perine to keep the middle and back of the field covered, which wasn’t easy with cornerback Sauce Gardner out with a concussion.
Chase still had 12 catches for 91 yards, but only 30 receiving yards came after halftime. Higgins had only one catch, a 44-yard touchdown in the first half.
Glenn credited defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and the players.
“Our guys buckled down and made sure if someone was going to beat us, it was going to be someone else,” Glenn said. “That’s something that I’ve learned from Coach Belichick, playing under him and understanding exactly how he does things. Let’s take those two guys out and someone else has to beat us. Our guys understood that.”
The Jets still need to work on tackling. Some long runs or short passes that became chunk plays could have been contained.
Williams bounces back
Then there is Isaiah Williams’ redemption story. He
wasn’t sure he would get another shot after fumbling a kickoff and fielding and fair-catching a punt at the 3-yard line in the Jets’ six-point loss in Miami in Week 4.
Williams admitted thinking, “It’s over.” Glenn cut him the next day.
But the Jets signed him to the practice team two days later and then to the active roster two games ago. Williams rewarded the Jets’ trust with quite a game against Cincinnati, for which he was awarded AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He had 170 return yards and 56 on offense on three catches and a carry.
“It’s a pretty good redemption story,” Glenn said.
Williams served as the scout team running back last week. In walk-throughs the day before the game, he was told to line up in different positions on offense. Vowing to make the most of any opportunity he got after Miami, he did just that Sunday.
“Everybody goes through things,” Williams said. “It’s all about how you bounce back, how you persevere through them.”
The kids are all right
Mougey’s first draft class has gained valuable experience and earned more playing time.
Right tackle Armand Membou and tight end Mason Taylor — the Jets’ second-leading receiver with 29 catches — have impressed. Versatile defensive back Malachi Moore has started the last three games. Linebacker Kiko Mauigoa and cornerback Azareye’h Thomas also have made plays.
Folk hero
Nick Folk, who turns 41 on Wednesday, has been Old Reliable in his second tour of duty with the Jets. He is the only kicker to connect on all of his field-goal attempts (17-for-17) and extra-point tries (9-for-9) this season.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
