Jets Offensive Coordinator Defends Controversial Play Call with Analytics

Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich addressed on Thursday several of the contentious offensive decisions made during the team's 20-17 overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Reich defended the play call on fourth-and-1 at midfield late in regulation, when the score was tied 17-17 and the team opted to run running back Braelon Allen from a shotgun formation.

Critics suggested an under-center snap might have been more effective for the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Allen. However, the run gained no yards, with Packers defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness stopping Allen short. This gave Green Bay possession in favorable field position, though the Jets defense ultimately held, forcing overtime where the team eventually lost.

Reich presented statistical data to support his decision. "As a play caller in those situations, everything is always on the table — under center, shotgun, pass, run,'' Reich stated. "I’m always going to call what I think is the best play in the moment, and that’s what I did.

"When it doesn’t work out, sure, you’re upset, you think maybe you should’ve called something else, but you have to live with the results. I’m comfortable and confident in the calls we made."

He referenced a five-year study, excluding quarterback sneaks, which indicated that shotgun runs on fourth-and-1 convert at approximately 71 percent, compared to 67 percent when run from under center. "The gun run is actually better, in part because the threat of a pass keeps the defense from getting too tight,'' Reich explained. "We also had a five-year study showing pass conversion at 57-percent versus 71-percent on the ground. Trust me, we’re going to throw it on fourth-and-1 sometimes too, maybe this week, maybe not.

"But unless you’re one of the few truly elite quarterback-sneak teams, the analytics say a shotgun direct run is the best-percentage call. That’s what we had the most conviction in. We didn’t convert it, so you live with it."

Reich also reflected on the team's performance at the end of the first half, where a drive initiated at their own 10-yard line with four minutes remaining stalled before midfield. The Jets were without timeouts, having used two on personnel issues and lost an officiating challenge.

"I’ve got to do a better job,'' Reich said of managing that situation. "Coach (head coach Aaron Glenn) was very clear communicating what he wanted during the game. We were trying to burn some clock, ended up in third-and-two, called a run. We had called two shot plays down the field before that. They covered both, so Geno [Smith] checked it down correctly both times.

"We also called a play with the potential for a big 20-yard gain, they brought a blitz, and Geno correctly checked to a wide receiver screen that picked up eight or nine yards. Then the drive ended. Small sample size, but I’ve got to be better in those situations.''

Looking ahead to Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, Reich emphasized the team's focus on improvement. "Moving on to Detroit, one of the things I appreciate about our players, this offensive unit, and our coaching staff is the culture of just continuing to fight to get better, with a “Week one, zero” mentality.

"We talked about this before the season started. Once a game is over, win or lose, it’s behind us, and we move on and get better. I think the guys have embraced that. The mood and mindset in (Wednesday’s) practice was very strong.''