Despite Loss, Jets' Two-Headed Rushing Attack Giving Offense Identity

After the team dropped a close game to the New England Patriots on Thursday night, it's easy for the casual fan to believe that the New York Jets are a team without direction.

After all, the Jets have lost six consecutive games and now sit in the AFC East basement with a 1-6 record.

Beliefs, however, can be deceiving.

The reality is that the Jets are forging an identity as a team with a tough defense, a productive running game and a talented, if inconsistent, young quarterback who can make plays. That formula brought was good enough to bring the Jets to the brink of defeating the Patriots in Foxborough.

It took New England blocking a last-second field goal to hand New York the divisional defeat.

The aforementioned running game is what set things up for the Jets to nearly pull off the upset. Running backs Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson combined for 168 yards against New England while second-year quarterback Geno Smith added 37 yards on the ground.

As a team, the Jets rushed for 218 yards and an average of 5.1 yards per attempt against a Patriots defense that ranked 14th in the league (111.0 yards per game allowed) against the run coming into Thursday's game.

The Jets got some ground help from Bilal Powell and Michael Vick, but the combination of Ivory and Johnson was especially effective against New England. The duo consistently pounded the Patriots' defensive front and helped to set up the passing game for Smith, who finished the game 20-of-34 for 226 yards and a touchdown.

If not for the blocked kick (or perhaps a missed play or two along the way), the Jets could have easily come away with the victory. Moving forward, this should be a game plan to net the Jets some victories and potentially set the franchise up for a promising future.

Smith has drawn a lot of criticism this year for not establishing himself as the quarterback of the future for the Jets. However, as we mentioned a week ago, he hasn't exactly been put into a position for immediate success.

The Jets are not a team built to rely on the passing offense. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the team ranked dead last in passing offense before Thursday. The defense, however, ranked eighth overall. 

By running the football and shortening the game clock, the Jets can allow their defense to rest and maximize the strength of the team. As New York proved on Thursday, the running game can also put the team in scoring position and limit opportunities for mistakes from their young passer.

Game	Opponent	Net Rushing Yards	Smith's QB Rating
1	Raiders	212	96.6
2	@ Packers	147	64.1
3	Bears	114	71.5
4	Lions	132	68.9
5	@ Chargers	91	7.6
6	Broncos	31	70.9
7	@ Patriots	218	88.6

When the game isn't placed on his shoulders, Smith looks like a capable young quarterback. His experience has led to some miscues, but these can be limited by leaning on the running game as the season wears on.

This run-first mentality should forge the offensive identity for the Jets, moving forward. If the season doesn't completely fall apart and head coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik are retained for another year, this could also create a long-term foundation for a successful franchise. 

New York has been a mere play or two away from winning several games this season. The franchise may also be a few pieces away from again being a perennial contender. The catch here is that owner Woody Johnson will have to have patience with Ryan and his young quarterback, Smith.

Credit the organization for not hitting the panic button and turning to Vick, the veteran backup. The Jets, and Smith, have taken big strides over the past couple of weeks.

Smith has the potential to become a legitimate NFL signal-caller. He has shown that when asked to be a game manager, he can deliver. 

If the patience continues, this could turn into a consistently tough organisation. At the very least, the Jets have found a specific formula for the rest of the season that should put the team in position for offensive success.

Run the football, limit mistakes and good things will have a chance to happen.