NFL News & Analysis

New York Jets 2018 Season Recap

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Jamal Adams #33 of the New York Jets in action during their game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

During the NFL season, our team of 300-plus staff spend around 20,000 man-hours grading and analyzing every play of the NFL season, from the kickoff in the Hall of Fame game to the final play of the Super Bowl.

Now that the 2018 season is officially in the books, we can now take a look back at the season through the eyes of each NFL team and using the grades and statistics that we have compiled, we and detail what went right, what went wrong, and explain what that team has to look forward to.

Below is the 2018 season recap for the New York Jets.

Overview

The New York Jets continued their rebuilding process behind rookie quarterback Sam Darnold, but even a rebuild couldn’t save head coach Todd Bowles’ job after a 4-12 finish.

What went right?
  • Second-year safety Jamal Adams showed off his star power, ranking second in the league with an 89.7 overall grade during the regular season. He led all safeties with 44 defensive stops and also led the way with 22 pressures.

  • Wide receiver Robby Anderson has continued to find his groove, ranking 25th in deep receiving yards at 267 to go with a solid 70.8 receiving grade.

  • Left tackle Kelvin Beachum allowed just 28 total pressures and just six combined sacks and hits, the second-lowest total of his career. His 79.4 pass-blocking grade ranked 18th among offensive tackles. 

What went wrong?
  • Sam Darnold struggled early on during his rookie season, though he did show signs of life down the stretch. His 64.7 overall grade ranked 29th among NFL quarterbacks, but his 87.7 mark was the best in the league from Week 14 through the end of the season.

  • The Jets’ coverage was inconsistent on the back end, as cornerback Morris Claiborne allowed 662 yards to go with a 60.3 coverage grade and Buster Skrine allowed a passer rating of 124.2 into his coverage, good for a 50.8 coverage grade.

  • The pass rush was once again an issue on the edge, as Brandon Copeland led the team’s edge rushers with only 38 pressures on 357 rushes, good for a pass-rush grade of only 56.2.
Highest-graded offensive player

TE Chris Herndon – 74.1

Rookie tight end Chris Herndon earned the highest grade on the offensive side of the ball at 74.1 overall, with most of his damage coming as a receiver where he graded at 78.9, tops among all rookie tight ends.

Highest-graded defensive player

S Jamal Adams – 89.7

Adams was the highest-graded player on the defense at 89.7, and he ranked third in the league with an 89.6 coverage grade while finishing 13th against the run and fifth as a pass rusher.

Breakout Player/Secret Superstar

Interior defensive lineman Henry Anderson was the secret superstar for the Jets as he finished second on the team with 48 total pressures – 12th among interior defensive linemen in the NFL.

In conclusion

The rebuild continues in New York behind head coach Adam Gase, and they’ll look to add impact talent in both the draft in free agency this offseason.

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